A CHARITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 5338, 15 January 1892, Page 4

A CHARITY.

A contemporary tells the following story : —A Mr deal had been resident m Tauranga for twenty five or twenty-six years, and kept a watchmaker's chop, both he and his wife being m advanced years and without family. A few months, ago Mr Oleal fell into feebl* health, and hia wife became almost compara' tively helpless. Mr Oleal went to Auckland for medical advice, leaving a woman to nurse Mrs Oleal. Up to this time they had lived comparatively comfortable. Soon after Mr Cleal left the nurse m charge fell ill, and Mrs Oleal was left entirely unattended, and was m such a state that ehe could not more, lot alone sit or stand up or get about at all. Her state was co bad that the police reported the matter to tbo Oharibable Aid Board. Tho Chairman of the Board, on the matter being represented to him; agreed that the woman should have temporary aid, and that the police should look up the husband to compel him to provide for bis wife. The police failed to procure ti nurse, and the woman was left destitute and uncared for until the Ladies Benevolent Society heard of it, and two of the members of that body went to inquire into the matter. They found the unfortunate old woman looked m the house by horsolf, lying on the floor incapable of moving, and m a most shocking and pitable state. They had her nursed and attended to, and incurred about £11 expenses, and their benevolent action was endorsed and approved by the Board. In the meantime, however, Mr Cleal, the bußband, had died at his brother's house, having left a will by which he bequeathed to his brother, £200, the prooeeds of a life insurance policy, whioh was tho only tangible asset m the estate outside of a few worthless oddß and ends. The cottage and allotment, which are of small value, belonged to Mrs Oleal, and that was all she had. The Board were advised that the executors were protected by law from the payment of any debts out liable for the beep of the deceased's wife, the consequence being that the widow was thrown on the tender mercies of the Charitable Aid Board. At a subsequent meeting of the Board the question of paying the accounts came up for consideration, nnd during tho discussion languago of unusual strength was indulged m. Tho Chairman of 'he Board repndiated the payment of the nurse's account of £17, ub tho outlay woa incurred by tbo himbimd'* or. 1 era, and argued that bis eslniu should pay tho charge, but it was pointed out that im tho executors were protooled by law from paying it out of the in»urri;ce money, there was nn husband's estate to lecover it from. The chairman also disputed the item of £11 incurred by the Ladies' Benevolent Society on the ground that they had interfered with the board's functions, nnd must take the consequence and pay the amount incurred themselves. However, the board did not come to any decision on the matior, as the discussion became so heated that members had to adjorn m order to allow their tempers to cool.

| Sir Edwin Arnold, the author of " The ! Light of Asia," who is at present on a lecturing tour m America, has expressed the opinion that ■' England iB producing altogether too much," and he added — " England is creating no really great books." Tha Melbourne cricket ground on the oocasion of the commencement of tbe first of three matohes arranged to be played between Lord Sheffield's English team of cricketers and combined Australia was attended on Jnn. Ist by such an assemblage as had not been seen at a oricket ground eince the first appearanoe of the Hon. Ivo Bligh'n team 9 years ago. The vast enclosure was packed m every part, the total number of persons passing through the turn-stilea being 20,110. and the receipts for the day £1110 2s 6d. The number on the second day of tbo match was only nine leBS than on the first day.