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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 55

The Dempsey Trust Fund

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The Dempsey Trust Fund.

Few amongst us are aware of an institution in our midst which, in the quiet and unobtrusive way in which it is carried on, is largely alleviating the affliction of the suffering classes for whose especial benefit it has been instituted. We allude to the Dempsey Trust Fund, of the origin of which and its operation we propose in the present notice to give a short account, in the hope and expectation that it may stimulate some amongst us who possess the means to go and do likewise. Mr W. J. Dempsey, a member of the firm of Smith and Dempsey, was an early arrival from Victoria, shortly after the gold discoveries in Otago. Associating himself with Mr James Smith, he shortly afterwards joined that gentleman in business, and remained a member of the firm until his death in June, 1868. By his will, after disposing of the principal portion in various legacies, he left to the Industrial School, Dunedin, L100, and all the rest and residue of his estate upwards of £800 to the Dunedin Hospital. Subject to the condition that the trustees should annually expend L7 per annum in keeping in repair the tomb of his wife in East Melbourne Cemetery, and also his own tomb in Dunedin Cemetery. At the time of the deceased gentleman's death Sir Julius (then Mr) Vogel claimed these sums on behalf of the Provincial Government, of which he was Treasurer. This was refused by the trustee, Mr H. Houghton, on the ground that the bequest was not for the Provincial Government, but for the benefit of the trustees of those institutions. Happily, all these matters were satisfactorily arranged by the late Mr George Duncan (who in the meantime had succeeded Mr Vogel in the office of Treasurer) and the Superintendent, Mr James Macandrew. At the latter's suggestion the bequest was invested in the then unsaleable sections of reclaimed land on which now stand the massive stores built by the late firm of Driver, Stewart, and. Co., and now held by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Considerable doubt having arisen as to the powers of the trustees, in 1873 an Ordinance was passed by the Provincial Council for the management of the Dempsey Trust, which, after stating that the trusts shall apply the sum of L7 annually in keeping in repair the tombs of the deceased and his wife, stipulated that they should apply the residue of the income of the trust "to the relief of the destitute and friendless patients in the Dunedin Hospital, by providing them with such extra comforts as may be deemed advisable, and by assisting them when discharged from the said Hospital; and to the benefit of the inmates of the said Industrial School, by awarding prizes, or assisting any of them when leaving the said Industrial School; or in such other manner as the said trustees may deem fit."

How far the trustees have fulfilled their trust will be seen from the following extracts from the annual reports furnished to the trustees by Messrs Macfie and Torrance, who for several years have most zealously assisted the trustees by their patient examination of the cases brought before them, and who still act as almoners of the trust.

The present income of the trust is about L220 per annum, and it is expected it will ultimately reach to L700 per annum when the revision of the existing lease takes place.

The present trustees are the Rev. D. M. Stuart, Messrs A. C. Strode, James Macandrew, and H. Houghton, the latter gentleman acting as treasurer.

The following extracts from the treasurer's reports show that L214 8s 10d was disbursed during the past year. By Messrs Torrance and Macfie—in small weekly sums to patients within tbe Hospital, L148; in assistance to patients leaving the Hospital, L37 Is; and in other small sums, L5 4s.

During the year the following sums were given to the Industrial School :—L3 18s 10d to make up deficiency in annual school treat in 1878; L10 towards the purchase of an American organ, the old one being worn out; and L6 5s for instruments for the Drum and; Fife Band.

We now proceed to give some extracts from the annual reports of Messrs Torrance and Macfie:—

Dunedin,

To the Trustees of the Dempsey Fund.

Gentlemen,—In compliance with your request we beg to submit to you our second annual report as to the disbursement of the funds entrusted to us for distribution on account of the Dempsey Fund.

