ORPHANAGE SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2159, 27 May 1914, Page 9

ORPHANAGE SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING The fifth annual meeting of tho Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association was held in St. John's Schoolroom, Dixon Street, last evening. Tho Rev. Or. Gibb presided, and the schoolroom was rilled, while hi the vront rows there was quite an array of the orphanage children. The proceedings opened with tho singing of tho hymn '•fciuffer Littlo Children to Come Unto Me." Several other musical items in which tho orphanage children took part wero given during the evening. After the annual report had been read tho Rev. Dr. Gibb remarked that the association had reason to congratulateitself on the year's operations. The balance-sheet and subscriptions received disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs._ Dr. Gibb also paid a tribute to tho fine work. done by Mr. and Mrs. Mills. A. project which the association had in view was tho erection of a cottage- for tho elder orphan boys alongsido of tho present orphanage, and it was to bo hoped that this work could bo carried jilt in tho I'.oar future.

The Rev. J. M'Caw, of Lower Hutt, also 'addressed thoso present. In the course of his remarks he expressed pleasure at tho wonderfully healthy appearance of the orphanage children. Mr. William Hannay read the bal-anco-sheet, and both it and the annual report were adopted. ; The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the chairman, members of tho executive, Mr. and Mrs. Mills, and assistants, the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee, and everyone who has assisted in the work of the association.

Refreshments were provided by tho members of llio Ladies' Auxiliary Committee at the conclusion of the meeting. Work of-the Year. The annual report stated that the' work of tho orphanage had gone with a swing. During the year o2 children were cared for, iO being housed at present. Of those '23 were boys and 17. girls. Sixteen children were admitted and 12 left, 812 having passed through the committee's hands since the inception of tho institution. Thirty children were being sent to tho public school'. The committee heartily thanked tho lion, medical officers (Drs. Begg and Elliott), the hou. dentist (Mr. A. Hoby), and the ho'n. auditor (Air. W. Miller) for services. The association's work had increased very rapidly since its inception, and, in the judgment of the committee, it was almost imperative that a male assistant should be appointed to assist Mr. Mills. Presently, too. there would, bo a call for extra accommodation, n separate cottage being needed for the elder boys of the orphanage. Mr. Mills's recommendation fo ar Mission Hall service had not been lost sight of, so the association's programme was, remarked tho report, far from complete. v .Tlio ordinary incomo exceeded the' expenditure by £3ij, to which, adding a legacy of £1000, a grant of £190 from the Macarthy Trustees, and the balance in hand at the beginning of the year's operations, enabled tho committee to set asido J2ISOO towards the repayment of the debt of £3500 on tho orphanage property: In this connection tlio committee affirmed that no one can bo too generous to this institution, and large gifts like those that have been donated 'to the Dunedin and Christchurch- Orphanages were eagerly looked for. If by tho close of the incoming year the committee could at least .wipo out .1 the dqbt : on tho buijdiugs;tho 'way would, be. open, into a : wider' held .of" work.'" The Country Districts, tho Bible Classes,. Ladies' Guilds, and tho Ladies' Auxiliary Committee, had greatly contributed towards tho buccoss, of tho undertaking, and the committee again sought their

valued co-operation. During the year Mr. Mills visited twenty congregations";

successfully appealing for monetary u'eTrr; Tho cash exceeded liabilities by £4534. Tho cash on deposit, together with accrued interest, was £1813, and the cash in the bank totalled £152. Association's Officers. ■■ In connection with the above, officers wore recently appointed as follow by tho 'Wellington Presbytery: — Chairman, Rev. Dr. Gibb; committee, Revs. J. K. JSlliott. 8.A., W. Shirer, W. J. Comrie, J. Gibson, — Smith, James M'Caw, A. T. Thompson, 8.A., 8.D., Jaincs CumDiins, M.A., Dr. J. S. Elliott, Dr. C. M. Begg, and Messrs. J. G. W. Aitkcn, W Allan, W. M. Hannay-, M. D. Menelans, W. A. Patterson, J. Pollock, Colonel Newall, C.8., A. R. Stone, John Smith, J. A. Thomson, and G. A. Troup.