OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 740, 3 February 1866, Page 9

OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The annual general meeting of the sxibapribers to the Otagp Benevolent Institution, was held yesterday afternoon, in Farley's Buildings, Princes streft. The attendance was very limited. Mr A. C. Strode was called to the chair. He read the advertisement calling the meeting, and called upon the Secretary, Mr Hopprr, to read the annual report of the Committee of Management, and the balance sheet. They were as follows : —

The Committee of Management, in submitting a report to the subscribers of their proceedings during the past y^r, have much pleasure in stating: that they have been enabled to erect a wing of the building, and will, 80 soon as the minor arrangements are completed, be prepared to receive inmates, •which will be within two weeks from tbis date.

At the commencement of the year your Committee found themselves with sd available balance of LI7OO. LISOO of which they exclusively set aside for building purposes; but finding thiß sum was not sufficient for the erection of one wing of the Asylum, they applied to the Provincial Government for a grant eqnal to the amount they had received for the purpose.

In accordance with the representations of a deputation of the Committee, the Provincial Executire consented to place a sum of LISOO upon the Estimates of the March session. The Council having passed the same, an amount of L3OOO became available to the Committee for building purposes.

Your Committee did not fetl justified in calling for tenders until they were actually in a position to meet the total cost of completing one wing, and this explains what the subscribers may consider unnecessary delay. The adoption of this course has resulted in the wing being completed free of debt.

Messrs Macdonald and Crawshaw's tender being the lowest, was accepted. The Committee have to thank both Mr Lawton the architect, and the contractors for the successful and satisfactory manner in which the contract has been carried out.

The cost of the wing, including out-houses, architect's fees, purchase of land, &c, amounts toL3li4 7s2d.

Your Committee finding that the demands upon the fund for maintaining the Institution would be like!) to exceed the receipts from subscriptions and donations, suggested that a Fancy Fair should, if possible, be held, so that by the end of the year the Society might not only be out of debt, but in a position to meet its increasing requirements.

Communication having been opened with a number of ladies in reference to the objects the Committee had in view, a Ladies' Committee wss formed, and to the exertions of the ladies forming the Committee, combined with the assistance of the numerous friends of the Institution, the subscribers are deeply indebted for the success obtained.

The Committee being naturally anxious not to leave anything undone which could add to the stability and future prosperity of the Institution, and being desirous of having a complete and thorough understanding with the Government as to the position in which it might be placed with reference to the annual Grant irom the Council, resolved that a deputation should wain upon the Provincial Treasurer, to ai range lor placing the Society upon a satisfactory and permanent footing.

A dtputation from the Committee accordingly waited upon the Treasuu-r in the month of October, and lnving placed the statistics annexed before him, shewing what the Society had done durirg its past career, submitted the following suggestions for his approval, to which he gave bis cordial assent, viz — that in future the Grant from the Government should be at the rate of L 2 for every Ll collected in the way of subscriptions, and that the Orphan and Destitute Children Fund and the Building Fund should be subject to disticct votes.

Your Committee are happy to state that the Council dealt liberally with them, by placing at their disposal for the ensuing year, the following grai ts : LIOOO for mainten ance ; LSOO for building purposes, and LSOO towards the support of orphan and desti tute children.

In making the following statement relative to the proceeds of the Bazaar and Ball, the Committ ee beg to return their warm thanks to the ladies for the kind, able, and energetic manner in which they responded to the call on behalf of the charity.

They have to thank the Collector of Customs, Mr Logic, for permission to hold the Bazaar in the Universal Bond, and the officers in charge, for their willing services on the occasion ; and also the following gentlemen for the use of the Bond, viz : Messrs J. Jones, and Wright, Robertson and Co. ; they have aIBO to express their thanks to Mr Cornwell, for his liberal assistance in fitting up the stalls, &c.

Proceeds of Bazaar in aid of the Otago Benevolent Institution, held on the 27th, 28th, 29tb, and 30th of December, 1865. From Stalls— Mrs Dick and Mrs Barton, assisted by Mrs Howorth, Mrs Ward, Miss M'Kay, Miss Bell, Misß Wilson, Miss Dick, Miss Darling, and Miss Street, L 30 0; Mrs Caldwell, assisted by Mrs Turnbull, Miss Wright and Miss Reynolds, L2OO ; Mrs Rattray and Mrs Tolmie, assisted by Misses Holmes, Misses Batbgate, Miss Cargill, and Miss Williams, Llll 7b 8d ; Mrs Lawsoa, assisted by Mrs Cameron, Miss Miller, and. Miss Hepburn, L 67 16s 9d ; Mrs Graham and Miss Copeland, assisted by Mrs Bain, L 73 2s ; Mrs Daniels, assisted by Miss Williams and Miss Davies, L4B 18s ; Mrs Hopper and Miss Meredith, assisted by Mrs Wilson, Miss Perriman, and Miss Wilson (the

Posi Office in connection with this. stall was under the management of the Misses Davies), L 95;9 5; Misses Solomon, assisted by Mrs 6rown, L2O Is 6d; entrance money, LSO 8s 6d ; proceeds of ball, L6O ; total amount realised, L 1026 14s sd.

