MAUNGATAPERE.

Northern Advocate, 20 October 1888, Page 3

MAUNGATAPERE.

(From our otcn Correspondent. 1 ) A soiree was held at the School-house in this place last Thursday evening, to raise funds to build a public hall. Tea was on the table at the time mentioned. The following ladies of the settlement kindly provided trays, viz :— Mrs Gilbert Hawken, Mrs Wm, Hawken, Mrs Charles Hardwick, and Mrs Harry Hawken superintended the tray given by the bachelors. The display of eatables on the^ different tables left nothing to be desired, and the tables were beautifully decorated with flowers. After the good things had been done ample justice to, Mr P. S. Brown (the County chairman) who happened to be a visitor out here, was voted to the chair and made a few well chosen remarks, in which he said that it was evident there was great need for a hall m this settlement from the great crowd of people there that evening; also, if the inhabitants of this part of the country kept on increasing there would be little call for outsiders to colonise this part of New Zealand. Mr Bradley, of Whaugarei, again kindly presided at the piano, and conducted the musical part of the entertainment in a very able manner. The following programme was gone through : — Overture, Mr Bradley; song, Mr Tucker; comic song, Mr Fuller; song, Miss Pierce; recitation, Mr T. Wilson (Buatangata) ; comic song, Mr Harp; song, Mr Hill; song, Miss Pritchard ; stump speech, Mr Alex. Wilson (Ruatangafca) ; song, Miss Armstrong ; comic song, Mr Fuller ; song, Mrs Baker ; comic song, Mr Kysh ; song, Miss Pierce ; comic song, Mr Workman Hawken; couric song, Mr Harp; "God Save the Queen "by the whole audience standing. Mr Hocken, our teacher, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to all our Whangarei friends and others from neighbouring settlements for their kindness in assisting with their songs, recitations, &c, and said there would have been more local talent but for the bereavement of one of the families of the district. This was seconded by the audience giving three hearty cheers. A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed by Mr Harding Hawken, for ably presiding, which was responded to by the audience in a similar manner. Thus concluded one of the best entertainments ever held in this settlement. This amount realised was £13 16/9, which amount, together with the sum got last year, will make £25 odd, which will help towards the building of a hall. The Library Committee propose holding a meeting on next Tuesday evening, to decide on the site, and &c. WAIPU. (From a Correspondent.) A large circle of friends will with keen sorrow hear of the death of Miss Isabell Munro, the second and youngest daughter of Mr John Munro, Postmaster at Marsden Point and Whangarei Heads, and grand daughter to the late John Munro, for many years M.H.R. for Marsden, in her 26th year. The deceased lady passed away at her father's residence, Marsden Point, on the 3rd inst., after a lingering illness, sustained throughout with Christian fortitude, and universally mourned. The kind, gentle, aud unobtrusive habits of the deceased lady made her a general favourite; her pleasant face will be sadly missed in her tastefully furnished parlour, where she gracefully entertained friends. The funeral, which took place on Friday, the sth inst., left her father's residence, Marsdeu Point, at 10 a.m. in the s.s. Katikati, for the cemetary, four miles up the Whangarei Harbour, on the north shore, followed by a number of people from "Waipu and surrounding district, as a mark of respect to their deceased friend. A large number of ladies assembled around the grave, and strewed the coffin with flowers. The Rev. G. Jones of Waipu, very impressively performed the funeral service. The long talked of Caladonian Ball eventuated in the Library Hall here on the evening of the sth inst., and was an unqualified success, notwithstanding that most of the young ;■■ are away from home. The copious showers of rain that have fallen during the past ten days are producing their beneficial results upon fields and pastures. Cattle and sheep are luxurating in paddocks teeming with grass ; crops of other kinds, both root and cerial look very promising. The Waipu is to have the luxury of having a lawyer stationed among us. Mr Norman McLeod has opened an office, representing Mr Humphreys, of Auckland. NORTH AUCKLAND HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD. A 3TEETIXG of the above Board was held in the County Chambers, Whangarei, on Friday, the 12th October, at 3 p.m. Present : — Messrs J. I. Wilson, (Chairman), P. S. Brown, Carter, Ward, Masefield, Beart, Snelling and Lane. The minutes of the previous meeting and a committe meeting of July 6th were read and confirmed. The Chairman said, that before proceeding any further with the meeting, he would like to read a report of the Holson County Counoil, which appeared in the " Northern Advertiser," re the proposed division of the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The , opinion of the Hobson Council was to the effect that there was something not altogether above board in the matter, and that the Government were not aware of any such proposal having been made, i while, at the same time Mr Thompson, M.H.R., was endeavouring to get a bill passed through the House, empowering ■ each County to be a seperate Board. It seemed strange to him that such a communication should be received from the Government after having pledged them- - selves to deal with the matter next 1 sessioo, if Mr Thompson withdrew his bill. The following is the extract : — A letter vas read from the Government stating that they were not aware of any such proposal having been made ; also one from Mr Thompson, M.H.R. saying that he had withdrawn the bill on receivng a pledge from the Government to deal with the matter next session ; and from Mr Moat, M.H.R. sayin? that he had been informed that the Hobsou County Council expressly desired the change. A copy of a petition said to have been sent to Parliament from the North Auckland Board was also read. This was the fiis'. intimation that either the Hobson County, or its representatives on the Board, Bad received of the proposal. Counci

