Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1885. THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ACT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5744, 14 October 1885, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. ( PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1885. THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ACT.

This important piece of legislation is now before us, and we purpose as shortly as may be to give our readers a concise digest of its provisions, as it is, without doubt, an Act in which everyone is largely interested. The Act came into force on the Ist of October, and does not apply to Lunatic Asylums or Industrial Schools. The interpretation clause defines the meaning of the different terms used throughout the Act, such as contributor ; contributory local authority district; District Board or Board Institution, Separate Institution, etc. The colony is divided into hospital districts as set out in the first schedule. From this we find that the District of Wanganui includes the Counties of Wanganui, Waitotara, Eangitikei, Oroua, and Manawatu and all boroughs therein. In other words, from Waitotara to Foxton. Clause 7 provides that for such a district there shall be a District Board of Administration, to consist of one member for every borough and county respectively in the district having less than eight thousand inhabitants, and two members for every borough and county having more than eight thousand inhabitants. The Wanganui District Board will therefore consist of five County and four Municipal Council representatives. The members of the Board are to be elected by the Councils on the foxirth Wednesday in November in each year, and come into office on the first Wednesday in the December following. Members hold office for one year,or until their successors come into office ; failing election the Governor has the usual power as to nominating persons to fill the vacancies. The first elections have been by circular, fixed for the 15th of October, and will be adyised to fix the first meetings for the sth November next, on -which day the Boards will come into operation, and not before. Every such Board shall be a body corporate, and have the usual functions and powers. Clause 13 provides that the Boards shall have the control of the distribution of charitable aid in the districts under their direction, and may apply out of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Fund of the district such moneys as they may from time to time think necessary. Clause 14 reads there shall be for every district an Hospital or Charitable Aid Fund consisting of moneys derived from rents and profits of land and endowments vested in the Board, or set apart for the benefit of particular institutions which have not become separately incorporated under the Act; voluntary contributions, in- 1

