BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 4

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Vv A POOR MAN'B 'BURIAti

CONSUMPTIOJT'AGrAIN.

The weekly meeting v of .the Trustees .of the. "Wellington Benevolent Institution was hold yesterday, whon there were present:— The) Rev. W. A. Evans (inthe chair), M6ssrs.D. Robertson, J. Smith, F. G. Bolton; -and-A. TV". Hogg, M.P,

On the recommendation of the Finance amounting to ( £621. Bs. 2d; were pa"ssed;.for payment. ..

The: imtnber;i,-of.i inmates at ;the : Ohiro Home was--reported to be 105 (72' males"and 33 ! females).

. A letter" was from.Mrsi Darvall stating that owing to other duties which she • could, riot neglect she was forced to resign . her -position on the board. Mr. Evans said that during the whole of,.the time, she had been' on tho board Mrs.: Darvall .had been most faithful in her attendance"at the meetings, and most helpful in the worK. A motion was passed placing oil record the board's appreciation of Mrs. Darvall's • Bervices, and .their'regret .at-her .resignation. ■ Tho-secretary was instructed to write to Mrs. •Darvall conveying this resolution. , Mrs.' Sarah Jane Britain wrote; making 'application for 175.. 6(1., half , expenses incurred in thd disinterment and reburial of her' husband.; It was stated in her letter ■that she asked the master of the home (Mr. Tmebridg'e) to 1 let her (know when - her hiis^ ■ band,'.who ■ was an inmate of tho .institutionJj ehould die, as she to have him buried in. her''privateaground at, Karorj Ceihetery. Eocently tho ' man' died," and was ' buried' at the public expense. : Mrs. Britain received : ■ information regarding this, and,- having -had; Vtho body disinterred; and buried in her ovni ploty; she, now asked that tho trustees .should?defray" half the.:expense." In :.his statement of the case, Mr- .Truebridge said that , : the • man had been in the homo, for some time— eighteen months; find i. during , that . time . his: wife had never visited him. : The wife's address 'had' l been loft with tho secretary, but when. it was desired to use it, it was found to be incorrect; . Also, the disease from which tho man died was one which necessitated-his instant burial; ; Aftqr consideration,of,-.thocir- '. cumst'ances~the trustees decided 'that"' they could not pay anything; William „James Scott wrote,.complaining "of -the treatment,; he , had received - at''the 'hands of Mr. Truebridge. His'gribvance was Ithat after he had/left, the'hoine Mr. Truebridge; refused to , hand .over' a : small-, bag. 'containing letters;'and references' which he' '• valued, very , much. , Mr.. Truebridgo statedthit\the man, diiring the-time he-had been at the; home, had "'never 1 had *a' packet such: as that described.;. Perhaps the police took, ■ the" package when ' they .' sent' the' man; to the'-liomej but, if so, 'they hqd it :'still' in ; their possession. The-trustees.decided that, they .'could take no'action in the mattor. Reference was mado to . the case discussed : at',-a' previous meeting,"'and. in regard ,to. wliich the' Health Officer (Dr. Frengley),lia.d' . been communicated with. It was-the • case of a" maiTwho' was a consumptive,, and was living with his wife and child in one room, under very •poor';circumstances. A«home had .been offered 'theman at Christchurch,: but he was unwilling'to take it. Dr. Frengley .that.,,-the ,man. s be sent to Christchurch ,as^he A would proper arrangements;made for. him.,;. ; Mr. .^6eftson>'Bdd the hospitals .'were : consistently' l closeil : ;.t'o.fthbso sort of".cases.: . Mr. F. G.. Bolton explained' : that' ; there''tfas .'no room in the Wellington .Hospital, unless someone wero sent to the Otaki Sanatorium bo that this man could take his place'.,' f Mr. Hogg' disapproved of 'sending..',tlio man , down Christchurch., : Infection: would bo • spread on the way down, and perhaps'when ho.ireached. Christchurch . the; arrangements. •' would. not b.Qcejitisfactory. '• '. •;' X; The.!,: secretary . explained -' that satisfactory : arrangements wcojild be made at. Chrjsfe' ■ ; -4'.- ...... ■ s>!—5 >!— .On tho motion of Mr. Robertson"'it''was 1 ' resolved, that -the best course would, be to ; send'the.'raa'n ;'to Chfistchurch.''''':''''' ' ' • Mr. Hogg said that ,he . hoped special precautions would be 'taken 'to prevent the spread of infoction on the steamors.. Other cases of relief were dealt with.