A WAIF'S PARADISE

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14536, 7 December 1920, Page 6

A WAIF'S PARADISE

SPLENDID SOCIAL WORK.

HAMILTON HOME OPENED

ASSISTANCE STILL NEEDED.

xWith rosy,cheeks and laughing eyes, twenty-seven healthy children romping happily on the green, is a picture which presents itself to anyone who cares to wander over the Hospital hill to a little colony just beyond at almost any time during daylight hours. Once these .laughing eyes were tinged with sadness and the rosy cheeks were wan and pale, for their possessors knew little joy— In some, casfcs not even that of a mother's love, and had not an instrument of Providence in the form of the Salvation Army taken them in hand, some of the same happy faces may have passed from this world to a lone damp grave without having experienced o single one of life's pleasui«s. The miniature colony is situated in pleasant surroundings and is the latest practical evidence of the great social work

which the Salvation Army is carrying out. Upon the site are erected several buildings—a large one of two storeys, containing dormitories above and kindergarten below. Another is the original home that was on the property when the Army took it over, and is -.used as quarters for the master and matron, for the cooking, for the storing of linen, and for reception purposes. There are several other buildings, all well designed and well fitted up for their various purposes. Spotlessly clean, with nicely polished floors, snowy linen and pleasing decorations, with

"green all around and about, the home •'■is a perfect little paradise and quite the opposite to the popular idea of a • foundling home. The two large dormitories each contains 12 low white enamelled cots, covered with the whitest of linen, and so clean and comfortable is everything in the institution that the inmates are to be envied rather than pitied. The kindergarten is well equipped, but is nevertheless always open for i gifts to assist the education and amusement of the children. One of the novel- . ties —invented and constructed by the

master, Adjutant J. Hughs'on, is a "crib" in which are arranged little tableaux in various materials, the scenes •l/eing dotted about with Biblical figures In plaster, all made by the master himself. The tableau for the opening was

.... of Christ's meeting at the well with the Woman of Samaria, a very pretty and effective creation showing a good " deal'of imaginative skill. The settings are frequently changed and are revealed to the children.by the drawing of n curtain, Mr Hughson apparently realising the pleasure there is in anticipation. Amongst other things designed for childish pleasure is a sand-pit constructed on a brick foundation out of doors, in which the children can erect ~' their imaginary castles. There Is plenty of accommodation for bathing, and in the main bathroom each child has its own little locker with his or her name - • painted on the door. In fact the whole environment is conducive to the good upbringing of the youngsters and to -'their training as healthy, intelligent and

upright citizens. The fact that such an institution has been possible in Hamilton is due largely to the generosity of

Mr Ewan McGregor, who gave the £I2OO interest which he held in the property ta the Salvation Army for the purpose to which the home has now >eeh put. Yesterday, in the presence ' v»f,a fair attendance, the new building was formally opened by its generous ..Xpatron. Hodder, head of the '* ; ""S£lvation Army in New Zealand, in welcoming the visitors, mentioned the fact that in the Dominion at the present time .there were no less than nine such hofnes as that, while at Putaruru the Army had a training farm, which was ' also a gift from M r McGregor, where

■ they hoped to accommodate about 500 '-"••boys and girls. Already one wing of ~..;n large building was going up there, •■•-to accommodate 100, and the farm

would eventually be turned into quite a colony where not only farm work would be undertaken, but many trades