eluding donations and bequests j grants from contributory local authorities ; subsidies from the Consolidated Fund j and all other moneys which may be received by or become the property of the Boards under this or any other Act. The contributions from the Consolidated Fund for five years dating from the Ist of April, 1886, shall each year be apportioned as follow : viz, ten shillings for every pound of bequests, but in no case to exceed five hundred pounds in respect of any one bequest ; pound for pound on voluntary contributions; and the same for those received from any local authority, whether voluntary or raised by a general or special vote. Boards are to take all necessary steps for providing funds for the maintenance of any institutions vested in them, and may appoint persons to collect subscriptionsBoards are as early as possible after first coming into office, and thereafter in every year before the last day of March, to ascertain the amount of expenditure required for the maintenance of the institutions in their districts, and for the distribution of charitable aid therein up to the last day of March in the following year. Boards may subdivide districts, and declare what local authorities shall contribute in support of institutions. From the total estimated cost of maintaining the institutions in any district or sub-division, and of affording charitable aid therein, the Board shall deduct the net annual income estimated to be available for such purposes, and the remainder shall be the total amount to be allocated for contribution by the local authorities in such district or sub-division, less such amount as may be receivable from the consolidated fund in respect of such remainder. These contributions from local authorities are to be proportioned to the rateable value of the rateable property as defined by " The Rating Act, 1876," or "The Rating Act, 1 882." Power is given to any contributory local authority to appeal if they think the amount claimed is unjust. Local contributory bodies may pay contributions out of the ordinary funds or subsidies, or may levy rates : exemption in this latter event being secured for all lands rateable under " The Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, 1882." "Where the Counties Act is suspended in any County, the Council of such County may set apart any portion of such County fund for the purposes of the Act, and have all the powers that it now posseeses to apportion and divide such fund. Boards may apply funds for the erection and maintenance of institutions and in providing charitable aid, and may establish new institutions when required. Boards may borrow on the security of their income for the" purpose of erecting new, or for making additions, alterations, or repairs to existing institutions. Under the heading of " United District," the Act provides that for the purposes of contribution for and distribution of charitable aid the separate districts enumerated shall be deemed to form united districts respectively, and the members of the several District Boards of such separate districts shall together form the Board of such united districts. Under this clause, the Patea District is united with the Wanganui District. The Board of an united district is endowed with all the powers, duties, and functions which, but for this section, would devolve upon District Boards, and supersede the District Boards of the separate districts forming part of such united district. Thus the United District Board of "Wanganui and Patea will consist of the Mayor and four members of the Borough Council of Patea, the Council of the County of Patea, and the members of the Wanganui District Board. Under the head of " Existing Institutions," it is provided that the bodies or committees now having control shall continue to do so until the same be vested in a District Board or Trustees under the Act. Clause 37 enacts that the governing body are required to notify on or before the 15 th of next month to the Board of the district wherein the institution is situate, whether or not they purpose to petition the Governor for the incorporation of the institution as a " separate institution " under the Act. To do so they must within four months after the passing of the Act (i c. , before the 22nd January, 1886), petition the Governor praying the institution may be incorporated as a separate institution ; such petition must have annexed to it a verified list of the names of not less than one hundred persons who shall have signified their intention to contribute in yearly sums of not less than 5s an amount of not less than .£IOO to the institution, and who shall have paid one year's subscription in advance, or a donation of not less than £10. A copy of the petition and its annexes must be sent to the District Board fourteen days at least before it is presented to the Governor, who, on receipt thereof, may take action under the provisions of clause 43 and other clauses of the Act, and if the institution becomes separately incorporated the governing body vacate their office on the appointment of the first trustees of the separate institutions. Separate institutions will be governed by not less than six nor more than nine trustees, who are to be elected by the contributors for the time being to such institution, together with not more than five other trustees, who may be elected by the local authorities then contributing to the funds of such institution. When an institution has become incorporated as a separate institution, the entire control and management, and all the estate and interest in any real and personal property held by the District Board or by any person in trust for the institution at the time of incorporation becomes vested in the elected trustees, who have transferred to them all the powers and authorities of the District Board. The fuuds are also similarly dealt with as in the case of the District Boards, with the addition • that the Government contributes pound for pound for grants from tne said Boards. Trustees of separate institutions on coming into office are to estimate their expenditure and to apply to Board for grant. The latter body may appeal against amount demanded. Trustees may, with concent of Board, borrow money on the security of their endowments and income, or may apply to

any one or more local authorities for a special contribution for specified pur-, poses, tod in case any local authority shall grant any such contribution, there may be paid out of the Consolidated Fund in such manner as the Colonial Treasurer, if he agree to such contribution, may from time to time appoint, a special subsidy not exceeding ten shillings for every pound contributed by the local authority ; the maximum special Government subsidy in any one year not to exceed £2,500 to any one institution. The Boards and Trustees may make bye-laws and enforce penalties for the breach thereof, in the usual manner. Boards and Trustees have the appointment of all necessary officers and servants and the regulating of their own proceedings. Persons receiving relief under the Act will be liable to contribute a reasonable sum towards their support and treatment according to their means. "The Destitute Persons Act 1887" to apply ! to near relatives of persons receiving relief who are unable to contribute. In cases of relief being afforded to a person coming from beyond the contributing districts of the institution affording such relief, the Board of the district from which such person came will be liable for the entire cost of such relief provided the person has resided in the last mentioned district at least six months before he entered the institution affording him relief. Contracts above .£lO to be let by tender. Endowments not exceeding in the whole 250,000 acres of Crown lands in different parts of the colony are to be set apart for the purposes of the Act. The allocation of these reserves it provided for, by sub- sections of clause 88. Clause 99 makes it penal for any District Board or Trustees to obtain money from the Consolidated Revenue by wilfully false representations ; the penalty for such being £200. The last clause in the Act provides that where any omission or deficient provision occurs the Governor may, from time to time, make and prescribe such regulations and orders, either general or applicable to particular cases only, as he shall think fit for the purpose of facilitating, or more effectively carrying into execution the provisions of the Act. The above synopsis and digest of the Act covers the most important parts of it, and will give the public a fair idea of the manner in which, for the future, the Hospitals and charitable aid of the colony are to be provided for. We must defer any further remarks on the subject to a future issue, as we have exhausted our space in this.

