LYTTELTON BENEVOLENT AID SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 139, 22 October 1868, Page 2

LYTTELTON BENEVOLENT AID SOCIETY.

— ♦ — The following report was read at the annual met ting on Monday night: — " The Helief Committee of the Lyttelton Benevolent All Society submit to the annual meeting of subscribers the following report of the operations of the Society for the past yeiir. " Your commiLtee began the year with a balance in hi-nd of £28 Us 7d. The contribu iona of the year, according to the treasurer's statement of accounts, to be presented herewith, hare been £3G Is 6d. The total aMiount expended during the year in relief or allevinti >n of want, has been £60 ll)s 9.1, being £i\ 9s 3d in excess of receipts. £4 'Js 4d lies to tha credit of the Society at the Bank of Now Zealand. Contributions to the funds of the Society have for several months past come in with unprecedented tardiness and your committee have had to exercise the greatest economy in the admini-tration of relief, at the same time they arc thankful that no pressing case has occurred beyond their means of assisting, and the calls up m them for aid during the recent winter, and the scarcity of employment so long fult, have fallen short of wbat was at one time feared, and thus they have been enabled to come before you to render an account of their stewardship without any liabilities. " They have continued to make the strictest inquiries that were possible in all cases ; and

while deeming it incumbent upon them to help even the unworthy when their distress or need wag real, they have studiously endeavoured to guard themselves against imposition on the part of any whose necessity was feigned and not real. " It should be borne in mind by the friends of the Society that its operations have been carried on for two years past partly by the help of funds collected three years since in cxc S3 of the requirements of that year, and that the credit balance so created is now all but at an end. As already stated upwards of £24 have been spent in the past year in excess of receipts. "It must be clear, therefore, to all, that in future the usefulness of the Society will neceßsarily be considerably curtailed, unless a larger measure of pecuniary support be given to it by thd public. "The committee have been compel'e.l to lay dowu for themselves the rule of aiding only the more temporary cases of distress. Accordingly, whenever a case assumed a character of comparative permanency, steps have been tak-n to bring it under the notice of the Administrator of the Charitable Aid Fund of the Government, and hitherto with invariable success. Only in one peculiar case lias anything been gr.mted in addition to tlie Government allowarce ; in all others, such allowance has been regarded as relieving this Society from further responsibility. " There appears reason to believe that this rule fairly and properly defines the relative functions of the Government Charitable Aid Fund, and the Fund of your Socie'y. " Ihe S ciety's best thanks are due to Drs Donald and Roust; for gratuitous mcdi cal assistance in such ctses as the committee have thought fit to bring under their n >tiee ; and also to Mr Klli^don for the gratuitous supply of necessury medicines. " The thanks of the Society are also due to' Mr Buchanan for his kind services as Auditor for the past year, as well aa for two previous years. The appointment of this officer being annual, it will be necessary for tlrs meeting to elect an auditor for the ensuing year. Your committee hope that new .*uid increased efforts may henceforth be brought to bear upon tin prosperity of the Society with a view to its continued efficiency as a public medium of humane and charitable bounty towurds the poor and needy. " Twenty-three several cases have to a greater or less amount been relieved, besides the distribution of £2 14s 6d in special gifts, chiefly to widows at Christmas-tide." The Rev. J. Mclntosh read the balance sheet, audited by Mr 13. Buchanan, which showed a balance of £4 2s 4J. He was happy to say he had received a cheque for £2 2s that d;»y, and would be happy to receive any further subscriptions.