APPEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7937, 28 September 1905, Page 3

APPEAL.

The Orphan Home, Parnell, Auckland.

The disastrous fire (hut occurred at tho Orphan Home, l'arnell, Auckland, on Sunday, September 17, will be fresh in tho mimls of the readers ot this paper. This appeal is intended to make plain tho extent of the loss, its effect upon the present conililien of the children, ami the urgent necessity for Funds to provide adequately and wisely for their future 'Welfare. Children from the districts where this paper circulates have from time to time been cared for in the Home, which has, therefore, a particular as well as a general claim upon your sympathies.

I.—THE LOSS. I Tho two Main Dormitories arc al>soluteiy destroyed, that is, the sleeping accommodation of over 70 children. In addition, the Matron's Quarters, Staff IMningroom, Sewing room, Seamstress' Bedroom and Hospital are totally 'destroyed, and, besides this, a considerable quantity of Clothing and Furniture has been lost. What this means to the children and lo the matron and her stall can hardly be conveyed by mere words.

2.—NKW ULIJUDINUS. Tho matter of providing New Buildings 'has l>ven receiving the careful consideration of the Hoard, as apl«.'ars by thu last two annual reports, uml a New Buildings Fnrnl has been created. 11l providing permanent accommodation, the safety of tho children is a consideration of paramount importance, and this can only he secured in Buildings of Stonu or Brick.

."..-THE COST. Of such Huildings on mortem lines is roughly estimated at -from £SOOO t& it7ooo, in addition to -which it may bu necessary to.purchase land. 4.—THE FINANCIAL POSITION. Tho income from Iho Hoard's Endowments is fully absorljcd in maintaining tho 89 children in the Home. The numbers have increased since .'list March, 1005, by 28, ami for tho current year, owinp lo such increase, the Hoard anticipates a debit Imlanco of expenditure over receipts. This will, of course. Ik* increased by -the expenses inevitably attendant upon thu lire. ..To take any considerable sum from the Capital for building purposes would very seriously hamper the work; of the Home, ami prejudice the well-being of the children.

The New Tiuildmg Fund Account now stands at £ll in. Tin- insurance on tho Huildingdestroyed is £1250. Amount available is £2.'> on. Rough estimate of amount still required for Huilding is £lO-10 The Hume has not received any (.'ovormnent subsidy for the last twenty years. It has been already slated that the Hoard had -begun to form a Huilding Fund. }lad it proved necessary te make a Public Appeal, in the future, fur that fund, the amount asked for would have been coniparitivel.v small. NOW THEHE IS NO ALTKKNA-