Mr Bruce M.H.R. addresses his constituents at Marton to-morrow evening in the Forestera Hall.

At Mr Barns' sale yesterday Mr Thomo • Briatol purchased the section in the estate of the late Thoma3 Bason,

Mr Rendall announces another shipment of the Westport coals of which a short time ago he had a large shipment. They are said to be the best introduced into Wanganui.

We were shown yesterday an envelope addressed to a firm of merchants as follows: — Messrs and Co., Victoria Avenue, Wanganui, Fiji Islands. It reached its destination after having first gone to Fiji,

Word has been received from the Lands Department by the Domain Board, in answer to their request for a portion of any gt;ant that may have been allotted to such boards, that the vote was not renewed this year.

The Borough weighbridge does not appear ro be generally appreciated by the public. During its first month's trial only thirty shillings were taken. As the expenses for the same period were double that amount, it is obvious that the bridge ia not yet a paying institution,

As a proof of the value of an insurance against risks with live stock we may mention that a few days ago Mr McQuillan insured a horse with Mr Eyre for £50, paying £4 as a premium. On Saturday last its leg was broken by a kick from another horse, and it had to be desttoyed. The £50 will come iv very handy as a recompense for the loss.

The Progress and Industrial Association will hold its monthly meeting this evening when several matters of interest are to be brought up. Amongst other things there will be a discussion on Protection v, Free Trade. Borne papers received from the Protection Association of Christchurch will be read after Mr Warren, of Wellington, opens the ball.

At last night's meeting of the Borough Council when reference was made to the questioD of accepting the Government valuation His Worship said that he believed the reply made by their Council to the Government on a former occasion was the most satisfactory that the department had received. That reply was to the effect that the council ap proved of the general principle suggested, but could not see its way to adopt the suggestion until it saw the new valuation roll. 'I his roll he understood would nut be available until about February.

An improvement is to be made in future in connection with the lighting of the wharf. Latterly the lights have not been attended to but the Railway Department have now given instructions that the lamps should be kept alight all night. There is another matter connected with the wharf management which might be attended to by the authorities. Trucks are allowed to remain on the wharf on Sundays occasionally. These are very much in the way of those who choose to take a walk along the wharf, and their re moval would tend greatly to the convenience of the public.

There is every probability of a charge being made soon by the Borough Council for the water used for water closets. Cr Austin brought the matter up last evening by asking whether per-ons had the right to take the pipes to closets without informing the Foreman of Works. Up till the present time no bye-law has existed which would prevent anyone who had the 'Svater laid on to hi 3 premises doing so. When the new bye-law comes into force the Council will, nc doubt, pass a resolution, as empowered by it, providing that a charge shall be made for water laid on for such purposes. When that comes into force notice will havu to be given to the Foreman of any extension of pipes in the direction indicated.

Yesterday afternoon the Hon. the Minister for Lands was deputationised by some of the members of the Pemberton Special Settlement Association with reference to the survey of the block. The association had asked the Government what the cost of survey would be, but the Surveyor-General replied that this could not be told till the work was completed They wanted the Minister to get the work pushed on, and he informed them that he would endeavour to do so. He also promised to have the road, which was now being made in the Oroua Valley, continued to the block, arid to do all that he could to assist the settlement. A meeting will be held next week to receive the second instalment, and consider a letter from the Surveyor-General.

