CHILDREN'S CHARITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12634, 22 March 1905, Page 4

CHILDREN'S CHARITY.

The finanmF 7 needs-' of Dr Banardo's homes, by some accident made a successful appeal to- the sentiment of a few young girls. Irving; in the. south end of Timaru, and they determined to try and arrange on entertainment "to raise a few pounds for Dr Bamado. With praiseworthy zeal they set to work and enlisted the sympathy and assistance K)f at number of other young and stfll younger people, drew un- a programme for and rehearsed an entirely juvenile entertainment,, and with the aid of fathers and brothers -and other- masculine friends to keep the doors, they presented their programme in the Barnard Street Hall last night. Long before the hour of commencement it twos seen that a mistake had been made in not obtaining a . larger hall, for-this one was soon packed fall, and many had to be turned away. T&e Pipe Band kindly lent their aid by playing outside and quite unnecessarily attracted a crowd, as the hall was already fall. His Worship the Mayor presided, and made a few remarks before commencing the programme, congratulating the boys and girls of New Zealand upon escaping the evils and the miseries of slum life in the great cities of the Old Country. .He also read some statistics to show the enormous amount, of good that is done by the .now numerous institutions collectively known as Barnardo's homes, which have been developed from small beginnings by the great practical philanthropist into means by which, "thousands:' 'are annually rescued from misery, are fed and cared for; educated and trained, and put in the way of being; successful and respected members of society, either at Home or in the field of Canadian emigration. He mentioned that the proceeds from the concert would probably be sufficient to maintain one chfld in the-homes for a year; and he admired, the spirit and courage of. Miss " Beswick, who had asso--ciated others with herself to promote ■this good work for so worthy an object. She programme, a long and varied one, consisting of ensemble singing by .a large party of youngsters, accompanied by other children on pianos and violins, action songs "and .recitations,, proceeded with* andievidently pleangjpthe closely packed audience. The rfrifflfen had evidently well rehearsed their .went tluoug T j the performance ,wih spirit and success. - A.test of their coolness? and determination wiMr-given in an/item.- near .-.fie fop of the list, in which an infant- had to le induced to play a part, somewhat against its win;, but'even this was successfully cot .through.