lors appeared to think that there Was something not altogether above board in the matter. They unanimously disapproved of the district being divided, and a resolution was come to, to deal with the subject in October — that being the meeting of the Council immediately before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's next meeting in Whangarei. Mr Snellino said that it appeared to him to be a strange proceeding, forwithout question all the transactions of this Board had been straightforward and above board. The proposition to constitute each County Council as a body to dispense the funds of each County was embodied in a petition from the Board, and forwarded to the Government on the 10th of May, the receipt of which was acknowledged on the 23rd of May ; and now we are told, through the medium of the "Advertiser" that the Hobson County Council received a letter from the Government under date of the 3rd of August, to the effect that they have no knowledge of the proposal to constitute County Council Boards for the purposes of the Act. He (Mr Snelling) said that if the Hobson Council knew nothing of this petition until it was read to them on the 28th of August, that was not their fault. The resolutions of the Board had been incorporated with the published reports of its meetings, and the Hobson representative had taken part in the discussion, and he (Mr Beart) was the only dissenting vote. If the Hobson representative had not conferred with his fellow members at the County Council, that was no fault of the members of the Board. He was still of opinion that the principle embodied in that petition was the proper one, and the sooner it was brought about the better. Accounts received from Auckland Hospital for medical treatment of the following persons, which was considered, and the charges considered exhorbitant :