In the relief of friendless and destitute patients in Dunedin Hospital we have since May 1st, 1875, to May 1st, 1876, expended about £160, the greater portion of this amount being disbursed in sums of 1s per week to a large number of persons for the purchase of butter or other delicacies not included in the Hospital dietary. While we have made this our primary object, we have in special eases furnished poor patients, male and female, with underclothing, &c., and given assistance to many others upon their discharge by supplying them with sums varying from 2s to 10s, providing them with boots, &c., paying or helping to pay their coach fare up-country to their homes, or to other colonics, and aiding a number who remained in Dunedin until they found work, or were sufficiently strong for it. Altogether we have rendered assistance to about 130 men and 70 women, and we have invariably given aid when required without reference to creed or country, as long as the recipients came within the terms of the trust-friendless and destitute patients.

We can assure the trustees that we have exercised every care in the distribution of the funds. In all cases the assistance has been gratefully acknowledged, and we are not aware of any recipient having really page break abused the help afforded. When wo have had reason to suspect that the weekly allowance was being misapplied, or was likely to be retained to be spent in drink, we have either given warning that the allowance would be stopped, or supplied butter or tobacco, &c., instead of giving money.

We have the satisfaction of stating that we have repeatedly met with displays of noble and unselfish spirit. A number of the recipients having received a few shillings from friends who visited them, they promptly informed us of the fact, and with thanks requested their weekly allowance to be discontinued till they again required it. One gratifying instance we have pleasure in recording. A patient whom we assisted to the extent of £2 10s to provide him with boots and pay his coach fare, has since not only returned the amount, but has sent the sum of 10s to assist the patients in the ward of which he was an occupant. One di charged patient, William Gray, who was assisted to Melbourne, and on whose behalf £3 was forwarded to the Rev. D. Cameron, has written gratefully acknowledging receipt of the money and of the help rendered him.

By means of the fund many very painful cases of distress have been relieved, the utter destitution of some of the patients being scarcely credited.

During the past year there has been in all side wards, male and female, and in the lying-in wards, a large increase in the number of patients requiring assistance. Making all allowance for those who have become reduced in circumstances by protracted illness, we are satisfied that a great deal of the poverty and suffering we have met with is the direct result of intemperance, personal or relative. At the same time we believe that the large increase has been caused mainly by the great influx of immigrants from the Home Country, many of whom landed in the Colony and were brought direct from the ship to the Hospital almost penniless, in some instances absolutely so. We must also, in truth, say that a large proportion of the new arrivals have evinced a greater disposition to seek and receive pecuniary aid than we have found among those who have been for a time in the Colony; and we fear that many of the former lack the energy and independence necessary to fit them to make their way without assistance. We would also remark that it has been our constant aim only to render aid sufficient for the supply of immediate wants, believing that more than this would tend to pauperise the recipients. We beg, in conclusion, to tender our hearty thanks to the trustees for making us their almoners, and to state that it has afforded us unspeakable pleasure to be the instruments in relieving the necessities of the destitute and in providing comforts for the suffering; and we believe, also, that the fund is a valuable means whereby we have been enabled to reach and carry home to the hearts of men and women the truths and consolations of the Bible.—We have, &c.,

J. A. Torrance.

James Macfie.

Dunedin,

To the Trustees of the Dempsey Fund.

Gentlemen,—Since May 1870, when we gave our second report of our proceedings as your almoners, we have gone on much as before. We now beg to submit to you our third annual report.

From May 1876 to May 1877 we received and distributed about £145. While the largest proportion of that sum was expended in providing comforts for destitute patients in the Hospital, to many poor persons more substantial aid was given by supplying them with clothing, boots, &c., and (when discharged) with funds to enable them to return to their homes, to go up-country in quest of work, or to leave the Colony. We may mention that among the special cases (numbering over 50) were two indoors who were delivered of posthumous children, and two men now in England, one a hopeless paralytic, and the other maimed for life by an accident. From one recipient (William Bunton, nearly blind) a letter was recently received, in which he heartily expresses his thankfulness for the help afforded him. Having reason to suspect that a number of the recipients of the weekly allowance spent the money in drink and gambling, we, about four months ago, adopted the plan of giving to each an order upon a grocer near the Hospital for one shilling's worth of goods. We know the grocer well, and believe he will act honestly in the matter. He does not sell drink, nor is he allowed to give moneys in lieu of goods. Tins plan has been warmly approved of by the officers of the institution, and by many patients, and after a few months' trial we deem it a wise step, although it entails more labour upon us.

