Charitable Institutions.

47. There is no poor law in Victoria, but a very complete organisation exists for the relief of the sick, the infirm, and the necessitous by means of the many excellent charitable institutions which are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the colony. These establishments are for the most part subsidised by the State, and many of them are also largely contributed to by private persons. There are 33 general hospitals, besides a Lying-in Hospital, an Eye and Ear Hospital, and a Children's Hospital; there is also a Blind Asylum, a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and an Immigrants' Home. There are 5 Benevolent Asylums, 7 Orphan Asylums, 9 Industrial and Reformatory Schools, 5 Hospitals for the Insane, and 5 Female Refuges. These institutions had in all 28,277 inmates during 1878; their total receipts were £313,071, of which £230,949 was from the Government, and their expenditure was £303,553. There are 37 other associations for the relief of distressed or indigent persons which are generally managed by ladies. These are termed Benevolent Societies; the names of three of them indicate their connection with the Jewish body, but no distinctive denomination is perceptible in the titles of the others. One of these societies is devoted to page 26 the assistance of discharged prisoners. The acts of relief during the year numbered 9568; the receipts amounted to £13,217, of which £5500 was from Government, and the expenditure was £13,201.