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.

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 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.

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).