ST. MART'S ORPHANAGE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 49, 8 April 1898, Page 19

ST. MART'S ORPHANAGE, WELLINGTON.

(From our Wellington correspondent.)

Father Damien might have lived and died in his leper home, without the world at large beiny cognisant of his existence, urns it not for his discovery by a non-Catholic traveller, who was struck by the priest's heroism and devotion. It was the cynical, unbelieving world which proclaimed the leper priest's sacrifice, not his cjreligionists, for the Catholic Church has so many example* of Christian heroism that she regards them as matters, of every day occurrence. The bister ot Charity and the Little Sisters of the Poor display a heroism of which the world rarely takes cognisance. Yet such instances occur day by day in many parts of tho world.

Thesa remarks have been suggested to me by a visit which 1 paid the other Sunday to St. Mary s Orphanage, which is under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, and where 1 had an opportunity ot seeing the noble work done by them m a quiet and unostentatious manner. Here we see a number of ladies who left home and kmdred to devote themselves without fee or reward to the training and education ot orphan children, many of whom perhaps never knew a mother's love, whilst others had to be taken by the strong 1 arm of the law from parents who ignored their natural responsibilities. There arc over 100 orphans in the establishment, ot aj^es \arying from two to l.*> years.

The first thing that strikes a -visitor on entering the institution is the order and neatness everywhere observable, and tho next, the liberty which the children enjoy, and the respect and obedience shown by them to the Sisters. One cannot help noting, too, the happy and contented demeanour of the children, and continuing it with that appearance of drilled subjection apparent in the behaviour of inmates of State institutions. All visitors to the Orphanage. from the Governor downward, have been impre&bt'd \v ith the happy, contented appearance of the children, and they have testified to tliib in the Visitors' Book, which is to be seen in the reception room to the left as one enters the building. A little further on, to the right of the main corridor, is the schoolroom, which has been recently divided, so that the juniors are now separated from the older This schoolroom is neat, commodious, and well-furnished, the de^ks and appointments being well up to date. A little to the left of the sohoolroom are the dining-room, and other apartments. Here the elder girls are initiated into the mysteries of housekeeping — a portion of their education to which much attention is paid, as many of them go out to earn a living as domestic torvants. Another apartment on the ground floor is the workroom. Heic are half-a-d zen sewing machines, and two or three machines for sewing the uppers of boots, for the Sibters and the a, row n-up iris do all the bootmaking of the Orphanage ; also knittiny machines of various kinds, besides

other labour-saving appliances. On ascending to the first floor, we come to the infirmary and dormitories. The former apartment is rarely used, lor the very good reason that the care and attention bestowed on the inmates keep them in excellent health. A. lady visitor who was present expressed her surprise at the comfort apparent in the sleeping apartments, which she said were superior to those of many high -class pensions on tho Continent. The dormitories are lotty, airy, well-ventilated, and needless to say spotlessly clean. Th<3 beds, th.3 majority of which have been presented by generous* donors, are of iron with with woven wire and other mattresses. At one end of the sleeping apartments are situated the bathrooms and lavatories, with a plentiful supply of hot and cold water. In each sleeping apartment there i<? a room for one of the sisters. Descending by a couple of nights of stairs the visitor comes to the ground fl >or of one win.* of the building, and here you enter a well-lighted spacious apartment, which is used in wet weather and in the long winter evenings as a play-room for the children. The orphanage stands in the healthiest part of Wellington, and some years ago took the place of the old " providence " Home, which was erected in L 5."52 on an acre granted by Government. This did duty until 181)1, when the erection of a new building, which cost over ii,") 000, became an absolute necessity. This amount was contributed by friends of the institution, or raisel by concerts and bazaars. There are now about 100 girls in the Orphanage, over one-half of whom are paid tor either by a capitation allowance from the Government or the Charitable Aid Board. Relations, friends, or the Sisterhood are responsible for the remainder. Here is an extract from the Education Board Inspector's report : " The class- work, discipline, tone and management are very satisfactory, the children being well taught in well-appointed and comfortable surroundings. The children are removed to the workroom, which is a great feature of the institution, at the age of twelve. We were very much pleased at all we saw on examination day, and with the reception which we me ."

Even when the girls go out into the world the interest of the Sisters in their career does not cease, for;great care is exercised in the selection of a home for them, whilst the Sisters correspond with them regularly or visit them if convenient. The majority go to domestic service, for which they are admirably trained. They are much sought after. Many who were brought up in orphanage are now married and have comfortable homes of their own.