PATIENTS AND PRISONERS'

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 10

PATIENTS AND PRISONERS'

AID SOCIETY.

THIRTIETH ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirtieth annual meeting of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society was held in the Choral Hall on the 15th, and wa6 presid-ed over by his Honor Mr Justice Williams. . There was a fairly large atendance of members and friends of the society, and numerous apologies were received for unavoidable absence.

The Mayor wrote: — "I Bincerely regret, your Honor, that I shall not be present tonight to take part in the presentation to Mr Torrance, having to preside at the final meeting of the Competitions Society and distribution of prises and certificates. I propose at next meeting to ask that a resolution be placed on the records of the City Council appreciative of the noble work carried on by Mr Torranoe for so many .yean. In the meantime, I shall esteem it a favour if you will kindly convey to your guest the sincereat good wishes of the Mayor and council, and the hope that he may have many years to enjoy the comfort and happiness he so well deserves."

The Rev. W. Hewitson wrote:— "l am leaving for Wellington on Monday for our Assembly, and go thereafter to Australia. I am eorry that I shall not be able to be present at Mr Torrance's farew-'! meeting. I have had many opportunities during these 12 years of observing his work, and I am sure that our city has no religious and philanthropic worker more kindly, assiduous, and sagacious than Mr Torrance. He has often interested me very much, not only in his dealings with the sick, but. also with those who have turned out of the way. In a wonderful degree in his relations with the latter class he has avoided credulity on the one hand and cynicism on the other. He ' keeks.' through his brother man with shy and keen inspection, but never without kindness and hopefulness. The highest motives have actuated him in his arduous work, and the weariness of the way must often have been relieved by hi 6 appreciation of the ludicrous. I trust he may have a quiet evening to his long day of toil."

The Secretary of the St. Vinoent de Paul Society wrote:— "We very much regret that it will not be possible for the president or any member to be present to represent us at the meeting. We should like, however, to assure your society that we hope to-niffht's meeting will be as successful op it deserves. In the course of their work, members of our society have frequently come in contact with Mr J. A. Torranoe, and in this way know and appreciate the very kind-hearted and broad-minded manner in whioh he has for many years performed his arduous duties. We feel that on his retirement we have lost a good friend and fellow-laboxirer."

The following are extracts from the annual report: — In issuing its thirtieth report, the oomrnittee has nothing out of the ordinary course to Tecord.' The main consideration is that in the- carrying out of the society's humane purposes the inmates of the institution were ministered to, that in numerous instances fore distress was all-© via ted and hor>e put into hearts., and 1 that to many a fresh start was given. The year began with a credit balance of £121 4» 2d. and closed with a. batanoe to credit of £170 6s. Tne subpcriptions (inclusive of returns, totalling £8 11s). amounted to £52-1 7s Bd. The committee cannot close this report without anecia! reference to the severance of Mr Torrance's connection, with the society as its chaplain and agent, after axi unbroken period of 30 years' ftrithfu.l ministrations to the fallen, th-e afflicted and the sick, in the service of the association, and 10 years previously unde-r the Provincial Government. Year aft&r year your committee has recorded its high adimiration of Mr Torrance's unse'fish devotion to his arduous and trying work, and now that it has come to a olose, vt parts with him as its valued official head with t^e deepest regre-t. Mr Torrance carries with him into his well-earned retirement from active duty the warm regard and friendship of every member of the committee, and it is a source of pleasure and gratification to them to know that he will continue to be associated with them as a fe!low-coniniitt«e.Tnian in ti* work which may truly be said to hays become part of his life.

Mr Torrance's annual report gave details of the work undertaken during the year among the patients in the hospitals (general and mental) and the orteoners under sentence. He tendered thanks to all who had assisted in various ways. He conoluded bis report in the following- terms: —

I conclude my final annual statement to-day, the closing day of my service to the society, with the assurance that, while I retire very regretfully, I do c o with a deep sense of indebtedness to hia honor the president, the vice-preside"!, the hon. treasurer, and the members of the ovmmittee severally for all the heartenii.; consideration and 'help th«y have so long favoured me with, and & again affirm my lasting obligation to the large nurabex of mini«terial and lay friends in the city and country parts through whoee self-denyinff co-operation in various ways I was enabled to do the work of the society.

His Honor Mr Justice Williams, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said the main difference between the present and other reports was. he was sorry to say, that it dealt with the retirement of Mr Torrance. He woul i read the following extract from the renort- —

The committee cannot close this report without special reference to the severance of Mr Torrance'B connection with the society as its chap'ain and apent. after an unbroken period of 80 years' faithful ministrations to the fallen, the afflicted, and the sick, in the service ot the association, and 10 years previously under the Provincial Government. Year after y«ar y<>ur committee his recorded its high admiration of Mr Torrance's unselfish devotion to his .arduous and. trying work, and now that it has come to » close- it parts with, him as t its valued official head -with the deepest regret. Mr Toroanoe carries with, him into his well-earned retirement from active duty the warm 'regard and friendship of every member of the committee, and it is a, source of pleasure and gratification to them to know that he will continue to be associated with them as a fellow-oonunitteeman in the wdk which may truly be said to have be- j come part of his life.

. Dr Marshall Macdonald seconded the motion, and referred to the splendid work whioh Mr Torrance had carried out for

more than 30 years. The motion was carried

Mr C. C. Graham moved — " That a vote of thanks be accorded the committee for its services during the past year, and that the following gentlemen be the officebearers and the committee- for the ensuing year : —President, Mr Justice Williams; vice-presidents, Messrs E. E. C. Quick and • J. A. Torrance; hon. treasurer, Mr W. / Hislop; committee— Messrs A. S. Paterson, I

G. Fenwick, R. Chisholm, P. Duncan, TO, Gow, E. R. Smith, P. Barr, F. Z. Moore* W. Downie Stewart, H. H. Driver, S. OS, Phillips, Captain Thomson, and Mr H. "S*l Widdoweon, S.M." Speaking to the mo» tion, he said he had been brought into contaot with Mr Torrance frequently, and knew the admirable work he and the society were doing. When he had been approached) he had found nothing had been so effectual as to put the case in the hands of Mr Torranoe.

The Rev. D. Borrie seconded the motion, and said the calibre of the committee wa» a guarantee for 6uccess. He was glad to; be present to represent his brethren in the Presbyterian Church, who had the highest respect for Mr Torrance and the society. The motion was carried.

Mr J. C. Stephens moved— "That si hearty vote of thanks be accorded thoso gentlemen who have assisted the agents in connection with the services in the several institutions; to the collectors in town and country districts for their valuable ser* vioes; to tJie oity, suburban, and country churches and .Sabbath schools which gave liberal collections and donations ; to tha friends who gave employment to the per* sons recommended by the agents ; to the honorary auditor for the year's accounts f to the Benevolent Institution authorities and all others who have furthered the agents' efforts; and to the officers of tha several institutions for the assistance they have rendered." Further— " That the Patents and Prisoners' Aid Society is worthy of public sympathy and support. Dr Falconer secon< ed the motion, and referred to the benefits various institutions derived from the existence of the society. He knew Mr Torrance bad served patients in the institutions well, and they were all very grateful to him. and on their behalf he conveyed to Mr Torrance their thanks.

The motion was carried, and a vote of thanks to his Honor for presiding concluded the meeting.