CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8729, 27 February 1894, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Charitable j Aid Board was held yesterday. Present— I Messrs R. Westenra (Chairman), R. H. Parish, H. W. Peryman, J. T. Smith, W. Dunlop, W. H. Cooper, J. Hamilton, E. Mulcock, W. Acton-Adams, A. Chalmers, IJ. Rennie. The CuArßM.tx stated—The Board will learn with much regret that in consequence of the Hon. W. C. Walker's absencef from the colony for a few months that gentleman has resigned his seat. I feel eon that every member will agree that we are losing the services cf: a. most painstaking and highprincipled cplleague, who has devoted .much time and thought to the numerous* and varied details of the* Bb&rrti-S"Wbrk*; and I venture to express the hope tbat after Mr Walker's return from Europe w_ ttfay_aig_ia have -the benefit of his assistance. - The; Act provides that extraordinary vacancies shall be filled by the Board temporarily" appointing successors to the office until the next annual election by the contributory local authorities, and in order to save unnecessary delay, I consulted the wishes of the Ashburton County Council, and have received the nomination of Mr John Grigg, who will accordingly be proposed to represent the Ashburton district for the remainder

of the official year. The Lady President of visitors to boarded out children —Mrs Bridge—has also, forwarded her resignation for a similar reason to Mr Walkers, and has at tho same time been able to secure the consent of Mra Blakiston to carry on the work of collecting the several reports of the many other ladies who personally inspect and inquire into the condition of such children. The Board will heartily accord a vote of thauka to Mrs Bridge for her valuable assistance in the past, and at the same time will cordially appreciate Mrs Blakiston's willingness to conduct the correspondence relating to this department of voluntary work m the future. Iv reference to the Board's request to the contributory local bodies that a uniform system of payment in future may be mado by monthly instalments, replies will be read from some of the larger contributors agreeing with the proposal; bub the Sydenham Borough Council appears to feel somewhat aggrieved at the terms of the Beard's letter whilst it carefully evades a direct answer to the request. The Board will remember that although Sydenham has always received a very large proportion of distributed relief, yet the payments of its comparatively small proportion of contribution to the general fund, have only been recovered after repeated applications, and en one occasion after recourse to the Board's solicitors. No other contributory authority has taken exception to "the circular letter, although several had already paid their quota in full before it was addressed. As a matter of fact Sydeuham had only paid £50 out of £180 during nine months of the financial year, the balance haviug been forwarded a lew days before the letter was issued. The subject of a letter received last month from the Linwood Borough Council, stands over for consideration to-day. As Easter Monday thi3 year will fall on the date of the Board's next ordinary meeting, I propose to -all members together a few days earlier next month, when the Finance Committee will be prepared with the annual estimates and the tenders for supplies wilt be submitted to the Board. Mr John Grigg, on the recommendation of the Ashburton County Council, was elected, until the annual elections, to fill the vacancy on the Board caused by the resignation of the Hon. W. C. Walker. On the motion of Mr Smith, Mr John Orr was elected a member of the Charitable Aid Committee, Mr Langdown the Institutions Committee, and Mr John Grigg Ashburton. Home Committee. On the motion of the Chairman a vote of thanks for her services was accorded to Mrs Bridge, who, had resigned, and Mrs Blakiston was appointed in her stead. The Selwyn, Amuii, and Ashburton County Councils wrote, agreeing to pay by monthly instalments the rates due to the Charitable Aid Board. The Sydenham Council wrote, pointing out that when asked to agree to the payment by monthly instalments, their contribution had been paid in full, and they regretted the tone the Board had taken up. It was decided to ask the Sydenham Council for a direct reply to the letter, aud to supply that body with particulars of their contributions and charitable aid iv their district. The letter from the Linwood Borough Council* adjourned from the last meeting, was shortly discussed, lb requested the Board to approach the Government for tho purpose of getting a certain area of Crown lands set apart for the settlement of the poor, the aged, and tho nfiedy. It was ultimately agreed that the Linwood Council be recommended lo consult with the local contributing bodies "with a view to concerted action being taken to urge on the Government the views expressed in , the letter. The Institutions Committee reported— "The general condition of the Memorial Home at Woolston is highly satisfactory, and the health of tbe inmates, considering j their advanced age, very good. As many of tbe old people at were physically able to avail themselves of the opportunity enjoyed a pleasant trip to New Brighton a short | time since. The thanks of the Board are due : to Messrs Hay ward and Delamain for kindly placing two drags at the disposal of the excursionists for the occasion; also to other i friends who catered on a most liberal scale I for the enjoyment of the party. Your Committee has considered the question of effecting some slight necessary repairs to the interior of the Female Refuge building, and is advised that tbe 'wishes of the present management should be met in this direction. It ia not improbable that such a course will conduce to still further improvements being carried out without additional expense to the Board. A cottage on the Orphanage premises, and the small section fronting the institution, have been let to approved tenants." The report was adopted. Tbe statistics of relief report stated:— ** Four hundred and <iwenty-seven separate cases, comprising 1390 persons, were registered as recipients of outdoor relief in the month of January. This number shows an increase of twenty-eight cases over that for January, 1893, when the figures were 399— 1357, and ib is considerably above the average for the past six years. There were eight children resideub at aud twenty-nine boarded out from the Lyttelton Orphanage, besides forty-_evea"other destitute boarded out children. The Ashburton and Woolston Homes shelter more than 100 aged persons ; there were thirteen inmates of the Female Refuge, and casual relief was afforded to numerous wayfarers in the course of the month at the Armagh street Depot." Tho report waa adopted. The financial report stated:—"The follow-, ing contributions from local authorities have come to hand since the last meeting of the Beard :—Ashburton Borough, £13 6s 8d , Ashburton County, £81 8s sd; Kaiapoi Borough, £8 17s 6d ; Akaroa County, £25 14s sd; Eyreton Road Board, £56 4s; Kowai Road Board, £34 2s sd; Waipara Road Board, JEIOO ; Christchurch City, £86; Linwood Borough, £10 8s 4d; Sumner Borough, £10; Amuri County, £9814s Id. j From other sources:—T wigger estate income, £135; Kennedy trust account, £26; recoveries (small sums), £6."

The Standing Orders were suspended to permit Mr Parish to move the following motion :—" That the Finance Committee be requested to report upon the advisability or otherwise of utilising the front portion of the Armagh street buildings by making alterations and improvements or re-build-ing, for the Board's accommodation." His object was to* save the annual expenditure in rent. Mr Rennie seconded the motion, which was carried. Ib was decided to call a Bpecial meeting of the Board for Wednesday, -Ist March. Mr Renxie gave notice to move thab in future the ordinary meeting of the Board be held: on the fourth Wednesday in each month. The Board then adjourned.