The Board adjourned until 9.30 Saturday morning. At 9.30 on Saturday the Board Again met, all the members being present. The account of £6 for a pauper's funeral was struck out, as being unreasonably high. Several accounts were read from storekeepers for goods supplied at the order of the Board, in which luxuries were enumerated. Mr Spelling objected to these items. He said it was a misappropriation of the funds to supply luxuries, and was a departure from the principle laid down in a former resolution of the Board. The Chairman said it was very difficult to control this. A person said to be starving would apply for relief, and an order for goods of a certain money value was given on a storekeeper, leaving the recipient the selection of ita own stores. Mr Snelling contended that, under those circumstances, a person selecting luxuries could not be starving, and were not objects for charity. The Chairman said he scarcely saw how the difficulty was to be got over, for if an order were given to a butcher for meat, or to a baker for bread, if beer or tea, or potted meats were preferred the one would be sold to procure the other. Mr Brown said, no control could be exercised over the applicant for charity unless a relieving officer were appointed. In principle Mr Snelling was right. He felt that there was great danger, in the present mode of dealing with the poor, of creating what should be our aim to avoid, the creation of a pauper class amongst us. The tendency of the present law, or the administration of it, was to destroy the spirit of self-reliance, and to dry up the streams of private charity, both of which would be a dire calamity. It should be made a hard and fast rule that nothing but bare necessaries be supplied. Mr Snelling said that was the object of the resolution passed at a former nieetiner. Mr Wabji said that such a resolution could not be forced on Chairmen of County Councils. Mr Laths suggested that the accounts in question be referred back to County Chairmen. The Chairman said that th^y could not refuse to pass these accounts. Mr Snelling said, that if resolutions were to be over-ridden in this way, they may as well at once walk out of the building. Mr Beart said that the order was given for money value, and the evil could not be counteracted. Mr Masefield said, they could not get out of it. The paupers will have these things. Mr Snelling said no ! they could get out of it ; the paupers should not have these luxuries. He would move a resolution. Mr Brown said if Mr Snelling was going to move a resolution, he must begin with their Chairman, for his explanation would be the same as that which would be got from all the others. He saw no way out of the difficulty without appointing a relieving officer. If any other mode of relief can be shown, he would be glad. If orders were given for bread, a pauper could sell his bread and get beer. Mr Snelling said, Mr Brown says there is no wav out of the difficulty, other than the appointment of a relieving officer. He thought there was. If on giving an order, the storekeeper was authorised to supply nothing but necessaries, and by collusion these orders were violated, of course nothing could be done. Orders, however, should not again be given to such storekeepers. If medical comforts are supplied to invalids all very well; but we ought not to be first to tear up our resolutions,. Mr Lane said he quite agreed with the rule laid down by Mr Snelling. We could not, however, regard the Chairmen of County Couucils as the enemies of this Board, but rather the friends, anxious to carry out its wishes, and that it would be sufficient to call their attention to the rule laid down. Mr Sxelling said, if that were donohe was satisfied, and would withdraw his resolution. But it must be understood that nothing be supplied other than that necesstuy to. support life,