The fir-t of the " market day " trains to Wanganni were run to-day. The results may be said to have been very satisfactory, especially as regards the North train. From this direction there were a much larger number of travellers than ordinarily. Though there was hardly any perceptible difference as regards the South line, yet there were by it a fair number of passengers. Of course the full tt easure of success could hardly be expected all at once, but we are sure that in a few weeks the country people will commence to patronise the market-day trains regularly. The result of this must be advantageous to both the town and district.

vj|,The Hon. Mr Ballance is still in town, and "will remain here until Monday morning, at

>iThe strong wind during the night blew d^wn the hose drying rack at the Fire J?!^ 6 Station. . The timbers were thoroughly rotten. was not taken of the excursion f^res to the Friendly Societies' Fete to the extent which might have been anticipated. Tlie Stormbird took away only about a dozen excursionists, the windy weather having evidently frightened a number who had intended going. It was the intention of Bandmaa'er Ki'.g to have played the visitors up fr-om the wharf at ■•„ eliiugfcon, bus he is hardly likely to carry out this idea when he lelarns of the poor show they would make.

Judgment was read by the Sheriff this morning in the case of Reihana Terekuku v. Kidd, claim for £200 damages to land through the spreading of gorae. His Honor the Chief Justice found that the fence from the Railway to the house was not iv eiriotence at the time the lease was executed and therefore the covenant did not apply to it. As to the other fences he concluded that damages recoverable for them must not ia- , elude the whole amount it would Uke to clear the gorse which had spread from them. He considered that £50 wou'd be a fair allowance to nuke. As to the claim for Waste therefrom he thought that the defendant could have stopped the seed from spreading aa he knew the nature of the plant. He allowed £15 for this, making £85 altogether ; costs to be on the lowes? scale.

A special general meeting of the Jockey Club was held last evening, when there were present — Drs Earle (chair) and Connolly, Mesrs Paul, Peel, W. T, Owen, Abbot, Watt, and Cox. The following new members were elected— Messrs JBlundell, Uogan, F. Harrison, and Krull. Mr D. Tburston was proposed as a member by Mr Watt, seconded by Dr Connolly. The following resolutions were, after considerable discussion, carried — Any owner wishing to change the name of a horse running for any hack race must give the becretary fully one month's notice of his intention, prior to the horse taking part in any race meeting running under the W.J.O. rules, and such owifer must pay to the Secretary o; such race meeting the sum of two guineas, who wiliyiotify the alteration to the >- ecretary ot the W.J.iJ. 'Jhat annual tickets be issued by the Club, entitling holders thereof and one lady friend to all the privileges of Uie racecoui&e, at two pouuds each — holders not to have any voice in the management of the Club's affairs. This concluded the business.

A special meeting ot the Education Board was held yesterday to hear what replies were made by She various school committees regarding the teachers whom they had been recommended to dispeuse with or caution. Orofton and Riverton committees replied that they had given their teachers notice The Matarawa Committee asked that Mr Von Blaremberg should be retained, and it was resolved that iheir wish should be acc< ded to, pending the result of the next examination. Regarding the Parewanui School, where the master had been accused of drunkenness, the sub - committee ot investigation reported that he had been re-instated by the committee. It was resolved that while the Board would not establish this as a precedent, they would give the teacher a chance of retrieving his character by acceding to the committee's wish. At Whenuakura a disturbance had arisen through a newly-appointed teacher (Mr J. H. Stewart) appearing at the Board's office iv a state of drunkenness. The commissioners of the school had refused to admit him, and by ret olution suspended him from teaching. Mr Marshall, of Messrs Fitzherbert aud Marshall, attended, and advised the Board that the action of the commissioners was legal, itesolved that the teacher be " dismissed peremptorily. The Makino Road Committee urged that their teacher should bu retained, and it was resolved to grant their wish, On the matter of reorganising the Feilding School, the Board decided to defer consideration till the next ordinary meeting, when the Inspector will be present.

