ST. ANDREW'S ORPHANAGE.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12159, 6 February 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

ST. ANDREW'S ORPHANAGE.

tbe;annual meeting. The annual meeting of subscribers to St. Anrdew's Orpbanßge was hold yesterday afternoon at the Diocesan Library. Io the absence of the Bishop of Nelson, Mr Fasley was voted to the chair. The Rev. J. H. Kernpthorne, the honorary secretary, presented ihe annual report", which was as follows: "The Trusteesat present are the Bishop of Nelson, the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, and the Rev. J. P. Kempthorno. Messrs E. Pasley, T. Field and \V. T. Bond. The Rev. J. H. MacKenzie and Mr T. Field were elected at the aunual meeting in •January last. "The" Trustees have held eleven meetings during the year, and admitted into the Homes 9 boys, and 7 girls, 10 boys and 14 girls were withdrawn from the Orphanage. Of these 18 obtained situations and 11 returned to their homes. At present there are 67 children in our homes, 19 boys and 18 girls, and they came from the following districts: Nelson 31, TaKaka 4. Waimea 5, Greymoutb 6, Westport 2, Reef ton 4, Picton 5, Havelock 1, Blenheim 1, Wellington 7, Napier 1. The amount contributed by charitable aid '^boards was £389 18s Bd, and by parents and guardians £486 12s. } "The health of the matron, Miss Stewart, having broken down at the beginning of the year, the Trustees granted her leave of absence for three months, and temporary provision was made during that a time for carrying on the 'Home. Miss Stewart's health not being sufficiently restored at the "end of her leave.she resigned her position, and another matron was advertised for. A number of applications were received, and out of them Miss Drake, of Wellington, was selected, and she was appointed matron on July sth, and took up her duties on July 9th. The Trustees have every reason to be satisfied with Miss Drake, who is kind and firm with the children entrusted to her, and wins their affection. She is careful in the management of the Home, and everything is in good order. "The Trustees "thank the various friends who hare been so good as to send gifts of fruit and Vegetables and other presents which have been useful and acceptable* and alsa.those who have brightened the lives of the children by rememberiug. them at Christmas and enabling them to have a picnic in the holidays. We are pleased to report that the Orange Lodges have this year contributed £24 10s to the "funds, and the Masonic Lodges £8. Mrs Alldridge's Home at Maitai Bank is well managed, and the children under her charge are happy and well cared for. They have been free from any serious epidemic during the year. "Through the kindness of the Whakarewa Trustees we are able to avail ourselfes of the Home at Whakarewa, and at present we have boarded out there 27 ■ children (22 boys and 5 girls). ■''The Infant Life, Protection Act came into force on Jlnuary Ist, 1908. It is a new Act, and under its provisions the age of infants has been raised to 6 years. The Trustees have applied to the Minister of Education for exemption from its provisions, an the Orphanage is not carried on for personal profit or gam. •A new Act has been drafted affecting the hospital and charitable institutions," and this will be considered carefully by the Trustees, and the Minister of Education has requested the Trustees to consider the Act and any recommendations they have to make are to be sent to | him on or before March 31st. The recommendations received from the various bodies affected will be considered at a conference of delegates to be held in Wellington next June. "With regard to the recommendations made at the lasi; annual meeting, that a new site should bo obtained with more ground and a new Home erected threeupon, the Trustees have issued an appeal on behalf thereof, but there has beon no response up to the present. An inquiry has also been made «s to a more suitable site for a Home, but one has not yet been obuaiued. "The Trustees heartily thank cue lady visitors, Mrs Scaly, Mrs McKenzie, and Miss Gascoigne, for their kini supervision of the receiving Home, and also those ladies who have assisted in collecting annual subscriptions. — E. W. Pasley,Ohairmun." The Rev. J. P. Kempthorne presented the balance-sheet, which had been duly audited by Mr F." A. i'amford. It showed that during the past year the following sums were received from the undermentioned Charitable Aid Boards:— Nelson, £2i>S 18s 8d : Grey, £56 Is : Inanga hua, £73 15s: and Marlborougb, £31 4d. From parents and guardians £-JB6 12a was received : from annual subscriptions, £63 19s; from the Orange Lodges, £24 10s; from the Masonic Lodges, £8 : from Government subsidy £127 18s 9d. the total receipts amounting to £1247 14s 2j. The expenditure amounted to £11S9 15s 4d, of which £1134 ICs Sd went for the maintenance of the children, the credit balance being £57 IBs lOd. On the motion of Mr W. Fleming, seconded by Mr R. Snodgiass, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Rev. J. H. Kempthorne and Mr W. T. Bond were re-elected Trustees. A discussion ensued as to procuring a new site for an Orphanage building in Nelson, ia which the Rev. J. P. Kempthorne, Rev. J. H. MacKotizie, Messrs R. Suodgrass, E. H. Bisley, W. T. Bond, and the Chairman took part. I The hon. Secretary stated that the Trustees had made enquiries, but a suitable sice had not been found : and an appeal had been made to the public for funds for building, but no money had been received. The Trustees were keeping the matter 3teadily in view. It was resolved, on the motion of the R«jv. J. H. MacKenzie, seconded by Mr E. H, Bisley, tba<; it be a recommendation to the Trustees to appoint canvassers to actively collect donations towards the erection of a new building. It was considered that after selling the nresent property, about £250 would have to be raised, which with the Government subsidy added, would enable a new orphange being procured on a more desirable site. Votes of thanks were carried to the subscribers, and donors of other gifts; to the Orange and Masonic Lodges: to the Ladies' Visiting Com'mittp.e ; to the Trustees, and the honorary gecretary ; and to the local newspapers. Mr F. A. Bamford was re-elected auditor. A vote of thanUs to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.