MAKING FUTURE CITIZENS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 615, 11 March 1921, Page 3

MAKING FUTURE CITIZENS.

HOW THE MATRON DOES IT. PAPATOETOE ORPHAN HOME ADMINISTRATION. Nothing is left undone by the staff cl the Orphan Home to fit the orphans to take a position in the community which may place them in later life on a par with children no so handicapped. Their instruction at the home is well calculated to majte them ready to fill their place in the great scheme of things, every small detail of which contributes to the success of our world-wide Empire. The girls, when they attain the age of 13 or 14 years, are practically apprenticed to the cook and laundry workers. They do much of the cooking for the large family, and learn to wash and iron and take care of clothes, prior to going out to service. The elder boys are taught to milk and work horses in order that they may later become farm hands. Henceforth the chaplain will take both boys and girls out to the positions that have been secured for them, and will observe whether the working conditions are satisfactory. About 800 children have passed through the home and of these a number saw active service in the war, five giving the supreme sacrifice. Out of this number only four have died while inmates. There are 72 children at present in the home.

Historic Associations. The chapel has only recently been built, the foundation stone having been laid by the Bishop on St. Matthew’s Day, September 21, 1918. It was formerly a part of the famous “Bell Henry Tower,” of Canterbury, Cathedral, England. Inside the chapel has a beautiful appearance and light is admitted to the chancel through large stained glass windows. In the aisle at the back is a font of polisned marble, tortoise shell in colour. Peculiar interest attaches to this font.. It is the gift of a life-long friend of the home, Mrs Kinder. The font stands on stone rom old St. Thomas’ Church, Tamaki, and from St. John’s College. The step contains a tile taken from Winchester Cathedral. The slab on the floor level is made up of a piece of the Marsden cross at the Bay of Islands, which was broken off in a storm, stone from the school for Maori girls at Pahia, stone from the old printing press building's at Pahia, stone from Ruatara’s Pa,, Bay of Islands, and stone from" Bishop Selwyn’s library at Kerikeri. Boys and girls of the home form a surpliced choir and the service is conducted by Rev. Davis.

Finance and Expenditure. When the home was first started at the farm at Papatoeoe, ajl vegetables that were used were bought, Since then a gardener has been engaged, and the garden, as it is today, would do credit to a nurseryman or market gardener, both in the variety and quality of the plants grown. It supplies all the requirements of the kitchen and is cared for entirely by one man. This is considerable in view r of the fact that the cost per annum of a child in the home has increased from £23 19s 7d 10 years ago to £3B in 1919-20, including clothing and education. Without a garden it seems highly improbable that a child could be kept for much less than £1 per week. Sheep, killed by the manager, supply the orphanage with meat. The cost of upkeep ol the home was about £2900 a year in. 1919-20. Additions since Miss Hooker took up the position of mation include the construction of separate cubicle room for the elder girls, who watch over the younger children. Dr. Bews, who is one of the hon. medical officers and resides in the district, watches over the health of the Orphan Home.