CITY ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 28

CITY ITEMS.

THE TREAT FOR POOR CHILDREN. A large number of ladies and gentlemen, including ministers of all denominations, attended a meeting in the Mayor’s room od Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of discussing ways and means for the children’s outing°on the Queen’s Birthday. The Mayor presided, and the project was taken up with much enthusiasm. It was announced that the collections to date amounted to <£73 in cash, and it is hoped the receipts will eventually total up to .£IOO. A large quantity of provisions were also promised. After providing the necessary refreshments for the children it is expected that a round sum will remain for the purchase of boots and clothing for the most deserving children. A sports committee, an executive committee and a provisioning committee were appointed, and the Rev Mr Adams was elected assistant secretary. Subsequently a meeting of the Provisioning Committee was held, at which Mr J. G. W. Aitken presided. The Sports Committee meet in the Mayor’s room at 2.30 this afternoon, and the Provisioning Committee will meet at the Mount Cook Drillshed at 11 a.m. on Thursday. We understand that the general public will he excluded from the Basin Reserve while the treat is in progress, but tickets of admission will be issued to subscribers. The number of children to be entertained will be 2500, and the committee of the Boys’ Institute will have charge of the gates. WHAT THE BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES THINK ABOUT THE PROPOSAL. At the weekly meeting of the Benevolent Trustees on Tuesday afternoon a letter was received from Mrs A. M. Hislop, hon secretary of the committee that is organising the proposed treat to poor children on the Queen’s Birthday. She wrote that she had been instructed by the committee to ask the Trustees if they would kindly send to her the names and addresses of any children to whom they thought tickets of admission should bo sent. A discussion followed which speedily made it apparent that the Trustees took very strong exception to the scheme which the committee has in hand. They considered that it would serve no really useful purpose, and that it was objectionable on various grounds. It was pointed out that if the committee were desirous of doing a kindness to the poor children of the city the money collected could be applied far more directly to their benefit than in the way intended. If instead of gathering the children into some public place—perhaps cold and damp —and marking them out for public notice, the money were handed over to the Trustees, a Government subsidy of like amount would be obtained, and with the total sum something practical could be done in the way of providing children who are ill-clad and ill-shod with necessary clothing, socks and boots to carry them through the winter. Apart from this the Trustees objected to advertising the poverty that exists in the city, and to singling out a particular class of children as the recipients of charity. It was also argued tnat as most of these children attend either Sunday or day schools, they joined in the annual school treats, and there was no necessity, therefore, for the special treat proposed. In short the Trustees condemned the project in toto, and decided to refuse the information asked for.

The hon treasurer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals acknowledges the receipt of the following subscriptions and donations :—-Per Mrs Lingard— Mrs Codett, 2s 6d; R. Blair, 10s; Mrs Brittan, ss; Mrs Wallace Mackenzie, •2s 6d ; Gerald Fitz Gerald, ss. Per the treasurer —Mount Cook Boys’ School Band of Mercy, 3s Sd; C. J. Hardy, ss. Per the inspector — Mr Gallatly, 10s 6d; F. C. BrailsfoTd, 10s; A. Pearce, ss; E. Pearce, 41 f Mrs D. T. Orr, ss. Thomas' Hail vyas filled on Monday on the occasion of Mr Tre gear’s lecture at the Citizens’ Institute on “ Social Fetishes.” The chair was taken by Mr D. M. Lucljie. The lecturer explained that the purpose of his address would be to run a tilt at certain pet ideas which had long been made the object of a sort of fetish worship by modern society. Tho ideas which he principally dealt with were the following : (1) The innato selfishness of human nature and the impossibility of building any social structure upon a foundation of any higher qualities ; (2) the maxims of the old political economy, such as thoso relating to the “ law of supply and demand ” and “ the iron law of wages ” ; (3) “ the liberty of the individual,” which Mr Tregear held must give way to a higher notion of discipline for the common good; (4) the idea that a “ reward ” of wealth was the only practical “ incentive ” to labour. M.r Tregear also ran a tilt at the “ anti-hero ” —the man who takes a delight in belittling and defaming the leaders of men and all who raise their heads a little above those of others. The address was a very eloquent one, and was fully appreciated by the audience, including those who were, opposed to Mr Tregear on many points. A number of speakers joined in the discussion which followed, amongst them being Mr A. A. S. Menteath, and a lady speaker, who was very well received by the meeting. Nominations closed on Monday for the seat on the City Council rendered vacant by the death of Councillor Petherick. The candidates proposed were Mr C. F. Worth, nominated by James Robertson and W. C. Smith, and Mr John Smith, jun., nominated by Robert H. Furness, W. 11. Jones and A. Irvine. The poll takes place at the Rechabite Hall, Manners street, on the 3rd June,