Page:Picturesque Dunedin.djvu/221

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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
197

Messrs A. C. Strode, St. John Branigan, and R. B. Martin, were the first Trustees. Mr. Strode gave 17 years' service to the Institution as member of Committee, Vice-President, President, and Trustee; Mr. Martin gave 20 years; and Mr. A. Rennie, the last President under the original system, also 20 years. The office-bearers and Committee for this year (1889) are: Mr. A. Solomon, Chairman; Mr. Charles Haynes, Treasurer; and Messrs John Carroll, James Green, Michael Fagan, George Calder, W. D. Stewart, W. Isaac, and R. Chisholm. For five years Drs. T. M. Hocken and F. Richardson (the latter now deceased) jointly acted as medical officers, and thereafter Dr. Hocken held the position for 17 years, he being succeeded by Dr. W. M. Stenhouse. As the Asylum now embraces an hospital for incurables and a maternity hospital, the duties of the medical officers are necessarily much more onerous than in years past. For 16 years Mr A. Boot held the office of Hon. Dentist to the Institution, and Mr. Septimus Myers now acts in that capacity. From the first the religious interests of the inmates of the Asylum were attended to. In the first instance Bible instruction was imparted daily to the children by the school teachers, and for 17 years Mr. James McFie (now deceased) held the position of Chaplain. Upon that gentleman's retirement, through failing health, the work was taken up by the Caversham representatives of the Presbyterian, Anglican, and Wesleyan Churches. Miss Coxhead was the first Governess appointed, and since her retirement (in 1873) the office has been held in turn by Misses Wilson, Ferens, and Hilgendof, the last-named lady having only lately been appointed. Of those who have held the responsible position of Manager and Secretary, Mr. Richard Quinn (now deceased) is remembered with respect. The office of Secretary is now ably filled by Mr. A. Clulee, and under the careful management of Mr. and Mrs. Mee, Master and Matron, the Asylum progresses peacefully and satisfactorily.


THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

The name with which this sketch is headed is doubly suggestive. On the one hand, the existence of an Industrial School in any community is indicative of grievous demoralisation of a section of its people, and of their criminal disregard of