The CllAlltJUX said, this relief is only a terJporary affair. We suffered from tbo delusion that w e had a pauper class. No such class existed. The relief is only temporary, and none would take more than was necessary. Mr Brown said, although we could not be said yet to have a pauper class, the present act tended to create it, and the evil would grow and grow until all our rates would be swallowed up, unless many of the evils creeping in were resisted. He would move That the accounts as read, with the exception of the board and funeral of Mr McLeod £11 1/3, and the account for provisions for rations received from Hokianga, £3, be passed and paid, and ti at the attention of the Chairmen of the different County Councils be called to resolution No. 8. passed at a meeting of this Board on Dec. 7, 1887, and request that it be strictly adhere to. This was seconded by Mr Masefield, and carried. Mr Sxelling pointed out that there was a feeling that there was a tendency on the part of some counties to infringe the 50 per cent, resolution passed at last meeting. If this were done, it practically took the administration of funds out of the hands of the Board, as when the Hospital charges were added to the local expenditure, it would be found that certain counties had exceeded their claim on the funds. He felt that this 50 per cent, resolution was the only protection the Board had. Mr Lane said all the counties were as anxiouß as the Board to economise. The Chairman said he saw no reason why each county should not bo entrusted, to dispense their own contribution. Mr Snellixg said this would infringe the principle involved iv the act. Some counties would spend more in one year than another. Mr Lane said he thought the following resolution would meet the case : — That each County Chairman be requested to send into this Board a monthly return of the charitable aid dispensed by their respective counties : the return to include cases sent for hospital treatment. Considerable discussion took place in respect to the way in which persons were admitted into the hospital, and charged to the Board without the consent of the County, which had resuled in persons becoming a heavy charge on the funds who were able to pay for medical treatment. Mr Ward said a case in point had just occurred. That a person was admitted by the Board which the County would not have consented to. The parties were well able to pay for themselves. This single case liad needlessly cost the Board £30. The Chairman said thai cases admitted to the Hospital should not be charged against the Board until they had been investigated. On receiving notice oi these casual cases, the Board should write to the County, or the Hospital authorities should be requested to communicate with the County Chairman direct, which would simplify matters. He said that already the local expenditure was grave ; and, with hospital charges accruing, at the end of the year the Board would be a long way in arrear. Mr Snelling suggested that those persons who had received aid from the Board, and who were able to pay^ should be proceeded against by law at onco. : ' . Mr Brown was of the same opinion, and moved That active measures be at once taken; to recover from those persons who have received hospital treatment, or their friends and relations, who are believed to be in a position to pay the whole or a portion of the costs of such hospital treatment. This was seconded by Mr Snelling and carried. The case of the deceased man MorleV, killed at the Wairoa, and whose funeral charges were sent to the Board, was objected, to, and referred back to Inspector McGovern, the friends being in good position and liable. The cases of persons who had applied for aid, but who had refused work, were discussed at length, and members were of .opinion that this growing evil must be at once checked. Mr Brown said that, so long as a man was able to work no aid should be given. It was necessary for them to set their foot down on this growing evil. In this country no person who possesses health or property was a pauper or a subject for relief. In the case of a man who had applied for relief, offering to hand over to the Board 80 acres of freehold in the "Waikato was all very well, but the Board had enough on their hands without cambering themselves* with property, if they had the power to do so. The duty of this • man is to sell his property and use the money for his own support. He could not consent to such requests for aid. Mr Ward was of Mr Brown's opinion, and moved That this Board will not grant charitable aid to parties owning any property, real or personal, without a lien thereon being first given to the Board, as it cannot recognise a pauper in anyone owing property. There was a strong feeling expressed by members that the Hospital charges were excessive, and could be reduced by employing local medical men. A case given in illustration where a young man had a broken arm ; and was at the Hosp trtl 15 weeks. It was the opinion of member that had the arm been set locally, and ihc friends paid a weekly sum for maintenance, that half the charge would have been savt.o\ Mr Lane said ho saw- no reason why the experiment should not bo tried, and moved That, in the opinion of this Board, it is desirable, wherever possible, to make yearly contracts with local medical m.«n for the treatment of such cases as tho Boai<d may be liable for. Seconded by Mr Brown and canied. Mr- Snelling moved That the Chairman be authorised to pay <*he travelling expenses of the members of the Board to this meeting upou receipt of tho usual declaration Seconded by Mr Beart. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated tho proceedings.

John Syms .. .. 3 17 0 Mr Ramswell . . . . 8 10 0 Charles Lee .. .. 8 12 0 A. Warren .. .. 9 4 0 Mrs Burkhart .. .. 13 8 0 N. Belter .. .. 2 8 0 G. H. Hewett . . . . 37 4 0 Ada Woodard .. .. 21 16 0 Thos. Williams .. .. 20 0 0 William Cook .. .. 21 4 0 Mrs Ramswell . . . . 2 18 0 Mrs Powell .. .. 3 0 0 John Dunn .. .. 6 16 0 Mrs MeCromeraclc.. .. 1 16 0 Pat Dean .. .. 3 12 0 John Cameron . . . . 13 116 Jas. O'Neil .. .. 9 4 0 William Belton .. .. 7 0 0 John McLean . . . . 23 1 2 8 W. Johnson . . . . 12 12 0 Henry Faulkner .. .. 9 16 0 John Burns „ „ 4 17 6 Win. Broomsville . . . . 14 1 0 Hugh Gamble .. .. 14 12 0 A. McDonald .. .. 1 16 0 B. Kebecca . . . . 19 12 1 Mrs Woodale . . . . 10 0 (Sundry accounts amounting to 28 0 9i Total.. .. £355 11 10*