BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1314, 6 May 1897, Page 16

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

A meeting of the Benevolent Trustee* was held on Tuesday. Present —Rev Van Staveren (chairman), Messrs Baylis, Bradey, McKenzie, Brown, Lancaster and Willeston. An application was received from a young invalid widow —whose mother,also a widow, was, she said, drawing rent from seven houses, and who told her to “go to the Benevolent Society aud make them keep you,” and whose brothers were all in work and doing well—for some assistance. It was decided to grant two rations and make enquiries into the circumstances. Letters were received from two people, offering to assist an old lady who made application for a little rent at last meeting. A hardworking woman, whose husband had been out of work until lately, asked for some boots for herself and two children. The woman was granted a pair of boots. In reference to the case of a girl from Masterton, who was forwarded to Wellington by the secretary of the local Charitable Aid Board to be confined, Mr Duncan wrote fully explaining the circumstances, and it was decided to reply, fully accepting the explanation. It appeared that the girl was in similar trouble only 12 months ago. Relief was given to a woman whose husband was recently injured on board ship, and who was being helped by hi 3 fellow shipwrights. It was decided to send an old man back to Woodvillo who had been forwarded to the Old Men’s Home at Wellington by a clergyman at Woodville, and to write to the latter informing him that the man should have boon sent to Napier. Assistance was given to a woman who was finding a room for a boarder who had lived with her for years, and who was now an invalid.

It was decided to give no assistance to an old man who wanted to get into the Old Men’s Home, who had a son in good circumstances; nor to a woman who had only one child and a husband disengaged ; neither to an applicant who wanted to be “ sent somewhere ” because when he was selling rabbits and “ looking both sides of the road at once ” he slipped on an orange peel and strained his back. An old man suffering from “ some of it old age and some of it infirmity,’ and whose wife was “ eaten up with asthma,. asked for assistance to save him from being put out on to the streets by his landlord, and was granted 4s a week. An old lady who had “no coal and no grub,” and who expressed herself ashamed to come on such an errand “an honourable company of gentlemen,” was granted rations and firing. , Rations were continued to a woman with a family of ten children, whose husband broke his leg wrestling with his son. A man applied for relief, but as he was able-bodied, and had lately been working, it was decided to grant him “ a month’s holiday.” It was decided to grant a woman who had collected enough money to take her to England 40s to defray certain expenses after her arrival there. 4. youn fr man, aged 23, a baker, applied for relief. Ho had been trying for work, but could got none. He was informed that ho could not be assisted. Accounts amounting to .£291 Is were passed for payment.

An angry protest has been made by the Ashburton auctioneers against an attack made by the Ashburton Standard -upon one of their number, and one auctioneer attributed the attack to the reporter having been given too muoh whisky. , , ~ The next issue of the Band of Mercy, the organ of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is to be enlarged in consequence of the success that attended the first issue. The price of the paper is also to be reduced to ono penny. i A large number of people from Cnnstchureh went down to Lyttelton for the purpose of embarking on board the Havre a, for Wellington, and were greatly disappointed Jwhen they, found that the new steamer was only a. cargo boat and had no accommodation for passengers.