HOME FOR AGED POOR.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 80

HOME FOR AGED POOR.

OPENING AT ANDERSON'S BAT.

A very large number of persons found their way ouu to Anderson's Bay on Thursday afternoon to attend the formal opening of the Little Sisters' Home for the Aged Poor. The spot selected for the home could scarcely be improved upon. It is very pleasantly situated on the hill, a little way behind the Anderson's Bay School, is about three-quarters of a mile from the township, and is approached froni the Upper Portobello road. The ground consists of about three and a-half acres, and a portion of it is handsomely wooded. The horn© itself was at one time the residence of Mr Stephen Hutchison, and has undergone extensive repairs and renovations, besides being added to since it became the property of the Catholic Church. The building is a two-storeyed one, and is of wood, and, though it must be many years since it was built, is still in a very fair state of preservation, and with me recent renovation and doing up presents quite an attractive appearance. The scrupulous cleanliness of the building coxjld scarcely escape observation, it being quite apparent that the minutest detail in this respect had been most carefully attended to. On the ground floor there are two dining rooms, a commodious kitchen and scullery, two or three other apartments, and a chapel, the latter being practically a new addition to the building. The upstairs portion of the place is devoted to sleeping accommodation principally, and contains quite a number of nice, airy apartments, some of which are imusually large. The place appears to be- in ©very way well adapted to the purpose for which it has been purchased, and its surroundings are everything that could be desired. An outline of the history of the Little Sisters of the Poor was given by Bishop Vcrdon in the course of his remarks, and appears later on, so that any lengthy detailed information as to the order is unnecessary, lfc is sufficient to say that there 15 already a branch of the order established in Auckland, and that the mother in charge of the home opened yesterday spent four y-ears there, having previous to that been engaged in h&r charitable and good work for 10 years in Calcutta. On coming to Dimedin the mother was accompanied by several of the sisters "of the order. The mother provincial also came to Duaedin with the object of thoroughly establishing thf- sisters in their new field of labour, and, having accomplished that purpose, will return, the work of the home being eventuaHy left in the hands of six of the sisters.

The visitors, after making an inspection of the premises, adjourned to the front of the building, where they wore addressed by Bishop Verdon and others. j. Father Murphy said he had to apologise for the absence of the Mayor, who was tunable to attend. He had also received apologies from several of the priests, who had given donations towards this very laudable object. Father O'Donnell, of Queenstown, had also sent an invitation to the sisters to canvas his parish whenever they found it convenient to do so, and expressed his willingness to give them all the assistance in his power. Several other priests were willing to do the same. It was not expected that large subscriptions would be given on the present occasion, as those attending the opening of the home had already contributed towards the good object, but should there be any kindly disposed towards the movement their donations would, of course, be 'gladly received. He himself would give a further donation of £10 towards the home. Bishop Verdon said tliey were assembled to give encouragement and help to the Little Sisters to the Poor, who had come to them in order to establish a home for the aged poor. Their work was deserving of encouragement. Even in the most prosperous communities they found these who were, through adversity, at last reduced and helpless, and were at the end compelled by poverty to seek assistance. Who were so helpless as tk-e aged poor without friends, sympathy, or a -home? It was for these the Little Sisters had provided a home. He might say a few words about the origin of the Little Sis-ter* of the Poor. Some 64years age — in 1840 — three highly pious and devout souls resolved to devote their lives to the work of helping the aged poor in a little fishing town on the coa?^ of Brittany. For the- first fe-w years they met with great disappointment. They were ridiculed and their efforts scoffed at ; but they persevered, and after a few years others ioined them. In 1851 they c tablished homes outside Franco, and during the years that had since elapsed wonderful progress had been made. At the present moment there were 300 homes scattered over the world which had been eetablishod by the Little Sisters to the Poor, and the lofcal poor in th-ese homos wa.s now 43,000, and these were

