CHARITABLE AID.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, 17 May 1895, Page 4

CHARITABLE AID.

The heavy demands made on our local authorities for Charitable Aid are felt as a grievous burden, and complaints are heard from many quarters demanding some change. The Boslyn Council lately adopted a resolution to direct the attention of Government to its rapid inorease, and to recommend " that the direct control over and responsibility for Hospital and Charitable Aid to local bodies shall 1 be vested in „*, body elected by and answerable to the people." This was adopted on the motion of Mr A. C. Begg, and in a letter which he published, be found fault with the mode in which relief was administered ' by the Benevolent Institution Trustees, as tending to keep back many of tbe most necessitous and deserving from seeking relief, while fostering a system that created a class of habitual paupers. He did not cast blame on the gentlemen who administered the. relief funds, but admitted tbey did their best under the system. Still he condemns the system, and in support of his proposal to place the control of charitable relief in the hands of local bodies elected by the people, and responsible to them, he says that " local private charities do a great deal more than the Benevolent Institution to relieve real deserving cases of distress, and do so in such a way as not to destroy the selfrespect of tbe recipients.'" This is a most important question for all ratepayers. At present, from 20 to 30 per cent, of all rates levied professedly for municipal and >road-raaking purposes must be paid over for Charitable Aid, while the ratepayers who contribute the money have no control over its expenditure. The amount is rapidly increasing, so tbat some bodies finding their finances seriously hampered by this drain are proposing to impose a special rate. It has been announced that Government will bring forward some new plan of meeting the necessities ef the poor. We think that Mr Begg's suggestion is worthy of cdnsideration. Local bodies appointed in the district would be much better acquainted with the circumstances of applicants, and when necessary could give relief without employing a paid inspector, and in a way less offensive to the self-respect of the deserving poor. The chief objection to such local responsibility for the assistance of tbe poor lies in the great inequality of tbe burden which would rest on different districts. In country districts this would be exceedingly light, while in the large towns, to which the poor tend to flock in great numbers, tho burden would be intolerable. At Home this difficulty is to some extent met by requiring those who seek relief to apply to the distriot in which they had last resided for a continuous period of two or three years, or to the parish in which they were born. Even under such an arrangement tbe large towns would probably be heavily burdened in comparison with tbe rural districts. If so, this might be met by yearly grants-in-aid to the four chief cities paid out of the consolidated fund to which the whole country contributes. When tbe present Charitable Aid system was introduced, throwing on all local bodies tbe provision for the poor, it was stated in Parliament that it was increasing taxation by L70,00C. The community obtained no compensation for this additional burden by tbe remission of taxation in any other direction. The Consolidated Fund was relieved, and larger funds left in the hands of the Government to spend on other objects. The subject is surrounded with difficulties _nri the opinions aud suggestions of ail local authorities "sisouici ii inyitod by the Government before introducing any^ new measure. The purposes to] be keptin view are the .meeting of the/iJecessitotfs' cases that will atise ; tbo discouraging of the growth of a pauper class ; and the accomplishment of this iri an economical way. Tho 1 statements made by a deputation to-''' the Hon. Mr Cadman in Dunedin 'showed that grave abuses existed in the administration, in certain cases that were referred to — of Charitable Aid. It was stated that a wife had been receiving assistance whose husband had been employed three years on the Otago Central co-operative works, and made periodical visits to Dunedin, and spent a large part of his earnings in drink. Mr Earnshaw, M.H.R , said there was no doubt that an enormous amount of the earnings of the men on the 00-operative works was spent in drink, and in consequence their wives and families got Assistance directly from the Charitable Aid Board, and indireotly from philanthropic organisations. If these statements .are anyway near tbe truth, they show that there is need for much closer supervision both of the selection of tbe men employed in the cooperative works and in the dispensing of relief to their wives and families. Such abuses in spending public money in socalled work— to be largely expended in drink— and supplying Charitable Aid to their impoverished wives and families, should at once be stopped. If there is any preference given to suoh men qr account of political color, this should be closely inquired into. Whatever the exact truth in such statements or suspicions, there can be no doubt tbat it is time to adopt such methods of meeting the necesities of the deserving poor as may serve this purpose, without encouraging the idle and dissipated, and may lessen the heavy and increasing burden cast on the publio. It has been said that if local authorities were charged with the responsibility of relieving the poor, they would give larger allowances than any voted by the Benevolent Institution Trustees. We believe that in some cases looal authorities, when applied to for their opinion regarding applicants for relief in their own districts, have recommended a higher rate ik&b. the Trustees would otherwise have given. In such cases, however, their advice did not in any way affect the amounts such bodies had to contribute to the central fund, and they might be influenced by the circumstance that few app^ipations came from their district;. Let suph local bodies b.e required to raise only the funds neoes? sary for relieving tbe poor of their own district, and tbey wiilftake carp that their charity is not abased.

