Deaf and Dumb Institute, Waratah

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 17, 30 April 1908, Page 33

Deaf and Dumb Institute, Waratah

The number of pupils afe present under instruction at the Deaf and Dumb Institute, Waratah, New South Wales, is higher thanv ft has ever been before. There are (on roll in the Institute for the years 1907-1908) 53 defeif mutes, 18 boys and S5- girls. , This institute is 1 the only Catholic school for deaf mutes in Australasia, and its pupils come from many different parts. There are now 25' from the archdiocese of Sydwey, and 12 from, other dioceses of New South Wales, four from Goulbfurn, three from Maitland, three from Armidale, one from Lismore, and one from Wilcannia. Victoria sends eight children, four from the archdiocese of Melbourne, three from Ballarat, and- one froiri Sandhurst. From Queensland there are six children, four being from the archdiocese of Brisbane and two from Rockham/ptom. New Zealand sends two children, one from Wellington- and one from Auckland. . The Dominican Nuns, who have founded and -maintained this very necessary work of Catholic education, have always received the warmest encouragement and' support from the venerated hierarchy of Australasia ; and their appeals for the necessary assistance, -without which the work would be impossible, have always met with a generous response from the Hshops and many of the clergy and laity. The following summary gives the sums received from the various dioceses during the year 1907 :— Maitland, £220 ; Sydney, £198 ; Goulburn, £36 ; Brisbane, £23 ; Cooktown, £16 ; Melbourne, £15 ; Armidale, £12 ; Wellington, £11 ; Sandhurst, £10 ; Ballarat, £8 ; Liemore, £8 ; Bathurst, £7 ; Wilcannia, £6 ; Christchurch (N.Z.), £6 ; Rockhampton, £4 ; Auckland (N.Z.), £3 ; Sale, £2 ; Port Augusta, £2 ; Adelaide, £1 ; - Perth, £1 ; Hobart (Tas.) r £1. The circumstances of the children who come to be educated at Waratah as- a - rule prevent their . parents or guardians from furnishing the small pension of £25 yearly, which is necessary for their support, and as the charity receives no subsidy from the-^ Government, the burden of building and maintaining the Institute has majde no 1 small demaaids on the charity of its 1 pajtrons. The following is a summary account of the total amounts received by the Dominican Nuns from each diocese. The Dominican Community has had y the entire burden of providing the teachers and supporting them. .Besides this the diocese of Maiiland has contributed to the Institute since its establishment £7200 ; Sydney ihas contributed £1450 ; Goulburn, £246 ; bourne, £232 ; Armidale, £159 ; Bathurst, £119*; Brisbane, £116 ; Ballarat; £82 ; Hobart, £80 ; Wilcannia, £79 ; Wellington (N.Z.), £70 ; Rockhampton, £49 ; Dumedin (N.Z.), £37; Adelaide, £26; VLcariatte of New Caledonia, £26 ; Lismore, £23 ; Sale, £22 ; Auckland (N.Z.)', £16 ; Vicariate of Cooktown, £14 ; Port Augusta, £10j; Sandhurst, £7. The good work has been the source of untold blessings to upwards of 140 afflicted children, who but for it would have been obliged to liye either in the darkness of their seclusiotn, or worse still, to lose their faith ioi. the secular institutions maintained . in Sydney and Melbourne, and generously assisted from the public purse. The nuns are very anxious to see the time when a separate institution for. boys will be established by some Order of Brothers. "As things are, they keep such boys as are sent to them during their earlier years, but they cannot keep the boys long enough to complete their training and fit them for the battle of life.