ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 10 August 1911, Page 1528

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

LADIES’ CONFERENCE The twenty-sixth, annual , meeting of the Ladies’ Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon. In the absence of his Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. Burnett), Councillor J. McDonald presided. There was a representative attendance, among those present being his Lordship Bishop Yerdon, Rev. Father Corcoran, Rev. Bryan King, Mr, Talboys, Mr. F. G. Gumming (Patients’ and Prisoners’ Aid Society). After a few introductory remarks, the chairman called upon Mr. E. W. Spain to read the report and balance sheet. His Lordship Bishop Yerdon said he had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. He had listened with great pleasure to the report, and he was satisfied, as they all were,with the very good work done by the society during the past year. The ladies of the society had worked with* great energy, great earnestness, and unostentatiously. It would be seen from the report that the members of the congregation had been most generous in assisting the society, and a considerable sum had been given by them in aid of its work. It seemed certain there was need of such a society in Dunedin. They had a most prosperous country of which they were justly proud, still there were always some' who stood in need of assistance such as is given by the society. The Government was very generous, and the Charitable Aid Board did its part in relieving the wants of many, but there were many persons who would not avail themselves of such assistance, and it was necessary to seek out such persons and help them. There were many many people suffering quietly and patiently to whom the visits of the ladies of the society were very welcome. The society, which had now been in existence for a period of 26 years, was doing admirable work, as all who were acquainted with it could testify. In conclusion, his Lordship said lie had very great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report, and in thanking the ladies of the society for their work during the year. The motion* for the adoption of the report was seconded bv Rev. Father Coffey, and agreed to. Rev. Bryan Kin;? said he had great pleasure in bearing testimony to the grand work done by the members of the Society. There were people who said that there were too many charitable societies in Dunedin, and that all of them were not required. The St. Vincent de Paul Society was certainly one of those that were wanted. The Society was specially fortunate in having at its head Mrs. Jackson, a lady of the most kind and loving disposition, whose heart was in the work. He hoped the work would be as successful in the future as in the past, and. that it would be extended. Mr. Gumming referred to the extremely happy feeling which existed between the members of the various charitable organisations in the city. lie desired to bear testimony to the splendid work done by Mrs. Jackson and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Mr. Talboys congratulated the members of the Society on the work which they were doing. It was a grand work, and unfortunately the necessity for such work was growing rather than diminishing. ' Rev. Father Coffey, after paving a tribute to the earnestness and kindness of Mrs. Jackson and the good work of the Society, said that the success of a society’s work depended principally on the office-bearers. They were all agreed that the office-bearers of the St. Vincent de Paul Society had done their work well in the past, and he had much pleasure in moving that the following be elected for the current vear: —President, Mrs. Jackson; vice-president, Mrs. Mouat: treasurer, Mrs. Cantwell hon. secretary, Mrs. T. Hussey. Officebearers North-east Valley President. Mrs. Hungerford ; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. R. Rossbotham. Kaikorai Guild President, Mrs. Cornish; secretary and .treasurer, Mrs. T, Hill.

. This was seconded by Rev. Father Corcoran and carried. A vote of thanks to Councillor McDonald for presiding and to the City Council for the use of the Council Chambers concluded the business. The following was the annual report:The committee of your society has pleasure in presenting its 26th annual report. The need of such a society seems as pressing as ever, notwithstanding the. large sums paid out by the Charitable Aid Board and other bodies, for there is a certain class of poverty which has to be sought out to be relieved. The demand for clothing, coal, and groceries has been great, especially. during the last few months. Two new sewing guilds have been formed—one at Kaikorai, the other at NorthEast Valley,and are meeting with success. We expect to have a sewing guild formed at Dunedin South during the coming year. The fortnightly committee meetings have been well attended. Seven women were sent to the Magdalen Home, Christchurch, and five children to the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage, and four children to the Nelson Orphanage through the agency of the society. The society*, also, were the means of having eight children baptised, and also arranged for the funeral expenses of one young girl. The thanks of the society are due to his Lordship Dr. Verdon and the clergy, Drs. O’Neill and Hall, Messrs. Callan and Gallaway, the Union Steam Ship Company for concessions in fares, Mr. Gumming . of the Prisoners’ Aid Society, the Victoria Convalescent committee, and Mrs. Ansell. , . The guild formed at North-East Valley has been specially successful, and the members of it are worthy of every commendation for the enthusiasm which they have shown in the work of the society. Wardrobe list —30 pairs blankets, 352 yards flannelette made up into clothing, 53yds flannel, 183yds dress material, 25 pairs boots, 9 new coats, 4 infants’ shawls, 13 new dresses, also a large quantity of secondhand clothing. Balance Sheet. Receipts.

£ s. d. To Balance, July, 1910 ... 66 6 7 Subscriptions ... ... ... 22 11 6 Cathedral Poor Box ... ... 10 6 0 Devine Estate ... 34 5 9 Wilson Estate ... 5 0 0 Donations ... 2 13 0 Church Collection ... ... 56 7 1 Expenses. £197 9 11 * . £ s. d. By Groceries ... £ s. d. ... 38 10 0 Coal ... 21 18 6 Drapery ... 45 13 6 Boots ... ... ... 14 3 2 Telephone ... 5 0 0 Mount Magdala ... 5 0 6 Part payment funeral exnemes 0 Part payment funeral expenses... 1 ... 10 00 Boat and train fares ... ... 23 5 0 Board ... ... ... 4 8 9 Sundries, telegrams, cab-hire, furniture, etc. 4 16 11 Balance in hand ... 33 13 7 £197 9 U