' f The interest taken in the Mataura Brass | Band seems waning. The quarterly meeting, called for Tuesday last, had to be adjonrned on account of the attendance being so meagre. Work is at a standstill this week at the : Mataura _"reczing Works, and the men ©nly worked a day and a half last week. The , scarcity of freezers is the cause of the stoppage, none of suitable quality being available at present. The petition to be forwarded to bis Excellency the Governor, praying that the Mataura Town Distriot be proclaimed a municipality, has been signed by 113 householders. The area of the town district is 1562 acres. The Hon. John McKenzie has been confined to his bed in Dunedin through indisposition, and his medical attendant has advised him that it is necessiry for him to ( have complete rest for at least three weeks. A tragedy is reported frem Taranaki, where a man named Ben appears to have killed his wife and daughter, and then shot hinnelf at $_ahoeta. Ben's wife has been found in a hut, about half a mile from the pa, with her head Bmashed in. It is presumed Ben first killed his wife, then went to the pa and killed his daughter, set fire to the whare, and then shot himself. Jealousy is supposed to be the cause. Mr J. W. Poynton, of Wellington, bas been appointed Stipendiary Magistrate at Invercargill. Mr C. B. Kawson, who his fi led the office for several years, has been rtqueßted to assume the position of Stipendiary Magistrate and Warden in the Clyde dißtrict, eucoeeding Mr J. Nugent Wood, who, it is understood, retires. A strange story comes from Hamilton (Auckland), where a man named Evison, a carpenter, apparently in sound mind, has given himself up to the police, and confessed to having caused the death by drowning of a woman whom ha puthed into the Kiver Trent, at Nottingham, in March, 1882. He gave a clear and succinct account of ths circumstance?, and stated that the thought of the crime has nearly driven him out of his mind. Steps are being taken to secure corroboration of the Btory. \ A cable message received in Dunedin conveys the sad intelligence that Mr B. H. Leary, of that city, died ia London on Wednesday, Mr Leary was on a trip to tbe Old Country on business and in search cf health. The deceased gentleman was wellknOwn in this district through hiß connection with several local institutions. He took a prominent part in connection with tbe Waimea Plains Bailway Company, the New Zealand Agricultural Company, and several other large concerns, He had occupied many positions of importance in Danedin, including that of Mayor of the city, The Qore Athenteam Committee met on Tuesday night, there being present— Messrs H. Dolamore (in tde chair), Bowler, Dunlop, Dewar, Blaikie, and Dr Gr. Copland. The half-yearly account for interest (L 8), and some small amounts for sundries, were passed for payment, The sale of old books and papers was fonnd to hwe realised L 8 nett, and it was decided to expend LlO in the purchase of new books, preference to be given to standard novels. The weekly meeting of the Qore Literary and Debating Society was held on Tueßdey evening, and fairly attended ; the president (Mr H. Dolamore) in tbe chair. Mr Geo. Brett read a very interesting aud amusing paper on •' Recreation," in the course of which ho treated a number of sports and pastimeß in a very happy style, and counselling moderation in all things. The remainder of the evening was devoted to a mock banquet, and tbe toasts were kept going until closing j time wiih considerable spirit, tbe speeches \ embracing all sorts— " From grave to gay ; from lively to severe," Next Tuesday, Mr B. McNab, M.H.R., is to give his paper on " College Life in New Zealand." This evening', in the Town Hall, a trea fc | is to given the Oore school children. It ba 8 been arranged by tha School Committee' and will include, among other attractions' au exhibition of limelight views by the Bey. Mr Tinsley. The superabundance of good things provided for the Wesleyan Soiree, on Wednesday evening last, resulted in a large quantity remaining unconsumed, which the ladies have kindly donated for the use of