WOMEN STUDENTS' HOSTEL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 8

WOMEN STUDENTS' HOSTEL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting in connection with tho Women Students' Hostel was held in St. John's Church managers' room yesterday afternoon, Mr. Aitken (president) occupying the chair. The annual, report and balance-sheet were submitted, and the council elected for tho ensuing year.

The report, which was read by the Rev. W. Shirer. stated that, in spite of some drawbacks which had occurred during tho past year, inevitable in the histories of all such institutions, the movement had been one of steady progress. Tho balance-sheet shows a further reduction in the guaranteed bank overdraft, which now , stands- at £2360 Bs. 7d. The reduction effected during the past year is not so great as in the two previous years, and that is accounted for as follows: —First, acting upon a recommendation from the society, wo requested the auditor to allow for depreciation on building, furnitures and improvements, in order to show the actual financial position of the society. Thus the excess of income over expenditure, without taking depreciation into account, is £199"135., which sum is reduced to £13 14s. after such depreciation is allowed for. Secondly, owing to vacancies and absences on sick leave, the board fees are £1159 19s. 10d. this year, as against £1235 17s. Id. last year. The expense of housekeeping and maintenance has been £960 6s. 10d., against £981 18s. Id. last year. As, a balance against tho apparently smaller reduction of tlio overdraft, various improvements have.been made, the roof has been painted, and several additions have been mado to tho furnishings, accounting for an outlayof £90 13s. 4d. From this the trustees can be assured that the establishment is kept in a thorough condition of repair and general .efficiency. ■

The council acknowledged their indebtedness to Mrs. Thornton, tho lady principal, for the satisfactory manner in which sho had'discharged the'duties of her office. , The Students' House Committee has once nibro. rendered loyal service, and forms a really useful bond of union between council and students. A. few cases of illness have occurred during the year, chiefly owing to influenza, but there has been no real sickness, and the high standard of health among the students has been maintained. Since the- last annual meeting of the society there have been changes in tho personnel .of the council. In Mrs. Picken's tragic death last year an able . and zealous member of • the committee was lost, whose influence was always exercised for good, and whose gracious manners endeared her to her fellow-workers. Whilst deploring her early death, the greatest thankfulness could not but be felt for the life lived and the services so freely rendered.

In February last Mrs. Gibbs resigned her position on the council, in view of her approaching departure-from Wellington. Great indebtedness was felt to Mrs. Gibbs for her kindly and wise counsels and for tho whole-hearted readiness with which she had invariably thrown herself into tho practical affairs of tho council, often at great personal inconvenience. The council was pleased to welcome Mrs. Shirer and Mrs. Eliott into their midst, and thero is no doubt but that they will bo valued members. The council desires to place on record its great sense of gratitude to Mrs. Salmond, who has acted as secretary of tho council and treasurer to the society since the hostel wa-s established, It is obvious that this doublo office entails on Mrs. Salmond almost all tho details of the working of tho hostel, and the council feel that its continued success is largely duo to her ability tact, as well as to tho great amount of time and thought that sho has expended upon its affairs, both with regard to tho finance and also in cultivating friendly relations with the principal and with the students. The council felt that both they and tho society are under a great obligation to Mrs. Salmond for this work, and they aro glad of this opportunity of expressing it. Mrs. Salmond submitted tho balancesheet, tho substance of which is incorporated in the above report. The election of the council for tho following year resulted in the following being appointed:—Mrs. Wallis, Mrs. fialmond, Mrs. Martin, Dr. A. Bennett, Miss Holmes (appointed by tho Church of England), Mrs. Gibb, Mrs. Gill, Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Elliott, and Mrs. . Shirer (appointed by tho Presbytery). Bishop AVallis is the president for tho ensuing year, and tho Rev. 'Shirer is reappointed secrotaiy. Mrs. Salmond was Te-olected Jjoo. traasuiex. . ' .....