BEPORT OF THE Y.W.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 2

BEPORT OF THE Y.W.C.A.

FOR THE PAST YEAR. The report of tho work of tho •Y.W.C.A. from August, 1912, to 1913, states, inter alia:—After five years of service as president, Mrs. M'Clay retired owing to ill-health, and Mrs. A. Pi Webster was elected • to bo the new president, Miss M'Lean, M.A. continuing to bo honorary president. Tho governing membership included only thoso who wore in full communion with, any evangelical church, but any woman •interested in tho welfare of girls could join tho association. _ During tho year 72 mombors .left Wellington, 57 lapsed, while 368 wore added to tho roll, and tho membership now stood at 608. On Sunday afternoon and 'Thursday ovoning religious sorvices had been regularly conducted. Subjects taken for study and address were chosen with special consideration of tho real life and needs of girls and women. Tho speakers on tho syllabus wero: Rev. E. 0. Blamires, RoV. Canon Garland, Rev. W. H. Shiror, Rov. Gibson Smith, Rev. J. J. North, Rov. Dr. Hughes, Rev. G. S. Cook, Rov. B. Hutson, Rev. A. T. Brainsby, Rov. G. S. Buchanan; Messrs. A. P. Wobster, E. Dimant, G. Davis, C. Alexander, R. Brown 1 , W. B. Sloan, E. C. Elman, Bain, H. Roborts, Mesdames Hoby, Cunnington, Roberts, M'Clay, Blackburno, Richardson, Sister Maribn, Sister Constance, Misses Barnes, M'Lean. Birch, Millar, White, Bertinshaw, Coclcin, and Thomas. Two Bible Study Circles and threo Prayer Circles wero held every week. _ Several educative lectures had been given upon the ovils resulting from tho misuse of alcohol by Dr. R. 0. Whyte, Mrs. Poryinan, and Miss Dimlop. Upwards of £17 had been given by voluntary contribution for the national foreign department and other missionary causes. The Twenty-four Hour Club had for its object tho support of a secrotary in China. Tho Lyric Club had an avorago attendance of 21 girls. It had been conducted tho greater part of tho year'by Mr. F. Billman, but . was now' under tho leadership of Mr. F. S. l'opo. Tho Ramblers' Club was arranged for tho summor months. A Homo Girls' Club had been formed for girls from overseas, its object being to bring tho newcomers into touch with others from their own countries.

Tlio success of the hostel was largely duo to the co-operation of tlio members of the House Committee. During the year tliei'e had been twenty pormancnt boarders; Tho floating population of the homo'numbered 669, many of whom were from other parts of tho Dominion, while a proportion woro from Great Britain and Ireland, from America, Africa, Australia, and Tasmania. Not only had tho 36 bods been kept constantly full, but at not infrequent intervals every possiblo corner of tho house had been in requisition. Visitors had often requested beds on tho floor rather than bo refused admission. A house was also secured for the uso of girls who "batched," and needed furnished rooms only. It was renovated and furnished, "and formally opened by Mrs. Mnssoy, tlio wife of tho Premier, on July 26. Tho money for furnishing and renovating—£3B2 in all —was taken from the hostel furnishing fund, the existence of which was'due to efforts of members in the early diys of the association.

Girls from oversoas had been given special consideration by a Committee on Travellers' Aid, which was formed for tho purposoof protecting and helping girls travelling tilono. Tlio association was in touch with all tho (.fganisations connected with young womon who emigrated from tlio Old Lands, and'in constant communication with them concorning girls who woro travolljng to Nsw Zoajend. OanU bearing addresses

of all tho Dominion associations word given to girlsVm tho Homo boats on arrival before landing. Tho association was recognised by tho Government in its work of assisting to provide accommodation and caro for girls on their arrival. Suggestious to girls travelling nlono were placcd as warnings on 181; iof tlio railway stations of New Zealand. The subjects for instruction, in addition to Bible and mission study, wero s Review of English subjects, dressmaking, millinery, cookery, physical culturo, St. John Ambulance (first aid and homo nursing), elocution, and urt. Thoro had been an enrolment in all classes of 182 during tho year. - Monthly lectureß of an instructional character wero.giyeu! by . Miss Holmes, Professor M'Kenzio, ■ Mr. J. S. Tennant, M.A., B.Sc., Mrs. Hogg, Dr. Platts-Mills, Professor Easterfield, Mr. A. C. Gifford, M.A., and Dr. , Newman, M.P. A humorous locturo was also given by tho Rev. J. G. Chap-' man. Talks to girls on health topics; wero given monthly by doctors, include, ing Dr. Kato Hogg, Dr, Alico Collio t , Dr. Agnes Bennett, Dr. Edith Huntloy, Dr. Elizabeth Macdonald, and Dr. R. 0. Whyto. Thoro were three small liters ary circles of tho To Pani Club held at Upper Hutt, Nowtown, and Taßman. Street, with a membership of twenty; in all. ( To Mrs. Von Haast thanks wero due for tho sale of Italian fanoy goods held in her homo amongst her own friends, tho proceeds of which resulted in upwards of £14; also to Mr. and Mrs, J. P. Luke for opening thoir house and grounds for a garden party; and all who have helped tlio association in .tlio past year. '