DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2530, 27 September 1888, Page 2

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN.

Most of our readers will havo received during the last three months circulars regardin" Dr. Barnardo's homes for destitute children. Those who have taken the trouble to read them must admit that it is a deserving cause, and also have been astonished at"the gigantic strides the institution has taken, for in the first report, issued in July, 18(iS, the donations were £214 15s, while last year they had risen to the enormous amount of £70,877 4s. Archdeacon Willis, of Cambridge, having collected a few subscriptions to aid the cause, forwarded them to Dr. Barnardo, and in addition to the receipts for the money, he has received the following reply, which, as it contains information not in the circulars, we give in cxtenso. It is as follows Dear Sir.—l am sure from what you write that the kind gift you sent me half round the world is pervaded by that spirit of prayer and self denial which I always so earnestly covet, and which multiplies the value of every contribution a hundred fold. Please accept for yourself and for both the friends you name; as well as for the unnamed helpers whom these represent, my sincerest gratitude, together with receipts enclosed. If you could realise my burden you would better realise my gratetul feelings towards sympathisers like yourself, whom, perhaps, 1 never have seen, nor over shall see in the flesh, but whose hearts go out towards work like mine undertaken in the service of the Master for the sake of the children. Here are some of the facts which make my daily burden, and from which you can gather the extent of our rescue operations. 11,000 waifs have been rescued by the homes during their 21 years existence. We have 2,420 inmates at present in residence in 34 institutions, and 0 or 8 more are added to that number daily. Last year we sent out 422 trained emigrants to Canada. Two hundred of my boys will (D.V.) leave for the Dominion next month, some of whom will colonise our Industrial Farm in Manitoba, an area of 7,000 acres acquired about a year ago and now being developed as an outlet for our rescued youths. We have building extensions going on at six or seven of the Homes so as to extend our helpgiving area. We are just about to open a Cripples Home as an adjunct for the benefit of a very sad class of cases. Night and day our doors stand open to all destitute ones, from the baby in arms to the youth on the threshold of manhood. lam sure I may rely on your continued sympathies and prayeys on behalf of such an all-embracingnet-vvork of rescue agencies doing the work of the Master. Believe me to be, Dear Sir, reciprocating your prayerful wishes, and with renewed thanks to yourself and all the circle of friends in your vicinity, most faithfully yours, in the children's cause, Thomas J. Barnardo. The Rev. W. N. do L. Willis, S. Andrew's, Cambridge, New Zealand. The above letter will give some idea of the magnitude of the work undertaken by this truly philanthropic gentleman, which was commenced 21 years ago, at which time he was a medical student attached to the Loudon Hospital in the Whitechapel Road. Any subscriptions, however small, in aid of the Homes will be thankfully received and duly acknowledged by Archdeacon Willis, who will forward them to the proper source. We trust the time may yet arrive when Dr. Barnardo will be enabled to have an industrial farm, similar to the one in Manitoba, in this Britain of the South.