watched over by o\er 5000 Misters. Was, 1 that not wonderful prosress in ?.q short a

f time? In 64 years 300 homes for the pootl I had been established, and in some of themi there were 200, 300, and 400 aged poon who were provided for. It might be asked! how these were provided for by the Little Sisters, who had no fixed revenue whatever, and no fixed income. The reply was that! the Little Sisters trusted entirely to Divine Providence, and they had never been disappointed. They went forth every day to seek for means for supporting the poor, confided to their care, and exposed fchemselves % to all kinds of inconvenience. They occupied themselves most earnestly during; the day, and practised the strictest economy, and by care were able to provide for -thai; great number. Bishop Verdon then proceeded to refer to instances of the support that had been accorded Hie Little Sisters to the Poor, mentioning 1 that the Lord-lietc-teuanfc of Ireland in 1888 had spoken of ll'em as the great benefactresses of the poor. They would, he was sure, receive great encouragement here, and would have no need to regret coming Dunedin, and the people of Dunedin would have no reason to regret they had established such a home in their midst. Those of our poor and! needy would find a good home, where they would be cared for by those "who sought; only tho glory of God and the salvation of souls. — (Applause.) Mr J. B. Callan desired to extend, oni behalf of the Catholic laity of Dunedin, a hearty welcome to the Little Sisters to the Poor, who had come he^e and established! the first branch of their order. He thought they might say. and was glad they were able to say, they had secured a really beautiful home. He thought the place selected by his Lordship was admirably adapted for the purposes of the sisters' work. It was a beautiful place. He knew his Lordship had oeen looking for a site for some time, and could give them a lively description of the many eligible sites that had been offered him as " dead bargains."— (Laughter.) He had selected thi3 place, and it seemed to him (Mr Dalian) thafi when the electric cars /an it would include all the requirements of such a home. The only drawback he saw was that old people who came to live there would renew their youth to sue! 1 an extent that there might be a danger of their going on living for ever. — (Laughter.) He would like to say one word concerning the lady who had been instrumental in bringing this movement to a successful issue. He alluded |o Miss Mulholland, who was known io many of them under the name of Ann. She had worked unceasingly for the nome. She had been looking for these sisters for a long time — so long that he hadTicen inclined to say, "Sister Ann, Sister Ann, do you see "anyone coming." — (Laughter.) Miss Mulholland ought to be a proud woman to see her hopes realised.

Mr J. M. Gallaway said those outside the' Church would fully appreciate this work that had been commenced, and. should not hesitate for a moment to congratulate the Church upon the step it had' taken. He had been connected with thai other society that began" at the other end — the St. Vincent de Paul Society, — and ift had always filled him with the greatest admiration. He had seen the little children as they were brought into the Police" Court ragged and uncared for, and had! afterwards seen them in the care of the holy women who devoted themselves to their care, and the sight had done him good. The other side, represented by tho present home, must also appeal to them, all. There was a great deal of charity in New Zealand that might be calledjstatutory charity. That was right and proper ;', still, nothing could take the place of that charity that proceeded from the heart — (apipl'ause), — and lit was that the Little Sisters strove to provide. Whether people were Catholic or non-Catholio, the objecfc must appeal to all, and while creed was much to all there was one common ground upon which all met, and that was the common ground of humanity. — (Applause.)

The Hon. H. Gourley also spoke a few words. He was pleased to have an opportunity of visiting the home and of expressing his appreciation of the efforts made by Miss Mulholland in collecting funda sufficient to purchase such a splendid property. He_ could not help admiring thei beautiful site selected, and could only repeat the remarks of his friends Mr Callar* and Mr Gallaway. He quite endorsed every word they had uttered, and was quite sure that, with the energy the sisters would put» into their work, the undertaking would! prove a great success. He sincerely hoped that would be the case.

The visitors then assembled inside the building, where refreshments had been provided, and after these had been partaken of a stroll was taken through the grounds, and a return made to town.