ST. MARY'S ORPHANAGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 3

ST. MARY'S ORPHANAGE

ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. Tho annual mooting of subscribers to St. Mary's Orphanage (Mornington) was held on Thursday afternoon, there being a good attendance, which was presided over by tho Primate (Bishop Nevill), who, in opening the proceedings, referred to tho interest taken in the institution, not only in Dunedin, bat also in the diocese generally, which he was quite sure would bo maintained. >Mr J. S. Webb presented the annual report and balance sheet. He said the subscriptions during the year amounted to £228 17s Bd, which was about £2O less than had been received the previous year, but this had been made up by tho subsequent collections of outstanding subscriptions. The overdraft went to £142 4s 7d, but it had been reduced by £2O, subscriptions recently collected. The legal costs of taking over the buildings amounted to £ls 15s, but Mr Spencer Brent,. to whom this amount had been paid, had handed to tho committee a similar sum by way of a contribution. —(Applause.) Mr George Fenwiok moved (.he adoption of the report. He said he noticed in tho balance sheet two items—interest on tho mortgage and tho bank overdraft —which together represented approximately £9O. This was a fairly heavy sum to go annually against their income. Tho mortgage stood at £ISOO, and he hoped that during the year a start would be made to reduce this amount. There was an impression in the minds of tho oublio that this was a State-aided institution; but it was not. It was true that a measure of support had been given to it this year by a grant of £BO from tho Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, against maintenance and other charges amounting to £683, so that it would bo seen that this was only a trifla of the total expenditure necessary to keep this institution going. Mr Eon wick also referred to the favourable report which the Government inspector had given the orphanage, and which, he said, was a tribute to Sister Ernestine.

Dean Fitchett, who seconded tho motion, said the inspector's report was a most valuable testimonial. The institution was much smaller than they hoped it would be before long. A movement had begun in the Synod for tho establishment of a boys' orphanage, and they hoped for very much larger things in the future. It was indispensable that they should get rid of their handicap of £ISOO. Tho Dean referred feelingly to Mr J. N. Ritchie, who, ho said, was reported missing in Mesopotamia from his regiment —the Scaforth Highlanders. They hoped that they might yet see him again.. The motion was carried.

The inspector's report, which is a very favourable one, mentions that there are 30 inmates of the home—wrongly called an orphanage, for there are no orphans in it, — and 28 of these are paid for at tho rate of 5s each per week. The staff is composed of Sister Ernestine (in charge), a trained nurse (Miss Aitkin), who is about to leave, a cook, and two young maids in training. Tho dormitories are clean, bright, and well ventilated, and the beds are clean and comfortable. After making recommendations for slight structural alterations, tho inspector concludes: "Tho homo is an excellent one."

Mr Davidson, head master of the Mornington School, paid a warm tribute to- tho caro given tho children at the institution, saying that thoy were as good as, if not better than, tho children to be seen in tho public schools. Votes of thanks to all those who support tho institution were carried unanimously.