SALVATION ARMY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2949, 21 September 1910, Page 11

SALVATION ARMY.

ADDITIONS TO THE CAVERSHAM RESCUE HOME. On the 14th a voi-y pleasant function took place at the Caversham Rescue Home, when the now wing recently added was officially opened by Brigadier Albiston, who had come down from Christchurch for the purpose, on behalf of the Salvation Army. The new addition has been added on to the old premises, and nrovision has been made whereby another storey can be built on to it if the need arises. The plans of the building were supplied by the Army designers, and the worlf, which was done by day labour, was under the supervision of the Army's foreman. It has taken jusl on four months to complete tho new premises, the total cost being £7OO. Thewalls are lathed and plastered, and tht vvhole building is lit by gas. In tlie old home there are 14 beds, and, with the new additions, ' this number has been n; creased to 25. The thought which strikes one after a look through the home is that Adjutant Woodford, who is in charge, and her assistants are firm believers in the old adage that "cleanliness is next to godliness Everything is" scrupulously clean, but in the effort to obtain such cleanliness not on particle of homeliness has been sacrifices The large and well-lighted dining-room, with its snowy tablecloth and iaden wi, refreshments, the up-to-date kitchen, th cosy sitting-room, before the old-fashions fireplace of which several inmates sat rem ing in quiet content, the sleeping room a dormitory with seven beds —after ben shown through these the impression lef. is of cheerful, happy, restfulness, and thi--is further accentuated by the bright, smiling faces of the Army offioeirs and the inmates. The week's washing had just been oomplrted, and it was something of a revelation to see the large piles of clothes in the ironing room, having jnet come through the drying room from the washhouse. Tho neat and tidy appearance of these large rooms and th© businesslike manner in which the work is evidently got through are worthy of sipecial mention. Walking l around the building and over the five acres of ground which surrouru the home one is delighted with tho gran panoramic* view of the southern part o. Dunedin, while in the background me breakers of the broad Pacific fill the eye. Shelter is provided from the south-weit wind by a belt of big trees. After the band had played a hymn and prayer had been indulged in Brigadier Albiston (officer in charge of the oourh Island 1 ) proceeded to officially open the row wing. He said lie much regretted the obsence of Commissioner Hay, who was a' present engaged in very important in Australia. Ho, however, would be back in New Zealand next January to open the new inebriates' home which it was intended to erect on Ruth Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, and also the large shelter to bo erected in Auckland. It was proposed to transfer the male inebriates from Pakatoa Island to Ruth Island, and use Pakatoa for a home for female inebriates. Commissioner Hay realised, however, that there were a number of women awaiting admission to the Caversham Home, and it was consequently decided to open the new wing that day. The new building, said the Brigadier, was but one more evidence of the great advance of the Salvation Army. Though the occasion they were celebrating that afternoon was perhaps only a sma.'i one, he considered it helped to demonstrate that the Army was not stagnant, but was j going forward with leaps and bounds. In I no less than 56 countries and colonies were branches of the Army to be found, Wftllie | the languages in which salvation was preached | numbered 32. There were 8574 corps or I barracks where the Gospel was preached every night and 904 social institutions. Con- i nected with the Army were 512 day school.--and 13 naval and military homes, the jifumbeir of their officers and cadets, including social, totalling 16.244 men and women whose time was given up to the lifting of the fallen and preachinjr the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Temperance hotels and shelters—tho former where cheap food could be obtained —for working men and women aggregated 217, prison gate homes 18, and children's homes 34. In the industrial institutions work was provided for men and women who could not obtain it elsewhere, and the Army had 145 of fch»ee places, while the number of homes similar to the one they were met that afternoon ! to open came to 118. Thev had 21 maternity homos, and 2520 men and women wer<* permanently engaged in connection with this branch of social work. The Brigadier | stated that there was no necessity for hir to dilate on these figures—tliev stood oui as evidence of tho organisation of the Armv and the wonderful strides it was making. Fifteen yeans ago they had taken over the Caversham Home for rescue work Since then, the speaker said, they had j made such advances that the*- had to build j a new win.tr altogether. The number of l>eds in the home had been increased from 14 to 25. and it. was found necessary to add further additions they would be able to supply them. However, he thought the present accommodation would orove suffi- I cient just now. The home was prov Wed mainlv for fallen women and those from the Polioe Court—they would have'to 1h» looked after first. —nevertheless, if destitute women came along they would not be sent away if room could be found for them. Their home in the past had proved a splendid institution. The brigadier went on to say that 64 per cent, of the women who came under tTv»ir car' were, periianently reformed though did not mean to assert thai thev necessarily heoame inembena of the Army. Brigadier Albiston then, on behalf of Commissions! Hay, turned the key of the door leading to the new building, and declared the premises open. The visitors, the Army officials present, and the bandsmen were the.n provided with afternoon tea. and had the opportunity afterwards of looking over the home. Brigadier Albiston. Major Young, social secretary of New Zealand (who is on a visit to Dunedin), and Adjutant Woodford 1 , rwath a numerous array of assistants, were

.untiring in their efforts to make everyone feel at home. Judging by the way in which the home is conducted, Adjutant Woodford must be a splendid organiser and the right lady in the right place.