OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 9

OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Otago Benevolent Institution was held in the offices, Farley's Buildings, on the sth instant. There was a very small attendance. The President (Mr A. C. Strode) occupied the Chair. The Chairman stated that he had only to regret — as he regretted at almost every previous meeting of the Institution — that there was such a small number of subscribers present. There was nothing very special to call attention to on the present occasion ; but he might say chat the institution had relieved a large amount of distress during the past year, and that the public had come forward very liberally. There were one or two things to which he would like to call the attention of the meeting. The experience of the past showed that the now incoming Committee would have to grapple with a growing cvil — namely, the frequent desertion of wives aud families by lazy or drunken husbands. In fact, there was little doubt that this matter called loudly for legislation Another point was that the Committee should have power to apprentice or hire out children, and to recover their wages, or enter into agreements on their account. The third point was, a recommendation to the Government to provide a home for inebriates of both sexeß. If that were done, one-half of the distress at present existing would be pat a stop to. The report prepared by the Committee would b« read, and it would then be for the meeting to say whether the Committee had performed their duty. ANNUAL KEPORT. The Secretary read the report aa fol* fows : — In laying the eleventh annual report before the robmsribers, the Committee of Iff unagement : regret that daring' iho part year, notwithntand- 1 ing the prosperous condition of the Province, they have been called upon to relieve a large amount of distress, the expenditure during the

summer months, as shewn by the tabular form attached, being not less than that of the winter. The disbursement* for out-door relief, amounting to LB6B 10s 9d, were, however, L 340 less than the sum so expended in 1872, and LSGO less than in 1871. The principal causey of distress have again arisen from the desertion of families by husbands, and in many cases through death and sickness. The Committee see no prospect of a considerable reduction ia the expenditure, as a large proportion of the cases are hkely to be permanent. At the close of the year there were on the relief list 265 persons, entailing a weekly expenditure of Lls 17s. Of this amount L 3 Is was distributed in the country districts, amongst 61 persons. 2. With respect to the direct work of the Institution for the year — 15 children, 13 men, and 3 women have been admitted. During the same period 7 boys and 8 girls have been placed out, and 3 boys and 3 girls have been taken out by relatives. 2 adults — males— have been dwcliarged for misconduct, and 1 adult female to a situation. The total number remaining are 55 children, 17 men, and 4 women. Of the adults, one is Hind, and nearly all are helpless cripples, requiring personal attendance. 3. The average number of inmates in the Institution during the pass year has remained ab&ut equal to that of 1872, namely, 76. The cost of each inmate per week during the year was 8s Id. This amount shows an increase on the cost of maintenance ot Is 4,|d per head per week. This is accounted for by tho greater number of adults admitted, and the cost of clothing being £100 in excess of the previous year's account. 4. The health of the inmates has continued excellent, no serious case of sickness having occurred. There were no deaths durirg the year. The Committee record their appreciation or the care and attention of the medical officer both to the inmates and out-door patients. 5. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs Turner as matron was filled up by the appointment of Mrs Drysdale. 6. The school work has progressed satisfactorily, as hitherto, under the care of Miss Coxhead, who has now resigned. She leaves, with the besb wishes of the Committee, who desire to recognise her readiness at all times and in every wav to forward the interests of the Institution with, which she has been connected since its opening. 7. The religious instruction to the Protestant children and inmates has been satisfactorily attended to by the assiduous attention of Mr Mucfie. 8. The Committee express their grateful thanks to the several Churches for their annual offertories ; to the several collectors, donors, and annual subscribers for their liberal support: abo to those who have kindly contributed by their liberality to the entertainment aud enjoyment of the inmates. 9. By reference to the balance sheet it will be observed that financially the Institution is> in a better position than last year. Although the actual receipts are less, the subscriptions amount to nearly £400 more than the previous year, and the expenditure has been nearly £200 less. The Committee regret to report that the Colonial Parliament has not yet consented to the vote for tho endowment of public charities. They trust, however, that their successors in office will uso every endeavour to obtain this necessary provision for charitable aid from that source. 10. The Committee, before resigning their trust and offering themselves for re-election, would place on record the hdavy loss to the Charity by the death of their late Vice-President, James Wilkie, Esq. In closing their Report, they express their thankfulness at the result which has attended their labouis, and enabled them, by the assistance of ii generous public, to relieve a large amount of distress, and iv saving, as they believe, a number of young persons from profligacy, vice, and misery. They solicit for their successors a continuance of the sympathy and support hitherto accorded to the Charity. The following is taken from the balancesheets for the year :—: — EECEIPTS. £ s. d. Balance from 1872 229 14 9 Government Grants V2\>'2 5 10 Subscriptions, Collections, &c. ... 1343 12 10 Fiom other sources — say, Rents, account Inmates, Sale of Produce, Stock, &c. 135 0 11 £2910 14 4 DISBURSEMENTS. Out-door Relief 868 18 9 Milk, Groceries, Meat. &c 583 4 4 Furnishing and Repairs ... ... 42 011 Advertising and Printing 29 16 6 Religious Instructor ... ... 52 0 0 Sahries and Labour 59112 0 Office Rent and Stationery 59 16 0 Fencing, Building, and Repairs ... 72 1 8 Clothing and repairs to bame ... 276 19 11 Fuel H4 10 8 Medicine, Cartage, Stock, Seeds, Rates, Insurance, Postage, and Stamp Duties, ice 11l 410 2802 5 7 1 Balance to 1874 108 8 9 £2910 14 4 The Rev. Dr Stuart said he had special pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. He remembered that last year some members of the Committee were full of fears and misgivings as to the support the Institution was likely to get. He was sure that those members themselves would be delighted to rind that their fears and misgivings had been so amply and effectually rebuked. The report gratified himself in another way, inasmuch as it showed that their fellow settlers, whatever might be their faults, were not backward in responding to the call of distress and misery. It did his heart good to s»e the heartiness with which citizens generally met such cases as arose in their several localities ; but as a supporter of the Institution, he was specially glad to see the continual support it got irom all parts of the count! y. And who could wonder that such was the case, considering that it opened its doors to all, irrespective of creed or country? It was a matter of special gratification to him to be able to assure all who called upon him for assistance, that if their cases were i as they represented they would meet with ' I every consideration from the Committea. j He made that remark because he recently ! met a statement attributed to hia friend

