ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 53

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY.

The twenty-second annual report of the St. Vincent tJe Faul Society saya. — Our first and paramount duty is to return sincere thanks to all who have in any way, whether at our annual appeal or during the year, supplied the necessary funds and goods that have enabled us to do so nnich necessary work. During the year everything possible has been done to help to lessen the wants of our poor people, and in cases of sickness they have been visited constantly. We may mention that during the year many children were aent to the orphanages — wemen to Mount Magdala, one girl sent to friends in Auckland, one to friends in Sydney, a woman and her children brought from Christchurch. On four different occasions we w-eTe able to get a change to the country for convalescents. One man in delicate health was helped by donations of clothing, etc., to join his friends in # Napier. We have much .pleasure in welcoming the men's branch of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and we are certain tha-t in every way it will be a success and do much good. At any time the members of the women's branch will be only too gla<3 to give what assistance they caji, especially in cases of sickness or clothing required. Our thanks are specially due to hie Lardshiu the Bishop, the clergy, nuns of the Good Shepherd, Mr J. A. Torrnnce, Messrs CalJan and Gallaway, Dr O'Xei!. U.S.S. Co.. Huddart-Paiker Co., police authorities, and subscribing members. The following are the office-bearers for the current v-ear: — President. Mrs Jackson; vicepresident, Mrs Mouat. treasurer, Miss Co'umb ; wardrobe-keeper, Mrs Swanson; secretaiy. Miss Purton. The work of the year is thus summarised io ec-wing meetings, 500 visits to the poor and sick, seven boys sent to St. Mary's, Nelson, eight girls to the Orphanage, South Dunedin ; five women to Mount Magd*l«. The society ha« h*d seven children baptised. Sixty-five grocery orders were given out and 51 coal orders. There are 100 honora.ry members and 10 working members. A large quantity of clothing, etc., was given to those in n«ed. The balance sheet shows the receipts (including balance forward from last year, JE3I 3s) to have been £155 17s lid; and the expenditure left a balance to be carried forward of £28 4s 7d. In the State of Utah, a criminal sentenced to death may, if he desiret, be shot instead of hanged*