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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 60

Report of the Home for Friendless Women, Newtown [1885]

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Wellington

Ladies' Christian Association.

Wellington: Lyon And Blair, Printers, Lambton Quay. 1885.

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Fifth Annual Report of the Home for Restitute and friendless Women.

The Managing Committee of the Women's Home desire in presenting their Fifth Annual Report to the subscribers, to express their sense of the special causes of thankfulness which the experience of the past year has given.

Although the number of those admitted has been greater than during any previous year, and there have been some cases of serious illness, yet the atmosphere of the Home has as a rule been cheerful and busy; the general tone among the inmates has been higher than heretofore; there has been very little insubordination or discord, and the conduct of the young women to whom the institution has afforded a period of probation after a first offence, has generally speaking, been very good, and in some cases really admirable.

Seven young women of the class last referred to have left the Home during the past year. Two of these have married respectably; two of them are in good situations where they are giving great satisfaction to their employers; one has returned to her parents; one, who was in delicate health at the time of her admission, has died; and one left before her time of probation had expired (see Rule 6), and returned to her friends.

The experience of the last two years has shown the Committee how much may be done in the way of giving a fresh start in life to those who, after having borne good characters, have gone astray for the first time. It has likewise confirmed their belief that it would be a grievous error to bring them into contact with habitual offenders.

As some misapprehension still exists as to the class of persons who are admitted to the Home, it may be as well to state that immediately after the opening of a Female Refuge last year, the Managing Committee passed the following resolution:—"No woman of known bad character is to be admitted to the Home even for a single night." The imperative necessity for such a rule had been proved by experience.

The average number of inmates during the past year has been about sixteen—twelve adults and four children—four of the former are permanent inmates, who are too old or too infirm to gain their own living.

Thirty-five women and four children have been admitted; but the number of admissions during the year has been forty-five, as several had been received twice.

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Seven women and one child have been admitted from the Hospital.

There have been five births and two deaths; one of the deaths was that of a child who was admitted in a dying condition, the other that of the probationer already mentioned.

A reference to the balance-sheet will give some idea of the amount of the laundry-work which, except for the hired labour of one woman for one or sometimes two days in a week, is the work of the inmates, and is well done.

Ten shillings per week, or less in some cases, is charged to those who, being able to pay, simply come to board at the Home, and are either absent during the day or are not strong enough to take an active part in the household work, which is of course all done by the inmates.

The following cases admitted during the past year are selected as illustrations of the different classes of persons who find the shelter of the Home a comfort and help:—
(a.)A girl of eighteen left destitute at her mother's death. She was quite inexperienced in domestic work, and had failed to find employment in any of the shops. After remaining in the Home for some weeks, she obtained a situation as dressmaker's apprentice, but continued to lodge at the Home for two months, when she was sent for by friends in Australia, who paid her passage.
(b.)A respectable elderly woman, forced by her husband's ill-treatment to separate from him. Has cataract forming in both eyes, and is in delicate health.
(c.)A girl of sixteen, brought to the Home by her mother, with the request that she might be kept under strict discipline, and trained as a servant, as she was being wilful and disobedient at home. Remained for three months, behaved well, and took a situation as general servant.
(d.)A respectable married woman in poor circumstances, convalescent from Hospital. Returned to her home after a week's rest.
(e.)A young married woman of intemperate habits; brought to the Home by her husband at her own desire to be out of the way of temptation. Has behaved well hitherto.
(f.)and (g.) Infirmary patients, admitted on two occasions for Several weeks during alterations in the Hospital.

The Committee gratefully acknowledge their obligations to Archdeacon Stock for his weekly services at the Home, and to Mr. Gaby, who holds a service there every alternate Sunday.

Their special thanks are also due to the Honorable John Johnston for two donations of £50 each, to the Honorable G. M. Waterhouse for his donation of £100, and to Drs. Hutchinson, Keyworth, Kemp, Chilton and McKellar, who have all kindly given gratuitous medical attendance.

Mr. Fitchett has again generously supplied the Home with milk for four months free of charge, and many other kind gifts of furniture, clothing, &c., have been received from different quarters.

