BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10033, 26 April 1894, Page 3

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held yesterday, Was attended by Messrs Roberta (chairman), Gourley, CbLsholm, Dallas, Green, Swan, Isaac, Haynes, and Solomon.

Accounts amounting to £159 S3 5d were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that OwenMoran, Tho3. Turnbnll, Wm. Leslie, and Bather Dodd had died in the institution during the week. The Visiting Committee reported that two of the inmates of the institution had been guilty of making statements outside the institution to the effect that Roman Catholics were treated much better in the institution than Protestants. The Revs. King and Dutton gave evidence before the committee that Buch charges, bo far as their experience was concerned, were entirely unfounded. The committee, having very fully inquired into the whole raatt«r, had come to the conclusion that the charges had been maliciously made, and they recommended if any further trouble be given by the two inmates in question that they be discharged from the institution. The committee had severely reprimanded them.—The recommendation of the committee was approved, and tho secretary was instructed to convey a copy of tha resolution to the two inmates concerned. The Chairman laid at the last meeting of the trustees he spoke of retiring, aa lie felt that he was not able to give as much time to the position as it deserved. He intended to submit his resignation at next meeting.

Mr GourLey said he would move—" That the chairman take time to reconsider his decision." He hoped that Mr Roberts would lot the trustees have the benefit of his services as chairman at all events, to the end of the year. Since he had been chairman he had given every satisfaction, and he (Mr Gourley) had no doubt the trustees would all like him to continue as chairman till the end of the year. He had no hesitation in saying that they would give Mr Roberts every assistance in their power, and were willing to make allowance for the fact that his important business engagements would not allow him to attend every meeting of the trustees.

Mr Solomon quite agreed with all that had fallen from Mr Gourley. He was sure that the trustees would all assist the chairman in every respect when he was unavoidably absent. He believed that Mr Roberts would be consulting the wishes of the trustees if he remained in the position of chairman.—-(Hear, hear.) Mr Chisholm thought, seeing that there was Buch a general feeling that the chairman should remain on the trust as chairman, that he should reconsider his decision.

The Chairman felt very much obliged for the kind expressions of opinion of tho trustees and for the kindly offers of assistance they had made He could hardly shut his eyea to their representations, and if they believed that the duties of the chair would not suffer through his absence at times, it relieved him from the feeling that he was not doing hia duty, and he could at once aay that he would accede to tha wishes of the trustees that he shonld remain in his present position. A number of applications for relief were then dealt with.