NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

North Otago Times, Volume 1743, Issue XXVI, 20 November 1877, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The Annual General Meeting of this Society took place last evening in the Mechanic's Institute Lecture-room, tho President (Mr, W. J. Steward) in the chair. Tho minutes of tho first general mooting having been read and confirmed tho Chairman road the Annual Report, which was as follows :—: —

FIRST ANNOAI. ngPORT, 1876-7. The Committee of the Nortli Otago Benevolent Society in presenting thin, the first Annual report, to tho subscribers, are glad to be able to state that during the year completed on the 30th September last its operations have boon the means of alleviating many case* of distress, while at tho same time freeing tho community of the almost constant appeals to the general benevolence which, previously to its organisation, a\ ere experienced by means of subscription lists separately got up with regard to each particular caso of accident or distress occurring. Before adverting to tho operations of tho year more in detail it may bo well— this being a first report — to refer to tho initiation of the Society itself. This resulted from a public meeting convened by his Worship tho Mayor (Mr W. J. Steward), and held at tho Mechanics' Institute on tho 4th Soptcinber, 187(5. At that meeting a Provisional Committee Mas appointed for the purpose of raising funds, enrolling members, and drawing up rules ; and a canvass of tho town and district was at once undertaken very valuablo aid being given by gentlemen residents in the country districts — and the appeal thus made was heartily responded to, upwards of lAQU being promised in subscriptions, of which LI 98 4s 3d was paid into tho bauds of the Mayor as Interim Treasurer by tho 23rd October of tho name year. Since then further subscriptions, donations, and other moneys havo ooon received to the amount of L3OB 7s 2d, making a total of LSOG lls fld received up to 30th Septoinber, 1877, of which there has been expended as shown in tho balance-sheet herewith the t urn of L 254 10s 4d, leaving a balance of 1,231 12* Id. It had been intended to publish an acknowledgment of nil the subscriptions received several inonthi ago, but it was found that the detailed lut of the lubAcipiion* col-

1 ctod by the Jotfcy Ward Sub-Committee had boon in somo way mislaid, and the publication of tho lint wat delayed in oonsequonce. The Provisional Committoe having fulfilled tlio functions entrusted to them, a general mooting of members wu held on tho 23rd October, 1876, at which draft by-laws woro brought up, amended and adopted, And • CommS.tco and officers wore olected, who, by Rt'lo 3, now go out of office, but are eligible for re-election. An appointment made 4 by tho CommiLtoo requires to be referred too, viz., that of » paid collector, it being found in practice absolutely necessary to nave such an officer. Thoio were many applications for tho office, nnd the choice of the Committee full upon Mr Henry 11 clunond, who was appointoa on tho 11th of June last, and has since continued to give complete satisfaction. Thai ollicor is paid by means of a commission of 10 per cont. on amount collected, and security hiw boon provided to tho amount of LlOO by policy of tho Fidelity Guuranteo Society. Your Committee have pleasuro in reporting to tho subscribers, that through the oxortiona of tho "^resident and tho liberality of the Government thero have boon granted to tho Society tho Immigration Barracks and grounds, and the cottages on tho Capo with the whole of tho sections in block XXXII. These have all been formally handed over, and taken possession of by tho President in tho natro of tho Society, and the Governmout has undortako.l to moko a legal grant to the Society of tho same. Tho Committee, for the Society, ha* undertaken to plnco at tho disposal of the^ Government for tho accommodation of any immigrants yet to. arrivo so much space in the BaT racks as is not required for the Society's inmatct, and has also undertaken to ration them at a price agreed upon. It is hoped that theso propert'os will afford tho means of providing in tho future a home for tho infirm and aged poor ; and the barracks are at present being utilised a» home for destitute and motherless children, of whom thoro are six now undor tho Society's caro. It has also been proposed to establish a Scr\w Jn Homo at uho barracks for female Bcrvr us temporarily out of situations, thoy paying a small charge sufficient to dofray the cost of their maintenance, and tho aul>sc 'hers will bo asked at this mooting to orpress by resolution their wishes as to that proposal. Tho barracks are now "ndor the management of Mr and Mrs Hoskotli as tho servants of the Society, be'ng jointly paid by tho Governmori. and tho Society up to tho 31st Ma.eh next, at which time tho Government tmymont ceases, and fresh arrangements will lave to bo made. Your Committee have further to report that application has been mado to tho Government for payment of subsidy upon subicrip l/ions received, which, under tho proposed Charitable Institutions Bill (since withdrawn), thoy would havo had power to fernt, and suggest that urgent representations be mado to tho Government on the bubject on this head, as tho Institution ii one equally deserving of national aid with the Hospital, by which subsidy is regularly received. During tho year twenty-five casos of distress or necessity havo been roliovod by the Committoo, some of them being still in receipt of r/eekly aid, of whioh brief particulars aro apponded. (Hero follow details of the cases referred to.) Tho above particulars will show how necessary an organisation such m this Society affords hrd becoino, and it is hoped thrt during tho ensuing year the pnblio continue by its liberal support to enablo the Committoo of Management to assist in all casos of roal distress. Your Committoo have, however, to point on t that the subscriptions for tho current year woro duo on the Ist October, nnd that but few ef theso havo been paid as yet, and they trust that their thus prominently drawing attention to this fact will havo tho effect of inducing subscribers to make prompt payment, so that no difficulty may be expci iencod in carrying on tho beneficent operations of the Society during the ensuing year. For tho Committee, J. Chuiicii, Sooretary. On the motion of Mr Johnston, seconded by Mr M'Parlane, the report, at read, was received and adopted. On the motion of Mr N. Fleming, seconded by Mr ltonayne, it was resolved — That this meeting approves of tho proposal to establish a Servant's Home at the Barracks, nnd that the new Committoo make arrangements for tho fame. It was suggested by the Rev. Father Coleman that there should be a limit at to the time for which servants availing themselves of the Ban acks as a Homo should be allowed to remain, and it was decided that the Committee arrange accordingly. On the motion of Mr Fleming it was ri solved — That an urgent representation bo made to the Government und the members for the district, with a view to the paunent to the Society of subsidy upon subscriptions received up to date, and nlfto on future subscriptions from quarter to quarter. The Rev. Father Coleman having ' drawn attention to the necessity of providing pome rule as -to the religious instruction of childron admitted as inmatos, It wm resolved, on the motion of that gentlemen, seconded by Mr HnßaeU—That a special meeting be held this day fortnight, to draw up a rule with reference to the religious instruction of children admitted into the Institute. Mr Allen gave notice to movo at the same meeting — That a rule be drawn up pi escribing the manner in which the Society's rules may be altorod, amended, or added to. The Hon. Treasurer, Mr C. S. Allen, then rend the following financial (statement :—: —