taught, so that the tailoring and other necessary for making the institu- . *tfbn self-contained and supporting be done in the colony. General £3*E,ooth had made an official statement '■~*ii£- England that he was sending 1000 iE."<©fl"ildrer. out to New Zealand as soon -~.as shipping accommodation was avail•TT'Jbh, and a letter 1 from a prominent ollcer in England recently received .;;.stated that the first batch of 500 was jnPQW being got ready. Exclusive of the inmates of maternity homes, the Army *;i"liad no less than 417 children in homes I', of this description at the present time. The speaker said there were many things yet needed to make the institution complete-r-for instance, they could do with several of the adjoining acres of land that were still lying idle, while a motor-car for the benefit of the officers and Inmates would also be very welcome. The speaker thanked the visitors for their attendance and expressed the hope that the town and district would see to its financial support. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) said the opening of the home marked a big forward move for Hamilton, because in the institution they had "«nn object lesson which few other dis- " trfcts could claim. There could be no • misgivings with any man who contributed, he thought, to the Salvation Army, whose efforts stood head and shoulders above most other religious """Institutions in social work. The speaker referred to the great rescue work clone ... by the Army, which had planted its J s'eedg in every civilised part of the 'earth. There was, he added, no more :. Worthy object in the whole of the Army "■'.work than that to be carried on in the ■■lnstitution the opening of which they ■ were celebrating that day. The speaker remarked, facetiously, that on looking "through the buildings he almost pitied tils own children, rather than the inmates, for everything in the home was SSfiK Ideal that the lot of the children was to be envied. Speaking as a commercial man, Mr W, Goodfcllow said that while they all deplored the necessity for such institutions, they must yet congratulate the Salvation Army on erecting such a splendid home as that. From a commercial standpoint he thought he was correct In saying that the public got better reurm for the money they donated to the Salvation Army than from any similar organisation. We had great pleafure in recommending liberal support to the scheme. He had no hesitation in saying that it would not be long before the £3OOO necessary to liquidate the debt on the buildings would be paid off. Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid said he had accepted the invitation to speak that day with very great pleasure. All present, he was sure, held two interests In that afternoon's function —interest in the Army itself and also in the particular branch of the Army's work which the home represented. His honest opinion was that the Salvation Army was the greatest of all the churches. Its work had come into special prominence during the war, but for very many years before the war it had done splendid service to humanity. He could think of no finer work than that of training and bringing up in proper surroundings '' those who were to become their future citizens. He wished the institution an! all who were ia.it great sucees*.

Mr A. E. Manning commented eulogistically upon the splendid work in many directions done by the Salvation Army, and remarked that men who were privileged to take an active part in the late war were greatly impressed with the practical lines on which the Salvation Army worked both in the camps and at the front. The speaker referred to the excellent example set by Mr Ewen McGregor in donating so handsomely his interest in the building, and said it was quite the duty of the people of the district, and particularly the people of Hamilton, to see that the home was provided with all the things necessary for properly running it. Hamiltonians should bok upon the institution as theirs—God would surely bless it and see that it succeeded. He justed that God would also give the people of the town the strength and desire to keep it free from financial embarrassment.

Major Sharp gave a short financial statement, in which he said that the home came into their hands through the generosity of Mr Ewen McGregor, who gave his interest in it, the cost of land and buildings thus being reduced tb £1,200. Owing to the demand they had been compelled to enlarge the premises at a cost of £2,165; furnishings entailed an additional expenditure of £683, making a total of £4,048. Adjutant Garner, who for some time laboured in the interests of the effort, succeeded in obtaining in gifts and promises £9Bl 5s 6d. Friends would therefore see that the sum of £3.067 is required to complete the scheme. At the moderate charges made such homes as these could not possibly be maintained unless the entire initial cost was met. They would therefore be pleased if friends will kindly help further in this undertaking by giving as generously as their means would allow, j Mr Ewen McGregor said the interest he held in the property was once his — It was now the Salvation Army's, and by God's will it would be put to good use. They heard throughout New Zealand of efforts to erect memorials to commemorate the great war. He had expressed the opinion repeatedly that the best monument they could erect was a living one by training and looking after their derelict children. Of all the races on earth there was none so virile or intelligent as the British race, and to-day the world was lyin-? at Britain's feet to uplift to a higher plane. The material that had made the Empire great was the same material that the Salvation Army had taken in hand—the living stones to build into an institution to further strengthen this great Empire. If every public institution performed such excellent work as the Salvation Army they would have a mighty Empire indeed, for they oould only be great by service. It gave him the greatest pleasure to declare the building open.

The key was then turned to a round of cheers.

Afterwards the visitors were entertained to afternoon tea and were invited to make an inspection of the premises. A collection during the proceedings resulted- in a total of £l6 J being obtained, made up as follows: Mr Henry £25, anonymous £25. Messrs C. L. Mac Diarmid £2O, R. Madill £lO, J. T. Bryant £lO, J. D. Ir.emonger £lO, A E. Manning £lO, J. E. Tidd< S. Tudhope, W.' V. Mason,. D. Meredith, B. 0. Lowry, H.Baulf and Mrs Graham, each £5, the balance being made up in smaller sums.

Apologt es for non-attendance were received from Messrs J. A. Young, M.P., Archdeacon and Mrs Covvie, L. G. Ami strong (Mayor of Te Awamutu), Mr and Mrs S. S. Allen (Piako), Dr. Douglas, R. Reynolds (Cambridge) R. Matticso.i (Taupiri), and Rev. Mackie.