Father Coleman that " he would wash his hands clear of the Institution, because its arrangements were unfavourable, if not fatal, to the religion of Catholic children." _ He looked upon that imputation as very painful, especially when he called to mind tbe gentlemen on the Committee, as he felt sure they would as soon be guilty of high treason as of anything likely to interfere with the religion of any of the children in the Institution. He asked himself this question :Is it a fact that among the Catholic children ia that Institution there has cropped up an'unwillingness to submit to Church authority ? If that be the case, what was the cause or explanation of it? He was quite sure that the explanation was not tbat the matron, schoolmistress, or Committee had conspired against the religion of the children. He was inclined to think that the explanation was this : That in these Colonies the ideas of toleration and spiiitual independence filled the air and floated about, and had entered not only the playgrounds, school grounds, and dining rooms, out in fact everywhere. They were found in newspapers, ana in all their institutions ; they were met with in every place. He believed that was the real explanation of it ; and then children — and Catholic children amongst them — might spring up at times, and catch hold of those floating ideas, and hence the restlessness that some of them might exhibit under Church authority. He had no hesitation in avowing his conviction that there was not on the part of this Institution or its officials, any determination to interfere with anyone's religion, but only to do their best for the children, whether Protestant or Catholic. Personally, he felt indebted to the gentlemen who managed this Institution, and all sensible people in town with whom he conversed, equally acknowledged their indebtedness to the men who week after week met difficult cases, and on the whole met them so successfully. He moved the adoption of the report with very great pleasure, and he trusted that the matters pointed out by the President would meet with the attention of those who could remedy the defects mentioned.

Mr John Hislop seconded the adoption of the report. It occurred to him that ,the satisfactory state of matters with regard to the hearty response made by the public thia year was really brought about by the expressions of fear and misgiving referred to by Dr Stuart. He had much pleasure in observing the satisfactory working of the Institution, and the (large amount of good effected by it, not only in the case of inmates of the building, but also with respect to out- door cases. It was very pleasing to tind that the Society's operations were so extensive and useful. He felt bound to attend the meeting to give expression to his feelings of satisfaction and gratitude towards the Institution, and for the admirable manner in which it seemed to have been worked.

Mr Rentnie, referring to the increase of subscriptions, said that probably the statement made at a former meeting, that if thepublic did not come foiward more liberally there would have to be a poor rate, had had a good effect. Although there was an increase in the subscriptions, he could say from his own knowledge that the sums subscribed were quite disproportionate to the subscribers' means. It would be much better for people who held immensely large properties in the Province to come forward liberally, and instead of giving £5, give £50. He was sure that if a poor rate were levied those people he referred to would have to pay perhaps £100 towards the support of the poor. There were many in the Province who were well able to contribute, but who did not contribute at all. He believed that ultimately, if poverty continued to increase, a poor rate would have to be levied. Such a rate would not be so heavy on those who contributed already, but it would fall heavily on those who at present refused to put their hands in their pockets to support this charitable institution. He was afraid that the balance in hand at present was owing to the severe and pinching economy practised by the Committee. The Chairman remarked that although the balance was at present in their favour,, there were times during the year when the Committee were at dead low water. They then had to obtain an overdraft, and become personally responsible. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year :—President, Mr A. C. Strode ; Vice-President and Treasurer, Mr R. B. Martin ; Committee Messrs James Fulton, A. Rennie, John Hislop, H. F. Hardy, James Mollison, B. Bagley, and James Black. The meeting terminated with a vote of tianks to the retiring Committee and officei bearers.

There is at last a prospect of there being a good road to connect Dunedin with the Ocean Beach, by which wearied citizens can. take recreation and enjoy the sea air. The Government are taking steps for the formation of that part of the Ocean Beach road between the tit. Kilda Hotel at the intersection of the Bay View and Hillside roads to the Sandhills, being a distance of about 41 chains. The road is to be formed to a uniform width of 15ft. The material for the formation is to be obtained from the rock reserve at Tolmie's Point ; is to consist of the beat there procurable for roadtnaking ; and the formation iB to have an average depth of 2ft., the largest stones being placed on the bottom. When the formation ia completed, the surface is to be coated with a 6in. layer of 2in. bluestone metal. Tbe work is to be completed in about three months from date.