TIMARU ORPHANAGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1504, 7 December 1918, Page 7

TIMARU ORPHANAGE.

PREMISES COMMANDEERED. [Special to The Sun.] TIMAKU, December 7. Regarding the commandeering of St. Saviour '9 Orphanage, not a great deal of information is available. The local committee received the first intimation from Captain A. N. Oakey, M.C., Grouj> Commander, who sent them notice yesterday morning that lie had a warrant from the Governor-General, instructing him formally to declare the Government in possession. Captain Oakey visited the orphanage in the afternoon, and formally took possession, but lu left the buildings and keys in charge of the orphanage authorities.

It is understood that the Defence-De-partment has communicated with Mr 11. Rightou (secretary of the orphanage), asking permission immediately to begin certain minor alterations. The opinion of the orphanage authorities is that the present inmates will be required to remove within a few weeks, though tho buildings can hardly be ready for hospital work until about February.

Meanwhile the local committee has offers of large houses suitable for a temporary orphanage. It will meet on Monday to consider them, and has already asked the owners whether they will give possession at a fortnight's notice, this being an indication that the orphans are likely to be in their new home before Christmas.

Although the local committee was expecting action by the Government, especially since the recent announcement that certain appointments to the staff of the Timaru Orthopasdic Hospital had been made, there had not been, so far as is known here, any communication from the Government since the resolution of the Synod deprecating the commandeering was forwarded.