OLD AGE PENSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10969, 25 January 1899, Page 6

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

As far as can be ascertained, about 40 claims for pensions, under the Old Age Pensions Act, have been sent, in from Otahuhu. Amcug the claimants are some widows of tho pensioners who came out to Auckland by "he ship Ann in 1848. Only one of these original Otahuhu pensioners is living; he is a hearty, hale man, nearly 87 years old. Some of J'ese

old folk, the majority of whom were never in a court in their lives, dread going to Court to have their claims investigated by the Stipendiary Magistrate; in fact, some cannot go, as they are confined to their homes by old ago infirmities. Otahului is within the Onelninga old ago pensions district, and Sergeant B. Greene is the deputy-registrar. Mr. Hutchison, S.M., in all probability will liui.t the first investigation of Otahuhu pe:.sijn claims at the Courthouse, Otahuhu, on Monday, February 6. TAURANGA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Tauranga, Tuesday. The adjourned meeting to heai the pension claims war held to-day before Colonel Roberts. The outcome is that in the Tauranga district 53 applications were heard. Of these, 23 passed for the full pension. Reductions were made in six eases to £16, £15, £H, £12, £10, and £5 per year, and bur were adjourned till February 8, for information as to character. Undoubtedly deserving cases were leniently treated, but in questionable cases very keen inquiries were made as to age, character, and residence in tho colony. This closes the Tauranga County applications so far. In the Opotiki district Colonel Roberts heard 18 applications, of which eight >vere passed in full, one rejected, four adjourned, and five reduced If. £17, £16, £11, £11, and £3 respectively. So far 40 Maori claims have been recorded from tho Roloriu district, and seven f-.om T;u po. In some cases very queer complications worn possible. For instance, in one of the tases pr.ssed to-day for full pension of 7s per week, the applicant receives 8s per week from the Charitable Aid Board, and had transferred all her property some time ago to the Board absolutely. If she draws the pension and itlie vet tlie Board, will she bo entitled to a return of her property surcharged with ,idvances, or will she continue to get the Board's aid, and let them collect the pension? This is only one sample of the many complications that are looming ahead ivliere properties have been made ovei to the Charitable Aid Board by recipients of charitable aid.