THE PROPOSED REFUGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 6

THE PROPOSED REFUGE.

A SITE SELECTED AT EPSOM. Mr. Bell moved, at a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, yesterday evening, " That the Epsom site be selected for the building of a Refuge." Mr. Mays seconded the motion. He favoured the Ellerslie site, but he thought they had a bettor site than that now occupied by the abattoirs, and he would agree to the selection of the Epsom ground, as a compromise between the extreme east and extreme west. Mr. Udy thought) that the site should be drained before erecting a building. Mr. Gooskman questioned whether they could go outside of Auokland to build the Refuge. He knew a man who would apply to the Supreme Court for an injunction tc restrain them if they resolved to spend the money as they proposed. Mr. Atkijt pointed out thafc they stood as simple administrators of the trust given to them. The Hospital and its endowments were provincial property, and not the property of the Board. The Boarr* could go into the market and compete for an allotment when it is pub up for auction, and they could get a title from the Public Trustee, but they could get no valuation for that lease—that is, when the 63 years were up they lost their building. There was an Act which placed the whole of these endowments in the hands of the Public Trustee for a specific purpose: he had certain duties to perform, aud when the mortgage was paid off the Public Trustee would be relieved of those duties, and another Act would have to be passed, and what would then be the position of the Board ? There were four Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards in the province of Auckland, and he knew that certain members were looking for their rights just as they had looked after their rights in connection with certain property at Onehunga. Were, then, 63 years long enough to put up a permanent building and then to lose the Costley allotment? He maintained that this term was not long enough. He had seen Mr. Hesketh on the subject, and the latter had remarked that the question was a complicated one, and some time would be required to consider it. There ehould not, he urged, be any haste in this matter. Mr. Mays read the clauses in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act dealing with this phage of the question. It was there held that the money could be expended in such manner as directed by the Board for any permanent improvement, or extension of the objects of the Institution for which the money was bequeathed, in the absence of any direction from the trustees. He urged that it was impossible that the vested rights of the Board could be interfered with as urged by Mr. Atkin. Mr. BtrcKLAND also held this view. Colonel Dawson urged that there should not be any haste in the matter, especially if there was any doubt as to the title to the land. Mr. Holland moved, " That the further consideration of the matter be deferred until next meeting, in order that a legal opinion mieht be obtained upon the question." This amendment was seconded by Colonel Dawson, but was lost, and Mr. Bell's motion was carried by 6 to 2. _Dr. Purchas wrote, setting out thafc in his opinion the site at Epsom was the most Suitable for the purposes of a Refuge. The letter was received. A letter from Mr. Burrows, in respect to the appointment of an architect in connection with the proposed Refuge, was also received.