MAGISTRATE'S COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1212, 22 January 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURTS.

_—. —. CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, January 22. (Before G\ L. Mellish, Esq., and C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.'s) Drunkenness.— Samuel Dobbinson was fined 20s. David Milieu, for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cab, was fined 10s. Abraliam Denton, who was still suffering from the effects of drink, was remanded for a week for medical treatment.

CANTERBURY FEMALE REFUGE. The annual meeting of subscribers was held at a p.m., at the City Council Chambers. Present, the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, Revs. J. Aldred and C. Eraser, Messrs W. Rolleston, J. P. Jameson (hon. treasurer), and H. W. Packer (hon. sec). Mr Rolleston was in the chair.

The Chairman read the following annual report brought up by the committee : The committee of 'management of the Canterbury Female Refuge, in reporting upon the progress of the institution during the first complete year since its re-establishment, although they may not be able to congratulate the subscribers and the public upon the achievement of t.ny very remarkable success, are seill in a position to affirm that, in spite of a variety of adverse circumstances affecting the settlement nud development of the institution, it lus dune :>, considerable amount of work in furtherance of the objects, of the subscribers, and for the supply of a pressing want of the community. The unsatisfactory arrangement of the buildings, and the consequent difficulty of suveillynce and total absence of means of classification, with other incidents which it i- unnecessary to detail, have rendered the institution less available hitherto for reformatory purposes than is desirable ; while mistakes in the construction of the apparatus provided for utilising the industry of the inmates have rendered expensive alterations necessary, and have prevented the earnings from bearing so large a proportion to the outlay as might fairly be expected. But notwithstanding tticse driwbaeks, which luve caused much trouble and anxiety to the committee, it will be found that the results are by no means contemptible. The number of women who have been admi te<) since the re-opening of the institution is seventeen, of whom eight have had children born within the walls, two are now inmates with their children, and two are inmates expecting their confinement.

Seven liave left the Refuge to go into service, and one has returned to her parents ; one ran away within a week of her admission, and one went away of her own accord. The cost of the ordinary maintenance of the establishment during the year appears from the accounts of the lion, treasurer to have been <£ls4 10s 2d ; while the gross receipts have been—for the work of the inmates. ,£232 4s lOd ; subscriptions from the public, £l3O ; subsidy from the Government, ,£76 17s ; in all, .£439 Is lOd. The settlement of outstanding accounts of the architect, &c, has absorbed .£lO7 18s Bd. and there is a claim in respect of necessary alteration of the furnaces and boilers which has been disputed, and is now the subject of an unsettled arbitration. Subject to this charge the available assets appearing at the beginning of the year amount to .£lB 6s 6d. With respect to the future, the committee are of opinion that there is good reason for hoping that the institution will become, if properly supported and developed, more substantially useful than it hitherto has been ; and they would remind the public that if it be not adequately supported by voluntary subscriptions, it must be abandoned altogether, since it is understood that the Govmimeut of the colony will assisi such institutions only by subsidising them to an amount equivalent to that of the subscriptions of the public. The committee desire to express an earnest and confident hope that the prosperous and enlightened inhabitants of this portion of the colony will not fail to recognise the importance of maintaining and increasing the utility of i-uch an institution, and they would emphatically remind the public that the good work to which the Refuge is devoted cannot be effectually carried out without a considerable increase of its funds in order to meet the necessary cost of classific - tion management, and surveillance, on a scale and with a system and method indispensable for real and permanent success, and which cannot bo practically adopted with such an income as it can count upon at present. The statement of accounts duly audited, submitted by Mr Jameson, showed that the balance in hand at the commencement of previous year was £504 17s lOd ; subscriptions received, £130; subsidy from Government, £76 17s ; earnings of inmates, £232 4s lOd; received towards support of inmates through R.M. Court, £53; deposit withdrawn, £100; interest on deposit, £2B 15s 8d; due to bank, £25 0s 7d ; total, £llsO 15s lid. The expenditure for the year (including £45 returned to an inmate) had been £OO7 8s lOd ; deposit withdrawn, £IOO ; cash balance, £43 7s Id ; balance at deposit, £4OO. The net balance in hand (deducting £25 0s 7d due to bank) was £llß 6s fid. The Dean moved the adoption of tho report, and said he unde-sfood that a paragraph was to be included in the report recommending the incoming committee to add to the institution a building to be used for the reception of a lower class than the present inmates.

Eev. C. Eraser seconded the adoption of the report, and said the matter referred to by the Very Rev. the Dean was to be referred to subscribers at that meeting. The committee had considered that the erection of such an addition would be found of great permanent good. The report and statement of accounts were adopted. Mr Jameson said that if the report and balance-sheet were printed and distributed amongst the friends of the Refuge, it would, he thought, be the moans of increasing the subscriptions. He would move—" That 250 copies of the report and statement of accounts ho printed for circulation." Rev. J. Aldred seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman said the next business was the election of committees of management for the ensuing year. The following committees were elected: — Gentlemen - The Most Rev. the Primate, Very Rev. thy Dean of Chriatchurch, Revs. Aldred, Habens, and Fraser, Mr Justice Johnston, Messrs Rolleston, Hellish, Rowron, Tancredj Jamieson (treasurer), Packer (secretary). Ladies—Mcsdames Rolleston, Watson, Inglis, Habens, Mellish, Montgomery, Cowlishaw, J. Hall, Aiken, Turnbull, Gould, and Miss Eily. Mr Jameson said ho had been informed by the collector that Mr Blakiston had signified his intention of withdrawing his subscription, as the committee had gone away from the purpose for which the institution was originally formed, and had converted it too much into a Lying-in Hospital. The Dean moved the following resolution : —"That this meeting recommends the incoming committee to consider the practicability and expediency of enlarging the present building, with a view of providing accommodation in a separate department for a limited number of inmates of the class known as class B, viz,, those who have become hardened in vice, but profess themselves anxious for an opportunity of reform."

Boy. Mr Aldred seconded the motion

The Chairman Baid that as ho had been one of the few who had taken an interest in forming the Eef uge, and had used his best endeavors to obtain funds for the institution, he would like to say a few words about it. One of the principal reasons in providing funds was to endeavor to reclaim those who bad taken their first falee step, and ho had

heard it said that many thought the committee had departed from their original intention, which was held to bo that of reclaiming women hardened in vice. They had taken exception to those who had erred being allowed to remain in the Eefuge with their children, and obtaining employment, from there. The work done in this direction by the committee had been really one of (he objects—and the primary one—for which the Eefuge had been created. This, he thought, ought to be made known. As one who had taken a, great interest in the institution froni the first he should be very sorry indeed ii the committee went away from this effort. It was generally known that this svork had been well carried out, and had been productive of much good. lie heartily agreed with the resolution as supplementary to the other work.

Mr Jameson bore witness to the good work that had been done by the institution in the direction referred to. The Dean read an extract to show that, the committee had been carrying out the primary object for which the Refuge had been formed.

The resolution was put and carried unanimously. After votes of thanks to the chairman, and to the Mayor for the use of the chamber, the meeting adjourned.