BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 35

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

The weekly meeting- of the Benevolent Instibubion Trustees, held on the 13bh inst., was attended by Messrs J. Roberts (chairman), Solomon, Dallas, Chisholm, Haynes, and Gourley.

GENERAL.

Accounts amounting to £197 17s 7d were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that an inmate of the institution (Margaret Ramage) died duriDg the week.

The number of outdoor relief cases dealt with during the month of May was 420. These represented 151 men, 338 women, and 895 children ; and the cost was £128 7a per week. The number of outdoor relief cases disposed of during the corresponding month of last year was 376. These represented 144 men, 295' women, and 823 children, the cost being £115 13s 6d per week.

THE THOMSON BEQUEST.

The Chairman read a report in regard to the Thomson bequest, which was originally set down at the sum of £3000. The report Btated, however, that through the very unsatisfactory nature of the investments left by Mr Thomson, together with the very heavy calls of the NewZealand Dairy Association and the Equitable Insurance Association, the amount was reduced to £178 7s 3d. Furthermore, they were advised that the Equitable Insurance claim was not yet quite extinguished, and if another sail was> made there was no knowing what the result might be.

THE INMATES OF THE INSTITUTION. The Chairman read the Visiting Committee's reporb of an investigation which they had undertaken (by request) into the circumstances of each inmate connected with the institution, with the special view of ascertaining if any of them could earn a livelihood. From this it appears that there are 175 inmates, of whom 19 are bedridden, 3 are , suffering from general debility and old age, 4 from chronic rheumatism, 1 from consumption, 6 from paralysis, 2 from hearb disease, 1 from asthma, and 1 from locomobor ataxy. Of these 3 are between the ages of 50 and 60, 6 between 60 and 70, 4" between 70 aud 80, and 6 above 80. Of the men. 142, whilst nob absolutely bedridden, are afflicted with incurable diseases, 4 suffer from asthma, 16 from paralysis, 15. from rheumatism, 21 are lamo or incapable, from the effects of acoidents, 6 are dyspeptic, 9? are blind or partially blind, 7 suffer from rupture, 4 from locomotor ataxy, 2 are of weak intellect, 6 are epileptic, 18 are aged and debilitated, 21 are the subjects of pulmonary affection?, and 12 suffer from other diseases. These are wholly unable to earn a living outside the institution. Respecting their agei, 5 are: under 50, 27 are bebwsen 50 and 60, 51 are. between 60 and 70, 44 are between 70 and 80-, and 15 are upwards of 80. The women number 64, of whom 12 are bedridden, 1 afflicted with rheumatism, 3 with paralysis, 1 suffers from surgical injury, 3 from debility, 1 from heart disease, and there are 3 in the maternity ward. Then there are 37 of the female inmates not absolutely bedridden, bub who are so incurably diseased as to be beyond the pale of earning » living. Of theße 7 are rheumatic, 2 are blind, 1 is dyspeptic, 1 suffers from asthma, 3 are crippled, 1 suffers from bronchitis, 3 from pulmonary complaints, 7 froaa debility, 4 are o5 weak intellect, and 7 are subjects of otherdiseases. Their ages are classified as follow* : —11 are under 50, 7 between 50 and 60, 8 between 60 and 70, 10 between 70 and 80,. and 1 over 80. The ages of the 15 remaining(female) cases are : 2 under 50, 6 between 50' and 60, 5 bebween 60 and 70, and 2 between 70' and 80. The Committee of Investigation are of opinion that 9 women (specially named) could do a great deal towards earning what is chargeable to their maintenance if they were connected with an institution where public laundry work was undertaken ; and they suggest that steps should ba taken to arrauge with the managers of the' Female Refuge for the transfer to that place of the inmates referred to. The Chairman said that the thanks of the trustees were due to the committee for their very exhaustive report.

Mr Chisholm. concurred in this opinion. He stated that the report referred to soma of the inmates who were fib to do work. He presumed what was meant was that they could be discharged if the circumstances wore favourable — that was, if it were summer time. There were a number of others, however, who could work in the institution.

Mr Solomon observed that the others did wh%t work there wa3 to be done about the institution.

Mr Haynes, in regard to the women mentioned in the reporb, thought that some stepa should be taken to ascertain if they could not; be taken into the Female Refuge. He had heard — he did not know if it were true — that; they got any amount of laundry work at the Female Refuge : more than could be done there.

Mr Dallas moved — " That the matter brought up by Mr Haynes be referred to the chairman for a report." The motion was carried, and a vote of thanks to the committee who prepared the report was placed in the minute book.