. On Saturday, Mr S. H. Drew threw open his museum to the public, and advantage was taken of his courtesy by a large number of fcbth town and country people, yome time ago've gave a short description of theco'Heotiorv and since then ft Has been largely added to. Mr Drew is coucmually in receipt of specimens from people in the district, aud the'te prove of great use to him, as by means of them be is enabled to secure exchanges from other places. For instance, if he has sent to him some bird of which he has already a specimen, he forthwith forwards it to some museum iv another country, and iv return receives somethmp he has not already in his cases. In this way, though the actual gift of the donor may not be left, in his hands, he secures something which represents that gift. Among the latest additions to the museum are reptile' , snakes, fish, turtles, marsupials, skeletons of various animals, Mat ri curios, eggs of English and native birds, native and foreign birds, moa boues and a type collection ot mineralu. Ihe latter is an exceptionally fine collection of three hundred specimens, representing minerals to be found in all parts uf ihe world. Of the moa bones we may remark that they represent the differeut species known, and as such they are of great value in any collection. The concholo^ical display has been lately added and fills one ot the most interesting caees in the rooms. The new specim-ns have corn* from places as far apart as Queensland and the United States, in additiou to which of course there have been numbers from residents in this district and in other parts rf the colony. We understand t at it is Mr Drew's inteution to throw open tht- museum on occasional evenings duri. g the summer, when we have no doubt that the public will take advantage of his generosity.

By train last night two practical miners who had been to the Pohaugina, returned to Wangauui. From a descriptionofthejourney given by them we gather that the reefs are distant about 28 miles from Ashurst. This township can be got at by coach, but it is necessary to do the rest of tho journey or. foot. '1 he prospectors say that it is not possible to take horses, as there is no grass to feed on j a pack-horse may be used, but one of the party would have to get back, again to Ashurßt with it. The journey is a very rough one, it being necessary to cross the river a great many times, and on some occasions this is found to be breast high. West Coast miners of long experience say that they have never seen anything like it for ruggednesa. On arriving on the ground the party pitched their tent, and then proceeded to have a look round, with a view of ascertaining how the reef a ran. A claim of 16£ acres was pegged out, thit> making something like 150 atijrey which had already been pegged out. ji'rom what they could see, there are still hundreds of acres of similar looking land tc> be taken up. They' had a look at the hole which had been sunk at Anderson's, and found the reef exposed there. They also saw the whole face of the leader, and from what they could make out of the ground, it appeared to them to be likely that the reef would not be hard to get at. There were thousands of tons of quartz lying in the creek, which, according to their account, is equal in quality to that brought in by them. The stone they procured as samples certainlj looks rich enough, but until the result of the trial crushing ia received, it is impossible to do anything. Whatever that result may be, the party we are referring to are of opinion that when the reef itself is tried, the percentage must be better. When they were com ng away, they passed a dozen men who were on the road to the reefs, and it is understood that more are going every day. One thing they auviso all prospectors to do before starting, that is to see that they have plenty of "tucker," otherwise they may have to fast pretty often. The excitement regarding theae reef 3is growing day by day, and we may fully expect Wanganui to catch its share of the contagion.

Half Asleip — "I never," wrote a young lady to a friend, "go to church or lecture but I am half asleep, and I never know afterwards what the sermon of lecture was about." It was a plain case of nervpua lethargy, produced by want of action of the liver and digestive organs. She was persuaded to try American Hop Bitters, and now she writes :: — '* fciow intelligent and bright are sermons and lectures now, and how glorious the world we live in is ! Dr Joule's Hop Bitters are indeed a blessing to me." Notice

There was no business at the Police Court to-day. Mr Bamber JP. was in attendance, but his colleague Mr Baker was absent.

Captain Edwin telegraphs as follows : Watch barometer between West and South and Southeast, with cold weather and rain and further rise of the glass.

We hear on very good authority that word has been received from the diatiict in which a Maori disturbance was reported yesttrday, to the effect that there was nothing iv it but some old woman's talk.

We learn that thh opeuing of the rowing fceasou hah been positioned iiom Saturday next till Saturday the 2ith, owing to ihe absence ot the Band and the opening of the cricket season.

A battalion parade of the three local companies was held last night in the Drill Hall, when there was a thin attendance. Colonel Stapp put the men through some drill, but in the absence of the band no marching could be done.