tbe young people thia evening. Parentß as well bb children are invited to this evening's entertainment, which will be free. Aa may be seen by advertisement, the Qore Brats Band will give a social evening on tha 31st inst., in the Towa Hall. The band derive great credit for tbe manner in which they have progressed, bat, like all other institutions, the band cannot be carried on without the needful. Hence the eocial, which is for the object of raising fnnds. We hope the publio will respond in a becoming manner. Qood mueio will be provided, and Mr D. McFarlane have charge cf the refreshments. At a future date, a concert will be held. Should the weather be fine this evening, the band will give an outdoor performance. A meeting was held in Mr'.Clayton'a studio last night for the purpose of forming a Chess Cub ; Mr Jobn Mac Gibbon in the chair. The question was raised whether it should be a Chess Club alone, or a Chess and Draughts Olub, and, after discussion, it was reiolved to combine the two games, and that pay should continue all the year lound. The ennual subscription wbb fixed at 7s 6d, and Thursday as the meeting nigh*. Mr C. Clayton was elected president, Messrs MacGibbon and Bree vice-presidents, Mr James Mulvey secretary and treasonr, and Messrs Domigan, Penney and Snnis members of committee. The meeting then adjourned until next Thursday, at 730 p.m., io Mr Clayton's studio, when the committee will bring .up a set of rules for adoption. Itis intended to try to arrange to hold the weekly meetings in tbe Athene am. On Monday evening last the Bey. Mr Buttle delivered h's lecture on " Facts About the Maoris" in the public school, Arthurton, There was a geod attendance, in spite of the rough state of tha weather. The audienoe highly appreciated the interesting story of Maori life as depicted by the lecturer. On the motion of Mr Stevenson, seconded by Mr Bagrie, a beaity vote of thanks was presented to Mr Buttle.—- The lecture was repeated at Waipahi on Tuesday evening, the schoolroom being filled. The gathering was pronounced to be one of the best ever seen in Waipahi. This may be accounted for on the ground of the people having a desire to see Mr Buttle, whose ministry in former years had been so much appreciated. Miss Robertson presided at the organ. In a brief speech Mr Patterson proposed a vote of tbanke, which was seconded by Mr Taylor. At the dose of each lecture refreshments ware handed round before J;he people disparsed.—Mr guttle gave tlje lecture in the Qote Wesleyan Church last evening, when tbe attendance w»s fairly good. The Bey. O. H. $radbury opoupied the chiir, and at the termination of the lecture a vote of thanks was carried ty aoclamationi on the motjon of the Bey. W. Tinsley, The mon employed by phe police authorities as spies to secure coavjetions against sly-grog sellers, made <\ sorry exhibition of themselves at Wyndham oa Wednesday, as will be aeen from our lengthy report of the proceeding s elsewhere in ihis issue. It seemed at one time that there were likely to te "subsequent proceedings," as in the afternoon a crowd gathered about the informers, ani talked in a sultry way regarding their conduct, lt is stated that one of the men (Canieron) drew the revolver which, aB stated at tfre trial, bo carrieo, and presented it at on 6of those gathered round, but was quickly seized before he could use it. He afterwards fired it off across the p^in street, i j causing a sensation, the f shooter " being loaded with ball cartridge. The revolver was takon from bim, and the othor charges i drawc Wo understand iufprination has been laid for discharging Jireanna in a public' place. On the departure of the poach at 5 o'clock, conveying the police and the informers, tbe crowd which bad gathered gave three dismal groans " for the — r- in§ for mere,." '

