The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 45

Sixteenth Annual Report Committee of Management of the Otago Benevolent Institution

Sixteenth Annual Report Committee of Management of the Otago Benevolent Institution.

The Committee of Management, in submitting their Sixteenth Annual Report, is pleased to congratulate the subscribers upon the satisfactory financial position of the Institution.

Subscriptions.—Notwithstanding that the direct subscriptions which, for the year 1877 reached the sum of £1990 4s. 1d., this year only amounted to £1,719 10s. 10d., it will be seen from the results of the Carnival that the cause of charity and benevolence is by no means on the decline among us.

Investment.—During the past year the Legislature, acting upon the recommendation of the Trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank, appropriated the large sum of £7,515 (being a portion of accumulated profits on deposits) to be invested for the benefit of this Institution. To the Trustees of the Savings Bank, and to the Honorables W. H. Reynolds and Robert Stout, who carried the measure successfully through Parliament, the thanks of the public are due.

Carnival.—Through the exertions of a number of ladies and gentlemen in our midst, aided by Mr. A. Inglis, who kindly placed his extensive premises at their disposal, there was held during the past year in Dunedin a most successful Carnival in aid of our funds. There has been thus placed at our disposal the handsome sum of £3,448, which includes Government subsidy on the amount collected.

Thanks.—To our regular subscribers, to many generous donors of considerable sums, to the ladies and gentlemen above-mentioned, and to many others who have manifested kindly interest and rendered valuable assistance, the cordial acknowledgments of your Committee are tendered.

Wife Desertion.—The Committee feel it their duty to bring again before the public the matter of wife desertion, in the hope that the Legislature may be induced to interfere. Were it possible to arrest in the neighbouring colonies these heartless wretches who cast their responsibilities and their burden on the public, one fruitful source of distress would be removed.

Out-Door Relief.—The state of the labour market has appreciably relieved the funds of the Institution, so that, with a larger number assisted, the expenditure for out-door relief has been £105 11s. 10d. less than last year.

The total amount expended for out-door relief has been £2304 13s. 7d. The total number relieved was 1436, composed of 202 men, 358 women, and 976 children; of these, 95 were widows, with 283 children, 26 deserted wives, with 93 children, and four women whose husbands are or were in gaol, with 11 children. 96 families included in the foregoing statement, comprising 38 men. 89 women, and 233 children, received clothing, bedding, fuel, and rent, to the amount of £815 11s. 6d. It should be mentioned that a number of the men mentioned above are very old, and nearly incapacitated for work, while others were suffering from accidents or temporary illness.

Your Committee have assisted families to reach their friends, some within and some beyond the colony, and have charged the amount to out-door relief.

Institution. The total number received into the Institution at Caversham during the year was 21 men, 9 women, and 11 children. The numbers discharged were 16 men, 7 women, and 16 children: of the latter, 5 boys and 5 girls have been taken out by friends, and 4 boys and 1 girl placed at service. The number remaining in the Institution on 31st December, was 42 men, 11 women, and 23 children. The cost for each inmate was 8s. 8d. per week, as against 7s. 10d. per week for the previous year; the difference is attributed to the increased number of adults.

Additions Required.—The applications for admission to the Institution are on the increase, and further accommodation to meet the demand will have to be provided; a house within the grounds for which a rental of forty pounds per annum was received had to be utilised for the old men.

Improvements.—As will be seen on reference to expenditure, there has been a large outlay on necessary improvements. A dining hall has been erected for the accommodation of the old people, and a portion of the grounds which was formerly of little value has been reclaimed. In carrying out this work a large quantity of valuable fuel was obtained.

Medical Officer.—The Medical Officer's Report attached, reflects credit on the management. The best thanks of the Committee are due to Dr. Hocken, for his attention, both to in-door and outdoor patients.

Secretary.—The Committee continue to appreciate, and desire to acknowledge the hearty services rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Quin, in their responsible and difficult position.

Miss Wilson, the schoolmistress, and Mr. MacFie, the religious instructor, continue to give satisfaction in their respective spheres.

Newspapers Supplied.—To the proprietors of the undermentioned papers supplied gratuitously to the Institution, the Committee tender their acknowledgments—Weekly Witness. Evening Star, Saturday Advertiser, Morning Herald, Bruce Herald, Church News, Christian Record, Illustrated New Zealand Herald, and Evangelist.

Balance-Sheet.—The Balance-sheet annexed, containing a statement of Revenue and Expenditure, shows the satisfactory position of our finances.

The following gentlemen who retire from office are eligible for re-election, viz.—President, A. Chetham Strode; Vice-Presidents, R. B. Martin and A. Rennie; Trustees, A. Chetham Strode and R. B Martin; Treasurer, James Brown; Medical Officer, T. M. Hocken; Committee of Management, James Fulton, Alex. Rennie, James Brown, John Hislop, R. A. Low, Captain Thomson, A. H. Ross, T. M. Wilkinson, Henry Wise, vacant.

A. Chetham Strode,

Chairman.