The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1898. INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 14 July 1898, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1898. INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.

We have received a copy of the eighth annual report of the Jubilee Institute for the blind. As it is no doubt well known, the Institute, which was established in 1890, is located at Auckland. It is however, not a mere local institution, but ono which has claims upon the whole colony, ioasmnch as pupils from all parts are eligible for admission and all districts are represented by the present inmates. The report before us shows that the year has been one of .steady work in the interests of the blind of the colony. In his report to the trustees, the principal, Mr J. W. Tighe, states that during the eight years the Institute has been in existence, over 50 people have been received, educated, and have taken their discharge. " The attendance," he says, "shows that wo began in the_ year April Ist, 1897, with 29 resident pupils and one daily attendant ; of these, six, having gone through tho course of instruction and training, have left. We have now 23 resident pupils and one attending daily. Besides those enumerated, many have stayed at the Institute for a few days at a time, with a view of study iDg some particular subject ; and, tbongh not enrolled as regular pupils, such visitors hare greatly increased onr numberß." As an example of what is meant by these casual pupils, Mr Tighe states that at the time of writing his report he was arranging to get a blind lady down from the Kaipara to learn to read, a man from the Thames, and another from the Waikato, the latter for the purpose of learning to do certain work in the technical department. He states that in each case the people will be taught all they require within a month and will thon return to their homes. The small yearly charge made for pupils is, of course insufficient to pay for the maintenance of ths institution, which is in consequence largely dependent on public Rubicriptions, subsidised by the (rovernmexit. Unfortiinaiely-owing to the many urgent and deserving local claims upon the sympathy of the pnblis in different parts of the colony — the subscriptions this year show a falling off. This is all tbe mote to bo regretted as the principal expects a groat increase in pupils during the coming year. There are, he points out, a number of children who have become eligible, and there are also several adults who have recently ' lost their sight and may therefore becomeinmates. All these j will require to be educated and provided for, for here, as elsewhere, the majority of the blind who may be received are poor and dependent. Further than that, the trustees draw attention to the fact that a permanent brick building, properly designed for the purposes of the Institute, cannot be much longer delayed, as the present premises are old and unsuitable. As bearing upon this questian of subscriptions, wo learn from the report that Mr Charles Curteis has beenappointed travelling teacher and£collector. Mr Cm teis has been connected with the lnstil stitute since 1892, as assistant to the principal, and it is hoped that by hia efforts in his new capacity the existence and objects of the Institute will be moro widely made known, interest in the work awakened in the various districts through which he will travel, a still closer connection established between the blind and the Institute, and a larger sum contributed to enable ns to efficiently carry out our aim of imparting instruction, training, and assistance to the blind, and. thereby enabling

them to help thomselvo3." As evidonco of tho ground. covered by tho school courso, and of Mio suitability and thoroughness of tho methods employed in imparting knowledge, tho report for the year ju-st ended records tha fact that a pupil, who was allowed by tlio headmaster of ono of tho Auckland colleges to work ceitain scholarship pnpors to test his attainments, took tho first position easily ; a very gratifying result to all connected with the Institute. In looking down the summary of collections we notico that Wanganui occupies tho seventh place on tho list of 58 cities and towns in which contributions were obtained. Auckland comeflfirst with £58 15s 6d, then Dunodin £3G Bs, Wellington £35 18s, Chiistehnrch £31 8s Gd, Napier £2:3 Us, Invercargill £16 3s. and Wanganui £1-h 7s. The Institution well deserves snppoit, and if tho "Black Diamonds " could see their way to give one of their popular entertainments on its behalf, Wanganui, with its added contributions, would stand very near the top of the li3t when the current year's report comes to be published.