HENI MATEROA HOME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 18054, 2 May 1913, Page 5

HENI MATEROA HOME.

FOUNDATION CEREMONY. The numerous friends and supporters of the Cook County Women's Guild appeared to be agreeably surprised at the extensive nature and dimensions v of the new Hine Materoa Children's "Home, when they gathered at the institution, yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the Mayor, Mr W. Pettie, declaring the foundation stone "well and truly laid." Already the practical accomplishments of the sturdy band of ladies organised under the auspices of the Cook County Women's Guild, m the cause of humanity, have gained for the Guild the warmest praise and generous assistance of the people of Gisborne. The fact that a band of the "weaker sex" should have: been able to erect and place an institution like the Townley Maternity Home upon a self-supporting basis, as mentioned by one of yesterday's/ speakers, is a monument of their success, whilst the erection of the new Children's Home (to take the place of the little creche ki Grey street), which should be open next month practically fi-ee of debt, speaks volumes for their . enthusiasm, public spiritedness, end organising ability. Named after a generous supporter of the cause, Lady Carroll, the new itine Materoa. Home stands on a slight terrace fronting 1 thei Awapuni road, Victoriatownship, close to the inner harbor light tower. The building, which has been designed by Mr J. R. Little, and i; being built by ;. Messrs C. R. g-koeb and Co. under his supervision, h:i3 a frontage of about 120 ft. with thrte wings of a depth of 53ft «u.ch. Jt stiindy on a section of two acres donated by Lady Carroll, Eiuera te Kura, and Wetini Rikirangi. The contract price is £1725. Although devoid of architectural pretensions, the building, which is now m an advanced stage of construction, has. been- -most- conveniently- arra'fi;*ed for the required purpose, t'ho utmost advantage of the sunning; aspect baing gained. It will be complete through^ out with a circulating hot-water system, ample lavatory a-ceominodatioft, and electric lighting. .... ; After the visitors had inip-ectcd the ; n?titution, they all 'g.-stheted- at the front, where! his Worship was to perform the interesting ceremony. Tho President, 'Mrs Maynard, forma'ly invited the Mayor, Mr "W. Pettie. .to* lny the stona. .....' ■.-;".- BU Worship tir,=t aslied Mrs Agnes &:->(:!. r;n? of the traetfe*;,' to.plic.e .the sealed tub© of records in' the cavity. This done, Mr C. R. Skeet, presented the Mayor with a. massive silver trowel, and wished the , home .every success. Taking the handsome gift, hfs W^orship prooeeded. to place. the stone m position m the brick foundation, and this done ■ ]:& rr.: do the usual declaration. Ad[■dressing tha assemblage, li\i> Worship sjaid he had 'great pleasure m congratulating the ladies of. the Guild on tjieir success- hi, establishing such a tpl&ndid home for the children. He felt exceedingly gratified . of the honor of being asked to:, perform the- ceremony, particularly as he was^jiist retiring froni the Mayoralty; 1 that: the* ladies; 'of the Guild [should have invited * him ■ was an" honor !he would long remembfcr. This was not jthe first" gow work that the Cook County Women's Guild? had carried out. They had the Maternity Home, and that was a standing monument to the women of the district. It was an institution that had done good service for humanity, and that the home should be- a selfpaying establishment reflected groat credit on the ladies. Coming, then, to this further work, he hoped the Hine Materoa Homo, would also be a success. He congratulated the architect, Mi 1 Little, and the contractors, Messrs Skeet and Ob. Touching on the establishment of the new institution, he said the Guild had started with practically no money. They had had to organise, and they had been gratified when Lady Carroll (whose absence and the cause therefor he regretted) had donated an acre o£ land as a site, supplemented by a similar gift by Eruera te Kura and Wetini Riki-rang-i, making two acres. Since tha old home was established 150 children had been taken charge of, and this'year there had been 29 already. During the whole, time* the creche had been running they \had only had * six deaths, which spoke of . tlie; great cara exercised by the- honorary-medical officer, Dr. Porter, tho matron; ,-and the ladie3. The trustees were Mes'dames Townley, Maynnrd, and Scott, who, with Mi's Maynard (President) and Guild, generally, were to-be congratulated on 'their success. It was a nbb'i^ work, and as time went on the necessity for it would increase, and he hoped the people of Gisbbrne woujd/ not be backward m. their assistance. He hoped ihe Guild w,ould secure the promised Government assistance, and that tho local people would also 'rise to the occasion. .. Before calling on the Mayor-elect, Mr Kirk (who was also honorary legal adviser), he 'thanked Messrs Skeet and Co. for their valuable present, and again wished the Guild' succass. Mr .J. 11. Kirk, Mayor-elect, said it was with the . warmest feelings he associated himself with the sentiments just expressed. ' He eulogised the good work of < lie.. ladies m placing those who found themselves ; m less! fortunate ' circumstances' m; a- position that they would not .bo thrown upou the cold world of charity. It ;was a pleasing feature that amongst tho^se prominent m securing the erefction of the institution were members of the native, race, Lady Carroll, and the other two natives mentioned. Proceeding, Mir , Kirk expressed the . hope that as the social order grew the' 'need of the, sick and suffering would b-e less evident; , As the social order was now' there was a. need, and the work wa;s positively justified. The ladies, /Jie went on to say, had shown great cpurttsy to Mr Pettia m. asking him to perform the ceremony just prior to hi 3 retirement. ' Tho Rev. L. Dawson Thomas, who with sev.eral / btners n invited to speak, recalled the' text, "Ve 1 *hall see visions and dream dreams." ,-. Many years ago the ladies of the * Guilt} had ; dreamt d*eams, arid to-day they 'saw these visions realised, and he congratulated them on their success, and wished the Guild every prosperity. '■'•■*■■■ . Dr. Porter expressed himself as being pleaded to see the scheme brought to fruition, &s the' old creche was neither fitted for t-he work nor ■commodious enough, and he > was sure when they migrated to the new" building they would appreciate the facilities.'* •■ ■ ■ ( Adjutant Marshall said he hoped that m the labor for' 'those who^ were outcast God's richest blessing would rest on the Guild. - ■•■■■,•#.■ : -'■:■• Wetini Rikirangij who f^olce with the aid of Mr Hooper ft« interprets, also expressed himself as bring satisfied, a«d wished the home good foftune m ;tho future. ■■-••' •• ■■ i ..•■:• -! Mrs Agnes' Scott thanked those prer sent for attending. It had, fhe declareu, been a hard, up-hill fight, but they had the assistance of two va'ued "trenerals" m Mesdame-s Townley and Maynard. They had. still a further fi^ht to provide the furnishinpr. They had paid off the old home, and almost paid off this. This, she 'thought, said wonders for the women of Gisborne. The Guild was not defunct ; It was about IOC strong. She 'concluded by paying 8 tribute to those who had assisted tht institution. Afternoon tea was subsequently par taken, of.