FEMALE REFUGE FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 127, 27 October 1874, Page 4

FEMALE REFUGE FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a female refuge in Christchurch, was held in his Honor the Superintendent’s office yesterday afternoon. There were present—His Honor the Superintendent, his Honor Mr Justice Gressou, Mr C, C, Bowen, R.M.;the Rev Canon Dudley, Revs Edwards, Watson, Habens, Duller, and Lingard; Messrs Montgomery, Gould, Bowron, Lane, Callender, Inglis, and G. Hart. His Honor the Superintendent said he had called the meeting to consider the question of establishing a refuge on a larger and more permanent basis than the one which had recently ceased to exist. Before proceeding further he would read the following letters which had been addressed to him. “Bishop’s Court, Christchurch, “ October 24th, 1874. “ Dear Mr Superintendent,—l am sorry that I shall not be able to attend the meeting called for Monday next, at 3 p.m, to aid in the establishment of a refuge. I shall be engaged on a select committee of the Diocesan Synod, from 3 to 4 p.m, when the Synod will resume its sittings. I shall be glad, however, to promote the object of the meeting by an annual subscription, and by serving on a committee, if a committee be appointed, and my services needed, or in any other way which may be thought advisable. “Yours very faithfully, “ H. J. C. Christchurch. “ His Honor the Superintendent.” “ The Deanery, “ October 251 h, 1874. “ To his Honor the Superintendent. « Sir,—l bog to thank you for your courtesy in inviting me to attend the meeting to be held at 3 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, in connection with the establishment of a House of Refuge. “ I regret exceedingly that it is not in my power to attend the meeting, as I am deeply interested in the object sought to be promoted.

“ I shall be glad if you will kindly state to those present the cause of my absence, which is, that I am the chairman of a select committee of the Synod, which is to meet at the same hour, one, and that the sitting of the Synod itself commences at 4 o’clock.

“ I have the honor to be, Sir, “Your obedient servant, “Henry Jacobs.” In the early part of the present year the committee which had the management of the former female refuge, had waited upon the Government, and stated that they were unable, from a variety of reasons, to carry it on any longer. This result had been arrived at partly from the want of funds, and partly from the narrow basis on which it was established, and also because they found it impossible to conduct it in a manner satisfactory to themselves. The Government had consequently placed a sum of money upon the estimates, £2OOO, towards the establishment of a new refuge. This sum it was proposed to expend in purchasing a site and erecting suitable buildings. When this was done the Government thought the institution should to a great extent be self-supporting. But the view of the Government was that such an institution would be better managed by a committee of the public than by the Govern-

ment, and the maintenance would mainly devolve upon the public in the form of subscriptions, the Government granting an annual subsidy, to be in a certain proportion to these subscriptions. The committee of management would bo elected by the subscribers. They would draw up rules and regulations, which, when approved by the Government, would be in force in the institution. They would have the charge of the site and building, though these would be vested in the Government, and subject to the rules and regulations before-mentioned, would have the general control of the institution. He hoped those present would see their way clearly to promote this object. The present was only the beginning of a system which must sooner or later become general, of placing the charitable institutions in the hands of the public to maintain. For his own part he thought that the adoption of these institutions by the Government had tended to dry up the fountains of private benevolence, and so far had proved mischievous. lie believed that institutions of this kind might draw largely upon the sympathy of religious congregations, in a similar way as the hospitals had done in Melbourne and elsewhere. For his own part he should take a great interest in the establishment of the institution, and hoped it would prove successful . Mr Justice Gresson felt that the former institution was founded upon too narrow a basis, and he thought the time had arrived when such an institution as the one proposed was required, and he thought it could be better managed by a committee of the public than by the Government. If well managed it would attract a large amount of public support, and be to a great extent self-sup-porting. He had great pleasure in moving the following resolution ; —“ That the undermentioned gentlemen be requested to act as a provisional committee, with power to add to their number, to collect subscriptions for the refuge, and to call a meeting of subscribers on an early day to appoint the annual committee, with power too add to their number, and that his Honor the Judge be requested to convene the committee ; Messrs J. B. A. Acland, J. Anderson, C. O. Bowen, Rev J Buller, Bishop of Christchurch, Rev C. Fraser, Judge Gresson, G. Gould, Rev W. J. Habens. J. W. Hamilton, 1/. Harper, G. Hart, J. Inglis, Very Rev Dean Jacobs, W. H. Lane, Rev E. A. Lingard, J. Palmer, J. T. Peacock, H. J. Tancrtd. J. S. Turnbull, R. Wilkin, J. S. Williams, G. Bowron, Rev Edwards. Mr C. G. Bowen had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. The former institution was not a public one, but had been started, and for a long time almost entirely managed, by one gentleman, the Rev H. Torlesse, who, during that time, devoted a great deal of his time and energies to its support. From his experience as a magistrate he felt that a refuge such as was proposed was urgently required. ' The past one had been of great service, and from his own knowledge he knew that it had been the means of saving several women from a life of degradation. Now that the Government had supplied the money for the erection of a proper institution, he thought the public had a right to keep it in working order. Mr Inglis thought they were going too fast. He thought some information should be supplied as to the rules under which it was to be managed, as without some such information they might have some difficulty in going to the public and asking for subscriptions, Mr Montgomery said he thought his Honor had stated fully the manner in which it was proposed to manage the institution. The subscribers themselves would have the right of framing the rules, which, when approved by his Honor, would be binding. After some discussion on the question of the management of the institution, the resolution was put and carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by Mr Justice Gresson, and seconded by the Rev H. G. M. Watson, brought the meeting to a close.