ESTUARY'S ORPHANAGE, STOKE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 20, 14 May 1903, Page 20

ESTUARY'S ORPHANAGE, STOKE

We are in receipt of the following appeal on behalf of the Stoke Orphanage and Industrial School •— 'Thou wilt be a helper to the Orphan.'— (Ps. ix., 11.) The complete destruction of Stoke Orphanage by fire at three o clock on Monday morning, 27th April last, is a blow which keenly aliects the whole Catholic body in New Zealand— a blow iclt all th^ more, coming so soon after the melancholy news of the death ot its l'ounder, the \ci.\ Itcv. Dean Mahonoy SM whose life's work was largely there. It was a" noble, 'most necessary and most deseiving institute of Catholic charity, sheltering our tatherless boys and neglected waifs while it carefully trained them in religion and virtue, and prepared them to take an "honorable place as useful citizens in the community. The edge of the blow has been greatly blunted m regard to the Archbishop and the managers of the institute, by the spontaneous and generous offers of practical assistance accompanying the expressions of cordial sympathy which haAe poured in by wire and letter from all classes throughout the Colony Temporary and comfortable accommodation is being provided for the homeless boys. B/,it we are confident, nay sure, that the Catholic body in New Zealand will speedily cause St Mary's Orphanage to rise from its rums in nobler dimensions and increased efficiency. Steps are being taken to immediately erect a brick building which in point of durability and adaptability to its beneficent purposes will far surpass tho late lamented structure As prompt assistance is the best, the Archbishop and the Managers of the institute now appeal most earnestly to the Catholics and all well-wishers in the Colony for Subscriptions, donations, and legacies towards so deserving art enterprise, in order that the noble work, done by the Stoke Orphanage and Industrial School may sufler, at most, only a temporary check

Subscriptions and donations nmy bo sent to the manager, Rev. Father Georire Mahony. S.M , Nelson, or to the 'New Zealand Tablet' The ' smallest subscriptions will be thankfully received and acknowledged in the same paper.

Nelson, May Ist, 1903

(Needless to say, we shall be greatly pleased to recei\e and acknowledge in our columns donations sent to us for the Stoke Orphanage We need not again point out to our readers the inestimable value of the uoik done for fatherless and neglected Catholic childien from every part of New Zealand by this noble (haiity, and we join with the Archbishop and the Managers 'of the institute in the fervent hope that it will speedily rise from its ashes to resume its beneficent work We aie authorised to state that Ins Lordship Bishop \ erdon gi\es his cordial approval and encouragement to ativ moNement lor laismg subscriptions m aid oi the Stoke Orphanage thioughout the diocese of Duneclm. — Iklitor ' N Z. Tablet).