Social work.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 5, 1 November 1915, Page 61

Social work.

Ihe half-yearly meeting of the General committee lor tne bocial Wont was held at fc>. Mary's Home, iNapier, on Wednesday, October 27, at 2.30 p.m. " . . ' There were present : The Bishop (m the chair), Archdeacon liuddocK. Mrs Sedgwick (representing Takapau), Mrs Ruddock (Weber), Mrs Henley (Cathedral Parish, Napier), Mrs Thorp (S. Augustine's), Mrs C. i-i. Maclean (Rotorua), Mrs Gordon Williams Mrs Kinross White, Mrs Sheath (Patutahi), and Deaconess Ksther. The delegates reported what nad been done lor the work since June Ist m the parishes represented by them, and the Deaconess stated what had been done, . or would be done, m -the other parishes — Danne\irK.e, Hastings, Havelock North, Puketapu, Te Kara^a, Tolaga Bay, Taradaie, Waipukurau, Woodvilie, Waipawa, and Waipiro Bay. The financial details are as follows : — Received since June Ist : Cathedral Parish, Napier ,£33, S. Augustine's £5, Dannevir.ke 10s, Hastings £16 15s bd. (subscriptions) 8s 7d (collection on Good Friday), Havelock North ;£i6 2s 6d, Otane Ormondville us 6d, Patutahi 12s 6d, Puketapu £.6 10s, Te Karaka ;£i 2s 4d, Tolaga Bay ( I9s^ Takapau 9s, Weber 6s* Waipukurau 10s, Waipiro Bay £7 6s. Total 3s nd. The Deaconess then gave a sketch of the work that had been done since the Home was opened on May 31st— Four girls had been received (maternity cases) the first ten days after the opening, the fourth m September. They had all been quite willing to stay the required six months after the birth of the child ; they were doing the daily work well, and making m every way a Hopeful response to what she described as " the atmos-

phere " of the Home. The endeavour is t6 make them feel that real penitence, and not a return to mere outward respectability, is the object of those who are befriending them. With regard to the second branch of the work— the training of Church workers — Nurse Sanders, after four months m the Home, started for the Solomons, m the " Southern Cross," on September 3rd. »A. ladyis now preparing for evangelistic woflk m Melanesia, and some applications have been received for training for parochial work m this Diocese. Women workers are greatly needed, and it is desired that this fact be' made widely known ; together with the opportunity for testing and training offered at S. Mary's Home. The Bishop said that they were very grateful to all who by their subscriptions, their interest, and their practical efforts, had, m spite of the special claims of the past year, enabled the. work to make such a good start. He knew there were several parishes that intended to contribute their share as soon as they were able. He had three business announcements to make : — 1. That Mr Ivan I/Ogan had kindly consented to act as Honorary Solicitor for the Rescue Work. 2. That the Charitable Aid Board had granted the services, when required, of one of the Medical Staff of the Hospital. 3. That the Trustees of the Social Work had decided to enlarge the House Committee, so that it should consist of four men and six women, with the Deaconess,, ex-officio. The Trustees had elected Canon Mayne, a nd it was now the duty of the Central Committee to elect another lady. The Bishop then asked for non> inations, and Mrs James Murdoch was proposed by Mrs Ruddock, seconded by Mrs Kinross White, and unanimously elected. It was resolved that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Ivan IyOgan for his. valuable services. At the close! of the meeting there was a short service of intercession m the Chapel. (N.B.— One bedroom m the Workers' Training Home is still unfurnished ; the furniture required is t bedstead and bedding, small chest of drawers, small table, chair and. mat. One great need, a sewing machine, has just been supplied by Lady Whitmore's kind donation for. the purchase of the same.)