COUNCIL PAPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1444, 4 July 1868, Page 4

COUNCIL PAPER.

RELIEVING- OFFICER'S REPORT FOR THE HALF-YEAR ENDING JUNE. The following Report from tho Relieving Officer, Mr. John King, was laid on the table of the Council on Thursday : — Superintendent's Office, June 22,1868. Sin, —As the Provincial Council is now in session, I think it my duty to forward, for the information of your Honour an 4 tho Executive, a report in connection with the moneys set apart for the sick and destitute, and towards the maintenance and education of orphan, neglectcd, and criminal children for the present half year. The total number of names at present on the ration books is 141. Of this number 59 are aged and infirm ; 31 widows having large families j 19 women having large families and whose husbands are out of tho province and colony; 11 women having children whose husbands arc in gaol, lunatic asylum, or hospital ; 9 families receiving temporary aid ; 8 families who receive assistance on the production of medical certificates ; 4 special cases of persons who have charge of Government property, and who look after neglected children. The following is the total number of names of persons on the ration books in the sevoial districts mentioned : —Auckland, 109; Onehunga, 15 : Howick, 7; Panmurc, 7; Otahuliu, 3. On the 16th of last January there were 164 names on the books, shewing a decrease of 23 in the meantime, and I am certain that the present total will bo considerably lessened during the next and following

months. The total amount expended to end of last month on account of the " Sick and Destitute" was £1,300. There will be, in addition, the present month's expenditure and the quarter's charges against the Government for the Orphan Home, Parnell, and the Three Kings' Institution, near Onehunga, amounting to about £250. The increase in the price of rations during the present half-year exceeded that of the last six months of 1867 at least 25 per cent. The amount required for the coming six months will boas follows :—Rations : Auckland district £650, Onehunga £60, Panmure£so, Ilowick £50, Otahuliu £25, other districts £10. Schools : Orphan Home £150, Three Kings £100, Sisters of Mercy £75, North Shore £60. Other Expenses: Burials £50, Care of young children £50. Petty Expenses £40. Total £1,400. Since the beginning of the year there have been maintained at the Depot, Official Bay, some 13 or 14 persons, blind, aged and infirm, epileptic, paralytic, or otherwiic nifiicted, at an average eost of about £16 per month, and most of whom had been sent from the Provincial Hospital at the desire of the Government. The support, of these persons may, therefore, be considered an additional charge against the sick and destitute fund, not anticipated at the commencement of the current, half-year. It is, however, my intention to remove them to a portion of the old Lunatic Asylum, at the close of the present month or early in July. This will effect a saving of £200 per annum at present paid for rent for the depot, besides the advantage of having this class of persons living in a more healthy locality, and near medical treatment if necessary. It will also enable the Provincial Surgeon to send about 15 other persons of the same class irom the Hospital, and so remove from it all persons not requiring medical attendance. The amount of £1,558 Is 6d (the details and abstract of which I handed to your Honor), expended in rendering aid to General Government Immigrants and their families between September, 1866, and the present month, from provincial moneys, is a sum that ought to be refunded from the Colonial Treasury. Since the meeting of the last. Provincial Council, your Honor went most carefully into the circumstances of those persons in receipt of rations, &c., and expressed yourself favourably of the course X adopted ; and I am glad to stale that I find the present system works very satisfactorily, and prevents imposition being practised to any extent as hitherto; but, in order that the responsibility may be removed from myself, permit me to bring under your notice the sixth paragraph of the " Kelief and Hospital Inquiry Committee " of last Session, viz :— "To administer the funds they recommend that a board be constituted, consisting of five members, three to be elected by the Council, and two to be nominated by the Superintendent, under the orders of which board, and subject to its control, the Relieving Officer shall act." I trust effect may be immediately given ta that recommendation during the present Session of the Council. As the correspondence with rcspcct to the present alleged insufficient- allowance by tl\c Provincial Government to those schools where orphan and neglected children are maintained and educated from Provincial funds has been forwarded lo tho Council, I will merely observe that I cousider it most unfair to continue -giving only the same allowance tQ the Orphan Home and to the Orphanage of the Sisters of Mercy that is given to either the Three Kings Institution or St. Mary's School, Worth Shore, and would again strongly urge that the allowance be continued until each child attains the age of 12 years. As it is part of my duty to enquire generally into circumstances of persons seeking for admission to the hospital, as well as to give authority for the admission of patients together with assisting the hospital authorities with respect to the fees to be paid, allow mo to draw your attention to the amounts refunded during the several years by that institution :—1859, £10 17s ; 1860, £21 lis 6cl; 1861, £26 2s Gd : 1862, £36 Is 5d ; 1863, £38 5s 6d ; 1864, £30 Is 9d; 1865, £39 4s; 1860, £50 4s 6d. During the year 1867, with an average of 110 patients daily, the refunds on account of maintenance and medical treatment of patients refund amounted to £75 7s 6d, while during the current half-year, with an average of 83 patients refund has amounted to £92 2s 2d, clearly showing that in previous years sufficient care had,.not been taken to recover tho customary fees from parties in a position to pay them. Several thousands of pounds might have been saved to the Province if this course had been then adopted. It was clearly the duty of the officer giving orders for admission to have ascertained the circumstances of those persons who obtained such orders, so that if able they might have paid or guaranteed tho usual charges. At present authorities for at least six cases weekly from the Thames Gold-fields arc given ; but in each instance where the parties are the holders of miners' rights, or have an interest in that rich district; I obtain a guarantee that they should repay the amount expended for their treatment during their stay in Hospital, which would enable the Government to cnforce payment. The number of patients at prosent in tho Hospital is 86, being 37 less than on the 31st of December, 1867.

The refund on account of the Asylum -will be something considerable during thepresent year, owing to the provisions of tlie " Lunatic Maintenance Act, 18G6 " being enforced in two instance:!, as well 03 from private arrangements made with the relatives and guardians of several of the present unfortunate inmates of tho Institution. One of the Justices who presided at the hearing of a case brought under the provisions of the "Lunatic Maintenance Act," at Auckland, stated that he believed a bill would be introduced in to the General Assembly during the coming session dealing with the liability of relations of inmates of Lunatic Asylums to contribute to their support. I would suggest that some provision may be made in the Bill I for enquiry being made into the circumstances of those requiring admission previous to the warrant of committal issuing, as well as to get, wherever praci ticable, a relative to lay the information. The last weekly statement from the Resident Surgeon shews that 50 males and 25 females are at present in the Asylum. The number on the ration books is being gradually reduced, and I feel confident that after the end of the next month none will remain on the books except those for whom provision must be made at the public expense. This is, in a great measure, to be attributed to the increased demand for labour. I may conclude this Report by stating that I have received every assistance from Dr. Philson, Provincial Surgeon; Dr. Cosgrovc, House Surgeon; and Mr. Brown, principal attendant at the Hospital.—l have &c., . '

(Signed) John King, Relieving Officer, and Inspector of Weights and Measures. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland.