MOUNT MAGDALA VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 17, 25 April 1907, Page 24

MOUNT MAGDALA VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION

(From our Christoh.urchcorresipond.ent.) This following is a report from the ' Lytteltom. Times ' of a visit last week by the Hon. G. Fowilds to the Magdalen Asylum and bacret Heart Orphanage at Mount Ma&d&la :,— - - - At the invitation of his Lordship Bishop Grimes, tiie Hon G Fowlds, Minister of Education and Public Health, paid a" visit "to the Mount Magdala Asylum, and inspected the reformatory and orphanage there. • Mr. Fowlds was met a 5 the Addington station by Bishop Grimes and driven to Mount Magdala, where he was received by the Very Rev. Dean Ginaty. The Minister and Bishop Grimes were conducted on a tour of the institutions, accompanied by the Mother Superior and the Mother Provincial of the Order of the Good Shepherd, Melbourne, and her assistants, who are at present on a short visit to Christchurch. The inspection- was most thorough, and the extent of the buildings and their convenience and completeness were the subject of appreciative comments. The reformatory department 'of- the institution, which contained. - about 140 inmates, was totally oMslinct from the orphanage, where there were about fifty children. It was stated that during the twen.ty-<one years that the institution bad been open, over 6>!o women and girls had passed through it. Whcoi the inmates left, the Sisters keep in touch, with them, and thus had a certain oontiol over them. The oryitoana'ge had been established only five years, and additional accommodation was now being' provided. After the building had bean inspected, the Minister was conducted to the large room of . the Orphanage, where the children, avlio wore of varying sizes and ages, sang a special song of welcome. Mr. Fowlds was introduced to ..the children by Bishop Grimes, who said they were all very pleased and honored to- -receive his visit. The elder girls thon went throujch a creditable display of Indian chvb-swinghvg, after which two of the smaller mites gave a \ery entertaining song and recitation respectively, and an older girl recited an ' amusing piece. Addressing the children in a kindly manner, Mr. Fowkis said that he was pleased to have the opportunity to meet them, -and to see them all looking so bright and happy, and evidently appreciating the attention of the Sisters in trying to give tbem their education and turn them out into good girls and women, lie hoped they would develop i n their life artd character something of the goo-d example shown them', and that they would try in every word and action to show kindness to those around tbem, and to make their lives brighter and better. Mr. Fowlds then visited the other inmates of the institution. He was introduced by Bishop Grimes, who &aid that the Minister had the cause of education vfiry deeply at heart, not only in virtue of his high office, but -firstly because he had always shown a great interest in anything connected with the betterment of his fellow-beings. M,r. Fowlds had readily accepted the in\itation to visit the institution, and had done so at great personal inconvenience. The Bishop added that it would ill become him himself to say anything about the institution, but he could rely on the fact of Mr. Fowlds beings as he had overheard the Mother Provincial say, a keen observer who would form his own opinions of the establishment.' He might say that the father and founder of the institution was Dean Ginaty, who, after having been a number of years in ■C'ihristchurcli, had realised the need, of such an establishment. The Archbishop had given his sanction to the work, and when he himself had arrived in the diocese, twenfity^one years ago>, he had found th,e great blessinjg of having a branch of the Convent of the Goad Shepherd. The work done had been very great, ' and numbers' hall passed through, its hallowed walls. ' They had 1 been a comfort and consolation to the good Sisters and worthy pastor, and he thought they had continued good members of society, for. which they " had been prepared by the devoted nuns. Mr. FowLds expressed Ids pleasure at the opportunityof visiting! the institution of which he had heard moich that was good. Having seen it with his own eyes, he was delighted at the appearance of everything. He had ' remarked upon the smiling,' attractive faces of the .'u- children, and he was sure the condition of those ohtil- , clren reflected the very hi Finest credit on the Sisters who - were devoting their lives to helping them and mak-

ing them brighter, better, .and happier. He was delighitedi to think that the Colony - had such self-sacri-ficing citizens as the nuns, who' were carrying on the work of tlve .-institution. ,He was pleased to see the extent and . variety- of the occupations pursued, and the condition® provided within the ground's and sacred walls were such as to inspire a desire on the part of everyone to be worthy and grow better day by day. ,