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The Committee much regret the departure of the President, Mrs. Atkinson, whose kind individual interest in the inmates was of great benefit to them.

The Committee are preparing to extend their work by the erection of a Cottage Home for orphans and destitute children on a piece of ground well suited for the purpose near the Women's Home. The number of children is not to exceed twenty, and the institution will be organised on the family plan which has proved so successful in England and Germany. Mr. Waterhouse's donation was given on the understanding that is was to be set aside as part of the building fund of a Children's Cottage Home. There are not at present sufficient funds in hand for this purpose, but the Committee hope to have enough before long to justify them in making a beginning.

The added experience of each year as it goes by will, the Committee hope and believe, lead to such further improvements in the working and organization of the Home as may, with God's blessing, tend to increase its influence and usefulness.

Comittee of Management of the Home.

  • President: Mrs. Habens
  • Vice-President: Miss E. Greenwood
  • Treasurer: Mrs. Drew
  • Secretary: Miss E. Greenwood
  • Committee: Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Harcourt, Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. J. Kebbell., Mrs. Pilcher, Mrs. Stock, Mrs. B. Smith, Mrs. Grant, Miss A. Greenwood, and Mrs. J. Tyeth Hart, President, W.L.C.A. (ex officio).

E. S. Greenwood

, Hon. Secretary.
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Home for Friendless Women.

Subscriptions and Donations for the Year Ending 31st March, 1885.
£ s. d.
Mrs. Acland 2 0 0
Mr. David Anderson, jun. 5 0 0
Mr. J. G. Anderson 1 0 0
Mrs. J. Barton 1 0 0
Mr. J. Burne 2 2 0
Mrs. Bethune 1 1 0
Mr. S. Brown 3 3 0
Mr. J. Barnicoat 1 1 0
Mrs. G. Bennett 0 10 0
Mrs. T. Ballinger 0 10 0
Mr. C. Baker 0 10 0
Mrs. Henry Curtis 2 2 0
Mrs. Drew 1 1 0
Mrs. Fitzgerald, 1884 0 10 0
Mrs. Fitzgerald, 1885 1 1 0
Madame Fletcher 1 1 0
Mr. A. Fitchett 5 13 8
Mrs. R. Gardner 0 10 0
Mrs. Gray 1 0 0
Miss E. Greenwood 2 0 0
Messrs. Graves and Fleming 0 10 0
Mrs. Robert Hunter 0 10 0
Mr. Haddon 0 10 0
Mrs. Robert Hart 1 1 0
Mrs. Habens 1 0 0
Miss Hamilton 2 2 0
Mrs. Harcourt 2 2 0
Mrs. Hector 1 1 0
Mrs. J. Tyeth Hart 0 10 0
Mrs. Izard 5 0 0
Lady Jervois 4 0 0
Hon. John Johnston, M.L.C. 50 0 0
Hon. John Johnston, second donation 50 0 0
Mr. Jacob Joseph 5 5 0
Mrs. Randall Johnson 2 2 0
Mr. Thomas Kebbell, 1884 5 0 0
Mr. Thomas Kebbell, 1885 5 0 0
Mrs. J. Kebbell 2 2 0
Mrs. Keyworth 0 10 0
Mrs. Knight 1 0 0
Mrs. Ling 1 1 0
Mr. W. H. Levin 2 2 0
Mrs. Mantell, 1884 2 2 0
Mrs. Mantell, 1885 2 2 0
Mrs. McKerrow 1 0 0
Mrs. Morrah 1 0 0
Mrs. J. McLean 1 0 0
Mrs. J. Moore 1 1 0
Mr. J. Mackay 1 0 0
Mr. Nancarrow 1 0 0
Rev. C. J. Ogg, 1884 0 10 0
Rev. C. J. Ogg, 1885 0 10 0
Colonel Pearce 3 0 0
Mrs. Russell 1 1 0
Mrs. Stock 1 1 0
Mrs. B.Smith 1 1 0
Mrs. R. Stains 1 1 0
Mrs. Stowe 1 1 0
M. J. S., 1884 1 0 0
M. J. S., 1885 1 0 0
Mrs. Silk 0 10 0
Mrs. N. Sutherland 0 10 0
Mrs. J. Tutchen 0 10 0
Mrs. G. Thomas 0 10 0
Miss Wilcox 1 0 0
Mrs. T. C. Williams 3 8 0
Mr. H.Wharton 1 1 0
Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.C. 100 0 0
Cash in box at the Home 0 4 2
£304 1 10
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Receipts. £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance 31st March, 1884 .. .. 357 3 0 Subscriptions and donations .. .. 304 1 10 Receipts for work .. .. .. 231 1 0½ From inmates towards maintenance .. 37 5 8 Discounts .. .. .. .. 7 12 2½ Interest on deposits .. .. .. 14 0 0 594 0 9 Government grants—December and March quarter .. 71 6 0 June and September quarter .. 73 5 0 December quarter .. .. .. 163 4 0 307 15 0 £1,258 18 9 £ s. d. Balance brought down .. .. .. .. 171 16 6 Subscription per Mrs. W. L. Hirst (received to be included in Report) .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Subscription per Mrs. George Moore .. .. 2 2 0 Expenditure. £ s. d. By Maintenance .. .. .. .. .. .. 257 2 4 Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 15 0 Nurses, Fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 31 5 0 Fuel and gas .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 2 7 Cartage .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 17 6 Funerals .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 8 0 Care of infant whose mother died in the Home .. 20 0 0 Insurance .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 0 0 Furniture .. .. .. .. 36 19 5½ Painting, repairs, &c. .. .. 55 3 10½ Advertising, stamps, &c. .. .. 1 8 6 93 11 10 Transferred to Building Fund for Children's Cottage Home .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Balance .. .. .. .. .. .. 171 16 6 £1,258 18 9 Childrens Cottage Home Building Fund Account. To transfer from General Account .. .. .. £500 0 0 By amount of fixed deposit with Bank of New Zealand £500 0 0 Examined and found correct—B. Smith. Fanny Drew, Hon. Treasurer.