1 Some dogs were caught yest9rday morning 1 among Mr Thomas Green's sbeep, which he had grazing in a section adjoining his residence. One fine wether had been cat right open by the brutes. Mr W. MaC3ra also, : this week, lest a number of Bh»ep through the same cause. , The Harvest Festival, at St. Saviour's Church, Mataura, was held on Wednesday night, There was a good attendance, in spite of the weather. Mrs Ritchie presided at the organ and with the assistance of some of the members of the congregation had decorated the Church with her custom try good taste. The Bey T. L. Stanley, tbe vicar, preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. A largely attended meeting of those in favor of forming a quadrille assembly for Wyndham was held in Blaokley's Hotel on Saturday evening, May Hth, when it was decided that an assembly be started at an early date. A committee consisting of Messrs Burgoyne, Shields (2), J. Crosbio. S. Craw, ford, and A. Jones was appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements. The ommittee met on Wednesday last, when the necessary arrangomente were made, and judging from the entbnaiaam of members, a very successful season may be expected. An unrehearsed incident occurred at the Wesleyan soiree on Wednesday evening. It became abundantly manifest early in. the musical portion of the programme—from the almost frantic efforts on tbe part of Mr Macpherson, the Church Organist, to make tbe instrument he was accompanying the singers with play effectively —that his usual serenity of temperament had been rudely disturbed. Nor did matters improve at all when it came the turn for Mr George Brett, a Fast Maßter at organ playing, to officiate as accompanis , while the other gentleman took bis place as conductor ; indeed, tbe de* apairing glances that passed between the wortby pair were quite a study. Eventually, by the time one of tbe vocaliat3 bad conoluded the first verse of his song, the organ was only emitting faint and fitful squeaks at erratic intervals like a r*t in distress ; while the pit.pat of tbe pedals by the feet of the player, which was audible at the far end of tbe bail, had a close resemblance to the wheels of a paddle-steamer "agitating " a ferry track. Tbe strain by then bad become more than human nature could longer endure, and Mr Macpherson, lising from the organ, intimated in sorrowful tones that the further progress of the song would have to be temporarily suspended, as the organ had— burst 1 The audience received the apology and explanation in good part, and wbi.e another organ was being procured— for the loan of which Mrs O'Kane, of the Southland Hotel, has to be thanked- the Bey. Mr Buttle was called upon for an address, aod by the time it was coaoludcd the new kist o' wbustles was in tbe hail, and the proceedings resumed their normal aspeot. For some time past there have been mysterious disappearances of sheep from certain holdings in tbe upper part of the Waikaka district— disappearances that pointed to a systematic pursuit of sheep. stealing on the part of some person or persons unknown. A clue to the' probable perpetrators waß received this week. A party of Chinamen reside in tbat district, among whom a feud has arisen, a rtsult of which is that one of the Celestials gave information to a farmer who had lost a number of sheep, pointing to one of his countrymen being the guilty party. Tbe evidence was given in bo circumstantial a manner, that tha police at Gore were appiaed of the matter, and, armed with a search warrant, Constable Ferguson proceeded to the locality on Tuesday. He made extensive search for traces of the alleged crime— that of killing the sheep— among the network of shafts and tunnels on the old Waikaka Mining Reserve, but without success, On Wednesday tbe search was renewed by a party of looal residents, but without avail— as, indeed, it very probably would be, as tbe reserve is honeycombed, many of the holes being large enough to bnry hundreds of carcases. There is not the slightest doubt, however, that the stealing has bean rampant, and if it be still pursued, it will be only a matter of time until the offenders are caught, and the awift and severe penalty of the law follow. Ih 1 ) Managing Committee of Grore Congregational Church are losing no time in endeavouring to get their pulpit, recently vaoated by Bey. Mr Lewis, refilled. The Rev, Mr Saunders, of Dunedin, presided over a meeting on