C. S. Allrk, Hon. Treasurer. It. having been pointed out by the choir that <ho last gonoral mooting had omitted to appoint auditors, Messrs Spenoo and Milfigan wore appointfd to nudit the accounts and cortify tho balance sheet just read. On the motion of Mr Greenfield, seconded hy Mr Johnston, it was resolved that the report and balance-sheet, together with the rules mid the list of subscriptions for tho your 1870-7 bo printed and circulated throughout tho CJounty. Tho meeting then proceeded to the election of officers.

For President there were nominated the Rpv. Fathor Coleman, Mr N. Floming aiul Mr.Stoward. The other two gentlemen named having doclinod the nomination, Mr Fleming was unanimously elected. Mr W. H. Ronayne was unanimously elected Vieo-Presidont, and a number of gentlemen having been nominated for town members of Committee, a ballot resulted in tho olootion of the following, viz : — Mos->rs Hasscll, Steward, Main land, Milligan, Greenfield, and Falconer. For county inombors the gentlemen olocted last year we re re-olooted, viz , Upper IVaitaki, MrD. Sutherland ; Lowor Waitttki, Mr T. Y. Duncan ; Waiareka, Mr Maclonnan ; Kakanui, Mr M. Morton ; Otepopo, Mr T. Henderson; Hnmpden, Mr W. Murcott. Mr 0. S. Allen was unanimously roolectod Troasuror. Messrs Kerr andMacdonald wereoloctcd Auditors. Votes of thanks to the outgoing President and Committee, and to tho chair, concluded the business, and the meeting broko up at about 10 p.m.

RKCEIFTB. DR. To subscription* „ interest on fixed deposit, six months at 5 per cent per £501 11 5 annum fi 0 0 £506 II 6 EXPENMTnnB. OR. By Relief to sundry cases „ Ad\ci tiding And Stationery „ Repairs to Barracks and Cottages „ Insurance, £500, 12 months at 17b „ Secretary, 11 months at £25 per annum „ Commission to Collector, 10 per cent on £52 19 „ Sundry petty expenses „ Balance £171 12 3 11 0 3 36 12 9 4 5 0 22 18 4 fi 6 0 2 16 0 251 12 4 £50G 11 5

Balance Sheet. Summary of roceipts and expenditure for eleven months — period ended 30th September, 1877.