SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AUCKLAND LADIES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1782, 6 April 1863, Page 10

SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AUCKLAND LADIES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The termination of another year, being the sixtl since the organization of "The Auckland Ladies Benevolent Society" in Marcli; 1837, devolves upoi the committee the duty of laying before its friend' and the public nn account of the opei ations, aud o the income aud expenditure of the society, since the last annual report was presented. In doing so they desire to acknowledge gratefully the contiuuee liberality of the supporters of the association, and, abovo all, to thank Almighty God that, Jiy JElis blessing, so many have been disposed to aid in this ■work of charity, by which, in numerous instances, the pressure of poverty has been in some measure lightened, suffering alleviated, and timely assistance rendered to those who, without the interposition oi benevolence, would have been l-eady to peri&h. It is not necessary now to repeat, at any length, explanations respecting the objects, principles, and rules of the society, which have already been more than once fully enlarged upon. Briefly, however, it may be again stated that the object is to relieve distress, wherever and in whatever form it may present itself, — to follow after this object without partiality and without prejudice, — not recognising any distinction of country or creed a<? constituting eithci a special claim for assistance, or a barrier against its being readily afforded, and to carry out the purposes of the society under a system of visitation of each case by the ladies of the district in which it occurs, ■which at once forms as efficient a guard as it has been found possible to devise against imposition by fraudulent or undeserving applicants, — suggests the particular form in which assistance can be most advantageously rendered, — and extends the beneficicial inflnence of the society beyond the mere administration of pecuniary help, by the sanitary effect which these visits of sympathy, of counsel, and (wheu requisite) of warniug and admonition, are calculated to produce on the minds of the recipients of the society 8 bouuty, Rome of whom stand in as much need of kindly and faithfitl advice as they do of material relief for their physical wants ; while most or all of them can understand and feel the character of that charity which eloes not dismiss their cases with the cold doling out of mere alms, but enters compassionately into the consideration of their circumstances, aud aims at the promotion of their future well-being, as well as at the relief of their present necessities. The total number of cases relieved from the funds of the society during the year now ended was , being an increase of cases, as compared with the numbers of the preceding year. Except that, in a few instances, the distress was consequent upon the late disastrous fire in the city, there was little or nothing to distinguish the characteristics of these cases from those which have been bronght under notice in previous reports. Sickness, desertion, poverty, bereavement, in various degrees aud various combinations were found, as heretofore, claiming commiseration and assistance. The total of 64 cases was made up as follows: — Destitute widows, 16; women left in helplessness and deep distress by the desertion of their husbands, 17 ; women in their confinement, and unable to procure for themselves the care or the support specially needed, 5 ; children deserted, or otherwise loft destitute, ; other cases o£ distress, not admitting of classification under any particular head, but presenting the simple and unmistakeable evidences of privation and suffering. The forms in which relief is extended is one of thoso features of the society' s-operations to which the committee would especially invite attention. In some iustances there may be too much reason to apprehend that a mere gift of monoy would confer little real benefit ; that, in short, the money would be either injudiciously expended, or applied to other purposes than that for which it was granted. It is the constant effort of the committee to ascertain, by personal visitation and by inquiry of .persons acquainted with the circumstances of the claimants for relief, what in the shape in which assistance may be afforded so as best to meet the actual exigencies of each case, and to administer aid accordingly. Assistance is, therefore, given sometimes in tho way of paying rent; sometimes in weekly supplies of food,soao» times in grants of fuel, sometimes (especially in cases of women in their confinement) in the engagement of a nurse and the provision of suitable necessaries or comforts, and only sometimes in donations of money — each, case coming separately under tho consideration of the committee at every monthly -meeting, as well as being looked after during the intervals oy the members to whose district it immediately belongs. The committee would respectfully submit to the benevolent public that under such a system— whilo it may be impossible wholly to exclude the abuse of the society's bounty by unworthy persons, and while undoubtedly the assistance which it is practicable to afford will frequently be painfully .insufficient to meet the wants of the needy and suffering poor— there is, notwithstanding, as much security as under such circumstances can be reasonably expeoted, that the funds will be made available for the relief of real distress, and that they will be made to go as far towards the attainment of that object on the largest soale, and in the most useful way, -as can be accomplished by careful investigation ancleconomical management. The committee cannot conclude without expressing, as on former occasions, their thanks not only to , the regnlar qontribiitors to the ( fnnds, btft also to friends who Ijave helped in, other ways. The medioal .gentlemen of ( Auckland have always cheerfully ren-dered'their-professional did in 'furtherance,' of the 'sqbietyfi objecW' The' Odd, Fellows,' although m^k^g> l ti ! 6ntin.a,l charge for'^heuie'oFtheir 'bjtfl;

have practically granted il gratuitously for the public meetings. To the Young Men's Christian Association tho Rooiety was especially indebted for the free use of a convonieut room iv their building, iv Dur-ham-streefc, for the monthly meetings. Tho late disastrous fire has deprived them of that accommodation—a lows and inconvenience, however, on which they cannot selfishly dwell, but would rattier record their sincere sympathy with the Young Men's Association on the total destruction of their rooms, and their earnest hope that, by tho energy of the young men themselves and the liberality of their friends, they may be placed in a bolter positiou than that they have lost.