BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Evening Star, Issue 7274, 27 July 1887, Page 2

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees, held this afternoon, was attended by Messrs A. Solomon (chairman), M. Fagan, A. Rennie, aud P. Millar. A return laid on the table showed that the gross cost of keeping the inmate 3 for the month of June was 6s 8d per head per week. There ,verc 105 inmates in the Institution. The cost was unusually heavy, because there were some exceptional accounts to pay—such as borough rates.

The Chairman read a statement Of. the " cases " dealt with by the institution. These were: —Incapable from various causes and disease; 21; paralysis, IS; chronic rheumatism and pout, 17 ; chronic bronchitis, 11; heart disease, 10; blind and nearly blind, 8; sciatica, 8 ; general debility, 8; eczema, 4 ; rupture, 4 ; weak intellect, 4 ; asthma, 4; spinal disease, 3 ; loss of liraV s, 3; locomotor ataxy, 2 ; lumbago, 1; diabetes, 1; bladder disease, 1; liver complaint, 1; consumption, 1; cancer and nearly blind, 1; epilepsy, 1; total, 131. The ages arc:—Between 40 and 50 years, 21; between 50 and 60 years, 22; between 60 and 70 years, 37; between 70 and 80 years, 32; between 80 and 90 years, 13; over in) years, 3; under 40 year?, 3. The males were 107, the females 24. Of the three cases of pertons under forty years, one (aged twenty-eight) was of weak intellect and deformed; another (thirtysix) suffered from locomotor ataxy; and tha third (thirty-seven) was of weak intellect. The architect suggested that the gable-end of the old building should bo filled in with brickwork in place of wood, as was now the case, with a view to minimising the risk from fire. The expenditure would be LB.—Agreed to. Accounts amounting to 1284 6s 8d (including a progress \ny r.oat of Ll5O for the Old Men's Home) were passed for payment. The Chairman brought before the Trustees the quality of the concrete used for the foundation of the Old Men's Home. He cs plained that ho had directed the architect's attention to the matter on more than one occasion, ind that Mr Shaw had admitted that the concrete was not so good »s it ought to be.—Mr Millar expressed the opinion that the Trustees should employ a competc-nt man to test the work, and charge the cost of same to the architect. The fact of Mr Shaw admitting that the concrete was not as good as it should be, and then allowing the work to proceed, showed great carelessness on his part.—Mr Shaw (who had been sent for) explained that the first batch ot cement used was of good quality, but that used latterly was not as good as it should be. The specification provided for the " best cement procurable. "—Mr Millar : You take upon yourself to be the architect for this building. If cement which you recognise is of inferior quality, how comes it that you have given your certificate recommending a progress payment of Ll5O on account of the building be made ?—Mr Shaw : I have got an opinion of my own. They say that the foundation is perfectly safe.—Mr Pagan: As a professional man, do you thiuk it perfectly safe to put up a building with that cement?—Mr Shaw: I would not build a high buildiug. I cannot help admitting that the cement has not turned out as it ought to do.—Mr Shaw added that for five days he had stopped the work altogether till more cement was put in. The walls were built, and the roof on. Mr Fagan was of opinion that payment should be withheld till some professional gentleman had inspected the foundation.—The Chaihman said that it would be a breach of contraot not to pay on the architect's certificate. Ho was willing to go out with Mr Boldini and have the work properly inspected.—lt was resolved that the ohairman should consult Mr Boldini on the matter. Several cases of relief were dealt with. ii —^—^— ■