Annexed to the report, is the balance sheet, list of subscriptions and donations, as also a statement of the number of persons receiving relief, and on the books ot the Institution, during the past year. Your Committee have had a large amount of distress to deal with; but have the satisfaction of knowing that, owing to the generous assistance afforded on all sides, they have not been under the necessity, through want of funds, of turning away any one case deserving of relief.

Your Committee unanimously resolved that a bonus of LSO, in addition to the remuneration to which he is entitled for the past year, be given to Mr Hopper, in token of the high estimation in which they held the zeal, energy, and ability displayed by him in the discharge of his dudes.

Your Committee's term of office now expires — but they are eligible for re-election — and, in doing so, tender their thanks to the ladies, subscribers, and the public for the kind assistance rendered by them in carrying out the objects of the Society. Attached to the report was a statement showing the number of pbrsons relieved and on the books of the Institution during the past year. There were in receipt of relief 27 male, and 133 female adultt, 380 children, 31 destitute children, and 1 orphan —total, 572. There belonged to the following religious denominations : — Church of England, 141 ; Presbyterians, 187 ; Roman Catholics, 153 ; Wealeyans, 51 ; Independents, 19 ; other denominations, 21. The total number on the books in receipt of weekly relief was 180, comprising 6 male, 41 female adults, 108 children, in addition to 22 destitute and 3 orphan children. These belonged to the following religious denominations : —Church of Eng"land,39; Presbyterians, B3; Roman Catholics, 51 ; Wesieyans, 4 ; Independents, 2 ; other denominations, 1.

There were also appended a report and statistics, which were lately submitted to the Provincial Treasurer (during the late Session oi the Provincial Council), giving a statement of the sums contributed by the public and received from the Government towards the support of the Institution from April, 1862, to 30th September, 1865. The totals were:—contributed by the public, L 4253 18s 3d ; do by the Government, L4OOO, of which LI SOO was a vote towards the building fund. This document also contained a statement of the number of persons relieved and on the books during the year. Referring to the number of destitute and orphan children on the books of the Institution, the report said — "The Committee would draw the attention of the Government to the ques tion of orphan and destitute children. It was not contemplated by the promoters of the institution, that it should combine a home for the aged, and an orphan asylum as well; but having, by the force of circumstances, been compelled so to do, would point out the extra expenditure incurred under that head, and the great saving effected to the Government, who in the event of the Society declining to bear that burden, would have to find a special home for the purpose. The cost of the children, orphan and destitute, including those discharged from Ist January to 30th September, 1865. was L 553 10s ; taking the average dates of their first becoming chargeable, the number now on the books (29), at a cost of 108 per head per week, for the remaining three months of the year, LIBB 10s — making a total cost of L 742, without further additions. This sum does not include the cost of clorhing or other necessaries."

The statement of receipts and disbursements from the Ist January to 31st December, 1865, was as follows :-—Keeeipts: Balance, L2OO 19s lid ; subscriptions, L 773 10s; Gcvemment grant, LSOO ; bazaar and ball, L 1026 143 sd; bank overdrafts, L6O Bs7d; total, L 2361 12s lid. Disbursements : By relief, Ll7lO 15s 4d; furniture, Lls 4s ; rent, L9l 5s ; advertising and printing, L-12 4s; stationery, Ll6 2s; salary and commission, L 319 17s 9d; bonus to Secretar/, LSO; miscellaneous, L 49 14s 7d ; exposes ot bazaar and ball, L 237 11s lid; cash on hand, L2B ISs 4d; total. L2SGI 12a lid.

Building Fund. — Kcceipts : To balance, L 1500; subscriptions, L 26 ss; interest, L 80; Government grant, LloOO; bank overdratt, L4B 2s 2d; total, L 3154 7s 2d. Disbursements : By purchase of land, L 60 0; building as per contract, L 2330; architect's commission, L 122 13s 9d; loss on sale of debentures, LlOl 13s sd; total, L 3154 7s 2d.

The account for liabilities and assets wag as follows :— To bank overdraft, general fund, L6O 83 7d ; do building fund, L4B 2s 2d ; current account — say, L2OO ; balance, L 1720 7s 7d ; total, L 2021 18s 4d. Assets : By Government grant, general fund, LISOO ; do building fund, LSOO ; cash on hand, L2B 18s 4d ; total, L 2028 18s 4d.

Mr D. M. Mubisok moved that the, reports and halance-sheet be received, adopted and printed. Mr G.P. Clifford seconded the motion,, and it was carried. # i Mr J. Bathgate moved that his Honor the Superintendent, for the time being, be requested to become the patron of the Institution. , Mr R. B. Mabtin seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The following office-bearer 3 were elected for the present year : — President, Mr A. C. Strode; Vice-president, Mr R. B. Martin ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr C. Caldwell; Committee- of Management, Messrs J. H. Barr, St. .John Branigan, Q. Caldwell, W. D. Murison, W. Mason, W. H. i Reynolds, George Turnbull, and Julius

Vogel; honorary- medical officers, Drs Hocken and Richardson.

Mr C. Caldweix said that the Institution commenced the present year with a sum of about LI9OO to its credit.

The Chairman was glad to hear that the Institution was in so highly satisfactory a position.

De Richabdson moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, and also for the valuable services which he had rendered to the Institution during the year. This was carried, and the Chairman returned thanks for the compliment which had been paid him. The meeting adjourned.