ST. MART'S ORPHANAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 67

ST. MART'S ORPHANAGE.

The formal opening of the new premises lor the Church Mission and St. Mary's Orphanage in Leith street took place on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large assemblage, principally composed of ladies. The Primate presided, and there ■were also present: The Very Rev. Dean ITitchett, Archdeacon Robinson, the Revs. •W. Ronaldson, E. Ward, A. Neild, Gordon Biddle, Messrs J. Allen and W. Burnett. Apologies for absence were reoeiyed from Mr Justice Williams, the Rev. 0. S. Bowden, Messrs G. Joachim, J. M. Ritchie, George Ritchie, and G. M. Burlinson. The Primate explained that the "meeting was to inaugurate the opening of the new building, the necessity for which indicated the extension, of the work. There was a special department of their work which called for some remarks from himself, consequent on the fact that the committee had undertaken from this time forward the charge of St. Mary's Orphanage. It was a brave step on its part, because the work of the orpfianage would be considerably enlarged. During 20 years past it had been conducted at Biehopsgrove, where it had been a comparatively small institution. The first thing he wanted to do was to thank nil -those who had for so many years assisted -in ' the maintenance of -that unpretending institution. 1 Th&y were indebted, notably, to MrJßattray in this connection. He trusted" the same kindness would be continued to the now it had been removed to these larger promises. The medical men had also been most kind when they had had to_n*« consulted, and he must mention one name,* though it might seem invidious, and that was the name of Dr Closs, who had given attendance to one particular inmate of the orphanage at JJishopsgrovs. " The committee had undertaken considerable responsibility^ 'in removing the orphanage from Scotland street to that building, which removal seemed to be necessary owing fo the growth of the work; *nd however much thejr had succeeded in the .past they were looking forward to still greater opportunities for usefulness in the future. The, committee' having undertaken the responsibility, it could only now rely on friends -to show it had not been rash in doing so. He just wanted to say that the work cf their Church was not, to be Tegarded as only spiritual work. x It was, of course, prominently but there was a , great deal of work which had to be undertaken for the body' as well as for the mind and spirit. The Church .existed to do good in whatever department good, was % presented to her to' do. . It was laid upon Jier to grapple with whatever woes "were laid before her,- and' in her work was incorporated everything that, was work" for good. Mr James Allen said he, could conceive of no "greater /work than that which had been carried -on by the Primate and Mrs Nevill in 'St. Mary's Orphanage. For over 20 years^it had been carried on by the Primate said Mrs, Nevill at Bishopseourt, and he did not think the „. diocese quite realised what had" 'been done during those 'past years., Tjhey all owed a deep debt of gratitude fo the Primate, and Mrs Nevill. Perhaps he might say a special" word with regard -to .Mrs Nevill, 'whom he was only too" pleased to see.' present, and yfho, he knew," wdulcP think this a fitting extension of -her work 'for wider development and for wider good. JThey all owed, a special debt of gratitude" to -her. It had-' been' impressed upon him more and more that the Legislature was not directing its actions into that particular channel in which, it seemed to him, the greatest good would be done. For instance, the Legislature was doing a great -deal with regard to grown-up people in the reformation oi the drunkard, which it" found a difficult task, and in providing old-age pensions, but there was an absolute need to start at the very beginning of these troubles. It was to small ohildren that their work should more immediately be directed. Looking after the young, the fatherless, the destitute, and neglected seemed to be the foundation of their work, and ? while they regretted the Legislature had not done what it might have done in this direction they could not help feeling that the churches were to a very large extent to blame because they had not put their hand "to the wheel as they should have done. He felt certain the n&w departure was -in the direction of the growth and extension of their work, and He hoped the Sisters would never have cause to regret the steps they have taken because the Church had not supported them. The Primate thanked Mr. Allen for the remarks passed concerning himself and Mrs^ Kevill. It Tvas important - they should " put *n institution ' such as the orphanage into a position so that it might not only exist, but expand.' He saw" no reason why, in the future, it ehould not be something more than an orphanage. Some few years ago they had .wondered whether they could not extend their work and make it a home for destitute and neglected children, as well as for those who we-re- orphans. That was a direction in which it might extend. In that case he did not see why the Government could not recognise it as a place where destitute and neglected children should be remitted by the magistrates. The Government had been approached in the matter, but liad declined to make such recognition, and the magistrates ~ could not, consequently, remit children such as he had rerevred to to the institution, but if a fresh application were made, in the face of this larger institution, he could see on what grounds they could possibly refuse to grant «uch an application. Sister Ernestine, in the course of a brief address, thanked those presenffor attending, and said the weekly visits to the Hospital and Gaol had been productive of such results as to justify the Church in. opening & Church Mission three years ago. She then proceeded to describe the work ths Sisters did, and also referred to similar work done in Melbourne. There were ssven children in the orphanage, who had to be clothed, fed, and loved. The great thing they hoped to teach the children was how to be good domestic servants, and they ■would be set work to fit them for such an occupation. Miss Dorothy Allen had supplied a complete outfit for one of the children, and she expressed the hope that others would follow her example. She (Sister Ernestine-) had been given permission to 6©nd out appeals, and the collector had received the greatest kindness and encouragement wherever she had been. Every phj-aician in Dunedin, no matter to what denomination he belonged, had promised a subscription or given a donation. The Primate mentioned that Miss Cox had collected some money when the orphanage had been at Bishopseourt, and %hat money was to be Argntod to cxnenses

in connection with the present change. He j himself had offered the committee £50 in connection with it.

The visitors were then shown over the establishment, and inspected some work done 'by some of thei Sisters.

The house, contains 18 rooms, exclusive of kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms. On the- ground floor is situated a beautiful little chapel, and there is also the Sisters' "dining room, the large mission room (with piano and complete fittings, ready for use for chib meeting's), the children's dining room, and the schoolroom. On mounting the stairs a wide corridor, with 11 doors in it, is met with. On one side of this are the children's dormitories — fin© airy rooms on the sunny side of the house, — and the Sisters' sitting room. On theopposite side are small bedrooms fof the Sisters and probationers, a spare rocai and lavatory, together with a small office for the transaction of business. There are all conveniences, and the place is eminently suited for the purposes for which it is intended to be used.

The Sister Superior desires to gratefully acknowledge the first instalment of toys from the crrldren of Roxburgh, per Mrs Haines. These are most acceptable, for, quite apart from the orphans, there are the children of the mothers' meeting and the mothers themselves, to whom those in charge hope to be able to give some little Christmas remembrance from the Church.

A butcher boy in Masterton had a rather curious experience recently. While delivering an order at the back door of a boardinghouse 1 , the horse's leg b&canoe caught in the bridle, and the animal, in its fright, commenced to back. It went through the door, along the passage, and out by the front entrance, capsizing a table on its way. The occupants of the house were naturally thrown into a-' state of dismay, and more so the boy, who was on the animal's back during its capers.