HELP NEEDED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13643, 12 July 1906, Page 8

HELP NEEDED.

TO THE EniTOB. Sip,,— I The monetary help needed in this in-lnnco is not stupendous, but it is sufticientl.v large to warrant a general appeal. It. can readily he understood that, through their institutional connection, the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society chaplains have in course of the years come upon many cases of severe family distress through t.ho illness or death of breadwinners. The necessities of such eases—and there have been very many, extending hack through nearly four decades—were always quietly met by personal application to philanthropic friends. But, apart from the labour which personal application entails and the time required for it, it is not fair that a small circle of willing givers should always be applied to. I therefore, in this instance, depart from the course of procedure hitherto adopted, and afford an opportunity to all who may be inclined to givo their mite.

Particulars of the case now in hand were detailed in the report of the recent meeting of the committee of the Patients' and Prisoners' .Aid Society as published in jour columns yesterday. Briefly the circumstances are these:—A man died in the Hospital within the past month leaving five young children—two girls and three boys—in an orphan condition. One of the girls, aged 11, is totally blind. The other crirl, aged IS. is very seriously handicapped by deafness, but she. is meantime being cared for by an aunt, a working inan'6 wife, who lias a young family of her own. One of the three boys. aged 13. has. under the guardianship of ilie society's agency, been put to service with a farmer. The other two, aeed eight and nine, are now in charge of Mr Burlinson at Levin. Only the blind girl, therefore, has to be provided for, and measures are being taken to secure for her the provision which her pitiable condition calls for. To that end correspondence is ;pa«ing lictwccn the society's agency and the authorities of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, at Auckland. with a view to her free maintenance and schooling for five or six years, and also training to qualify lior for some kind of useful work. But*—and this is the poinl— a sufficient sum of money (say between £20 and £30) must be made np to ensure for her all requisite supplies of c!othing, foots, etc., during the years. A few subscriptions for the purpose have already been handed me. but. a good deal more is imperative. Donations on the poor girl's behalf will be thankfully received by my colleague, Mr E. A. Axclscn. £1 KlafTunl street, or by myself at 72 Royal Terrace, and I venture, Sir, to ask you to kindly take cliargo-of such subscriptions as i»»y be left- with you. 1£ more is received

than is absolutely necessary in this instance, the balance will be reserved to meet cno or other of the exceptionally necessitous oases thai are ever ami anon arising.—" I am, etc., , Dunedin, July 12. '' J. A. Torbancb-