Monday evening, with that end in view. It was arranged that the Bey. Mr Bhodes, of Onehunga, should ocoupy the pulpit for one month, commencing on Sunday, 261h inst., as a candidate ; tbat Bey. A. , H. Wallace, late of King Street, Dunedin, who is at present recruiting his health at Makarauka, near Gisbotne, be tbe next candidate to be heard. The name of the Rev. Mr Grant, of Sydney, and formerly of Port Chalmers, was also mentioned as a likely candidate, in the event of the congregation not making a choice of pastor from the two other gentlemen we hare mentioned, Mr Charles James Aldridge, at one time practising at Gore as a barrister and solicitor, died in the Inveroargill Hospital on Wednesday morning. He was at one time managing law clerk in the offioe of the late Mr John Hyde Harris, (Dunedin, in vhich he had served his time, and was admitted to the Bar on 7th May. 1875. He, with (we tbink) Mr J. E. H. Harris and Mr Henry Eldridge, ! went into partnership with Mr Hyde Hani?, the business being carried on under the style of Harris and Co. On Mr Harris paying a visit to the Home Country tbe partnership was dissolved, and Messrs Aldridge and Eldridge practised together. On the dissolution of that firm, Mr Aldridge practised in Dunedin on his own account for a while and then came to Gore, where he was well known for several years as a sound lawyer. His constitution broke down, and about six yeais ago he had to go to the Old Men's Home at InvercargiU, from whence he was removed to tho Hospital, where he died on Wednesday morning from general paralysis. «• Z " wishes to rent a bouse in East Oore Cheap tariff at the Qore Temperance Hotel Servants wanted and waiting engagement at Spears' registry office Football match, Qore v Mataura, on Caledonian ground, to-morrow Siie of the Jate Key. J. MacKellar'a library, by I, S. SimsoD, at Smaill's store, on Wednesday I. W. Raymond sella surplus stock at Yeovil Farm, Otara, on June Ist Special lot of choice confectionery just opened by Mrs E. M. Stewart Friday next being Queen' 3 Birthday, Mr Yule's regular visit to Qore is postponed Clearing Bale by H. S. Valentine at Lintley on Thursday next I. 3. Simeon notifies an important sale of Gore suburban sections on May 26 Poison laid tor dogs iv T, Green's paddock above Gore Dairy Faotory Twa liver and white spaniels found by T. Green T\yo l^orsps strayed on to A. Davidson's farm, Wairnumu Trials at Croydon and Goro of P. and D.^uncan's spr}ng-tooth pultivator Richard Vviis'ou duly elected to Tuturau Boad Boaii Poll for election for Waireikiki subdiviison of Tuturau Boad Board on Tuseday next Southland County Counoil notify subsidies for destruction of small birds Clarice's Qarbolisefl Wheat Protector on sale by the J. Q. Ward Association My A. A. Gollatly admitted to partnership in the firm of Stronach, White and Co Drilled turnips for sale by the Farmers' Agenoy Co at Gore sale, on Tuesdoy I. S. Simson sells a line of crossbred lambs at Goro yard sale, on Tuesday H. S. Valentino sella a freehold farm, on account of Daniel Slaokay, at Kiversdale, on Tuesday Cheap fencing wire at tlie Federal Depot, Gore Mrs _. M. Stewart wants cook and general servant for tho country Rev W.Tlasley on " Social Christianity " at Gore Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening Accommodation for two boarders. Apply Mrs E, M. Stewart r 4?J(.o JfuttoiitSfoDoßald Oo at the Town HaU again to-niflrrqw uigtyt Qverh,eard in a 'Bus- '.'. Sir, you are a oUunsy felt low— you trod on my foot." "I am extremely Borry —I hope I did not liurt you very muoh." The soft answer turned away the other's wrath, and even pro* duoed au apology. no, not very muoh— you mqst excuse me, I am a little Irritable— fact is, out pf ports, liver, biliousness, aud that sort of thing, you kub\y— thoroughly wretched.!' <l My dear sir, of coupae I excise you, but why don't you take something 2" '.'. Tried everytftiug— no good," " Nou- ' seu-se, you haven't tried Holloway's Pills, I know-* I they never f«iil in cases like yours." '* Gad I 1 never I thought of 'em. By jovo, I'll try "em <>uce, Hi I conductor, stop the "bus,"