Circuses will be the order of the day in Wanganui shortly, two being already aanouueed. The firat to open will be the Grand International, its seabon of four nights commencing on Wednesday, Cctooer 21st. The proprietors of this show claim to haye one of the beat organisations which have travelled Nuw Zeaiand ; more especially in lady riders, of whom they possets two said to be unequalled in the colonies. The Fire Horse King is a novelty in the direction of salamander business, which, everywhere, has attracted attention. The clowns are reported by .Northern papers to be very good, while ot the acrobats the JSew Zealand tierald says their " performances must be seen to be appreciated, for they cannot be described." Lhe International appears at Haw era, Patea, and VVaverley on its way to Wangauui.

Ihe following extracts from one of the most popular and successful sweepists, will give the opinion of a professional on the effects of the new act abolishing consultations :—": — " It is rather unfortunate for me that thia new act has been passed, as I had prospects of ultimately having a very big connection in thia consultation business. Ihe public are evidently much in favor of swet ps being continued, and it would have quite met public opinion had Parliament pa&aed a bill to legalise them, in buch a way that the dishonest sweep promoter would have had no chance whatever to swindle the public. After the Ifet proximo, I expect theie will be a good mar.y bweeuu got up private, ihis I look upon as the worst form 01 doing ifc, aa if men are inclined to be sharpers, that is juat the way to encourage them, the more open the business isdone the better. Legalise them by giving licenses to good men, and to bt uuder the inspection of some public officer, and make it puuishable should any of these become defaulters."

The report which Mr Mackintosh presented on the bands engaged in the competition is said to have been very exhaustive. From the Post ue learn that his decision rested on the points gained by the bands iv each of the tests of excellence of time, tune,

• xpression, soloists, sight-reading, and general efficiency. The scale of points he arranged as follows :~Good, 80 points ; very good, 90 points ; exceptionally good (maximum), 100 points. Time, tui.e, expression, and soloists belong to the test selection, sight-reading to the Exhibition quickstep, while general efficiency applies to the whole programme, exclusive of the two test pieces. A comparison of the points given in the Herald last evening with this will show where the Wanganui men were strong and where weak. It eei-ms to be the general impression that it would have been better for the band to hays seleci ed something less ambitious than " Rieuzi" as their test piece, especially when it is cunbidered that everything in the contest, with the exception of general efficiency, depended on that piece. For general efficiency they secured third place with 90 marks. We understand the band will icach here on

aturday. 1 hey are engaged to play at the Exhibition on Friday niyht.

A comuli-ncntary dinner was given to Mr Robert Glegg by a number of his friends on the evening of Friday, the 9th instant, in the Midhirst Public Hall Mr Glegg (who is an old Wimganui resident) has disposed of his business to Mr Lowe, and is now about to enjoy a well-earned holiday trip to the Old Country, About thirty gentlemen sat down to a capital spread prepared by Host Taylor, of the Midhhst Hotel, and after substantial justice had been done to the many good things upon the table, the business of the cvi ning was entered on. Mr Hirat occupied the chair and Mr Stead the vice-chair, and after the usual Joyal toasts had been given, the chairman presented an address to Mr Glegg (signed by some 50 settiers), expressing their regret at his leaving the district, and wishing him a pleasant trip Home. Mr Glegg, in replying, stated that he had resided in Midhirst for the last seven years, and was pleased to testify to the progress made by the district generally dunug that time. He regretted having to leave so many old friends, but as he had decided to return to Taranaki, he had no doubt he would h;we the pleasure of seeing them again. The chairman then proposed the "General Assembly,'' which was responded to by Colonel Trimble, who pointed out the desirability of the people interesting themselves iv political matters, in order that they might know how to vote upon the great questions of the day. A number of other toasts were duly honored, varied at iutervals with songs, and the company dispersed about 12 o'clock.

Fitzgerald's Fluid Extract of Koromiko, and Dr Beilbron's Worm Uakes are patented.

Ths Brazen Sebpent— Like the brazen serpent that the great Jewish leader lilted hign in the sight of the perishing followers, whereby they were saved from death, the discoverers of American Hop Bitters have placed before suffering, ailing mankind, a remedy which enable* them to fight disease with conquering advantage