Home for Friendless Women, Wellington.

Balance Sheet for the Year ending 31st March, 1885.

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Rules of the Home for Destitute and Friendless Woman.

1.

The Home shall be managed by a Committee of twelve ladies, including a President, Treasurer, and Secretary, five to form a quorum; and the Committee shall meet on the second Monday in each month at 3.30 p.m.

2.

Every application for admission must contain a statement of the name of the candidate, her present abode and occupation, the names and circumstances of her nearest relatives, and the reason for making application; and must also state whether the applicant has ever applied before.

3.

No person shall be received into the Home without an order from two Members of the Committee, and the consent of three members must be obtained before a patient is admitted from the Hospital.

4.

An unmarried woman who has previously been a mother shall not be admitted to the Home for her confinement.

5.

Any woman admitted to the Home for her confinement must pay a sum of not less than £2 towards her expenses; in special cases of destitution the Committee may relax the rule, or set it aside altogether.

6.

Every unmarried woman admitted to the Home for her confinement shall be required to sign a paper promising to remain for a period of not less than six months after her confinement.

7.

No inmate who has left the Home without leave shall be re-admitted, except by order of two Members of the Committee.

8.
No person shall be admitted as an inmate until she has signed a declaration in the following form:—

"I, an applicant for admission to the Wellington Home for Friendless Women, do hereby promise to conform to the Rules which I have now heard read, to obey the orders of the Matron, and to do the work allotted to me."

9.

The inmates shall be expected to do the domestic work of the Home, and any work taken in to be done, under the direction of the matron.

10.

Every inmate must attend morning and evening prayers.

11.

Cleanliness in person and habits, and orderly and punctual conduct will be strictly required. Quietness must at all times be observed in the dormitories. All light or unkind speech, and, above all, profane language, is strictly forbidden.

12.

The Matron shall have the right to read all letters written by inmates or received by them, and may, if she think fit, insist on being present at any interview between an inmate and any person visiting such inmate.

13.

The consent of the President and one other Member of the Committee must be obtained before any infant born in the Home is committed to the care of anyone outside of the Home.