In dispensing the charity we continue to make no distinction on the ground of country or creed. We do our best to ascertain that the recipients are really needing it, but we require no other qualification. During the past year we endeavoured to limit the number of weekly recipients to 50, that limit being only occasionally exceeded, and when more made application than could be supplied, their names were noted, and held over till vacancies occurred. It would be foolish to say we have never been imposed upon, bat as we make it a point as far as possible to consult each other with respect to applicants, and as we meet, weekly to compare notes and talk over matters, deception can with difficulty be carried out. We wish it, however, to be understood that such cases have been very rare indeed, and that an unselfish spirit has been displayed by the patients as a whole. Many whose poverty was evident have declined the proffered aid because they were possessed of a shilling or two, and in other instances persons who were helped by their friends while they were receiving from the fund requested that their names should be erased. We invariably tell all who thus act to be sure and let us know when their money is exhausted.

We are alive to the danger of encouraging a spirit of pauperism. We do our best to prevent that, and never admit the right of anyone to receive from the fund.

After carefully reconsidering our mode of procedure we are convinced that it is the most effective mode of extending the benefit of the fund to the many. We feel assured that the withdrawal of the small weekly allowance would be a serious loss to those who are otherwise unable to provide themselves with anything beyond the ordinary hospital dietary. We believe that a spirit of sincere thankfulness prevails, and not infrequently when distributing the cards we are greeted with some such remark as "This is a blessing to me; I don't know what I would do without it." It will afford us much pleasure to continue as your almoners.—We are, &c.,

J. A. Torrance.

James Macfie.

And from Mr Titchener, the master of the Industrial School:—

Industrial School, Caversham,

To the Trustees of the Dempsey Trust.

Gentlemen,—It has been suggested to me by H. Houghton, Esq., that I should furnish you with a report upon the progress the boys in the Industrial School are making in music.

In accordance therewith, I have the honour of stating that a complete set of instruments for a drum-and-fife band have been procured at a cost of £41. Of this amount, a sum of £22 16s was obtained from friends who felt a warm interest in the success of the school, and £20 I received from the treasurer of the Dempsey Trust, making a total of £42 16s. The band numbers 33 flutes, 4 side drums, 1 bass drum, 1 pair cymbals, and a triangle; altogether, 40 boys. Half of this number have made good progress, and all are able to play several tunes; the remainder are second-class boys, but are making such progress as to fill up vacancies as the older boys leave the school.

Instruction has hitherto been given by Mr George Cresswell, a resident in Caversham, who devotes four evenings a week to their instruction. To him my best thanks are due for the zeal he has shown in bringing them on. All the boys evince a great interest in trying to master the use of the instruments, and I can very properly say that the band is exercising beneficial influence on the general conduct of the boys by the emulation it excites, as I give them to understand that it is by general good conduct they are made members of the band. I should be very pleased if the trustees would allow me to give to each boy on leaving the school, should good behaviour deserve it, a flute and book of music. This, I think, would encourage them to continue practice; and when entering on the duties of life, it would serve to remind them of what they have learnt in the Industrial School. To enable me to do this, I would have to seek further aid from page break you, or outside friends, as it is necessary to keep up the stock of instruments for use in school. As above stated, the receipts to the band fund have been £42 16s, and expenditure as follows:—
To instruments £41 0 0
To music 2 0 0
To instructor 6 0 0
Total expenditure £49 0 0
—I have, &c.,

E. Titchbner, Master.