THE POOR KINDRED OF SMITH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5266, 8 February 1878, Page 3

THE POOR KINDRED OF SMITH.

Alderman Smith, by his will made in 1627, left £2OOO to be invested in land of the yearly value of at least £l2O per annum, the proceeds’ to be applied iii equal moieties for'the relief of captives taken by the Turkish pirates, and for the relief of the poorest of his' kindred, “ such as’were not able to work for their living—viz., sick, aged, and impotent persons, and such as could not maintain their own charge.” ■ In 1772 the trustees had long since ceased to relieve the slaves of the Turkish pirates, and an Act of Parliament of that year directed the trustees to apply the whole of the income for the benefit of the poor kin. The poor kin increased yet faster than the value of their endowment. They numbered four in the year 1700, and 412 in 1868. . The particulars of the cases relieved show very clearly the demoralising effect of a system of doles administered on the principle of giving moat to the person who carps the least. There is a class of recipients who seem never to have had any claim under the words of the will, but who come in under a scheme framed some years ago by the Court of Chancery. These are a respectable druggist in a suburban town, a retired druggist, a retired surgeon, a wholesale grocer, a gentleman whose occupation is not given, a surgeon, and a music-master, four of whom (claiming in right of their wives), confess, for the purposes of appropriating, their shares in th<? charity, that the income of each of them exceeds £3OO a year. F.T.A. applied for the payment of a governess for his children ; H. T,, who receives a reduced pension, has £440 a year. H. M. asked for assistance to go to a watering place ; he returns no income, but exercises the vocations of “an actor - , a refreshment-house-keeper, and a cupper.” Mrs. S. received an annuity of £4O. Of her it is reported—“ It is said that Mrs. S., who is now dead, died of want. On account of her great destitution she was paid weekly. Her husband had a situation of £2OO a year in the docks, which he threw up in a moment of irritation. On further inquiry it would seem that Mrs. S.’s distress was probably in a great measure her own fault. Her allowance was 15s. a week. She sometimes came to receive it with black eyes, saying she had fallen down. Her appearance betokened dissipation and drink." Still sadder are the following cases (all referring to appli-

cations within the space of little more than a year) ;—“ S. O. W, is described as ragged and destitute. He is paid weekly. According to his own account he has been dying of consumption for above 20 years. R. S. was a soldier, and is now a bootmaker. It is said that he has been in prison for deserting his family, and has been charged with robbing his lodgings. M. A. E. is the, wife of a hairdresser, who returns 16s. a week. She makes frequent applications for assistance. She is, in fact, represented as a regular beggar ; and i.t is said that the charity has done much mischief to the family.” Ouo member of the family writes to the trustees as follows about the inheritance to which ho conceives himself entitled ;—" Gentlemen, —I take the liberty of writing again to inform you that I was entitled to my allowance at Christmas, and I don’t see why I should b# kept seven months without it. It his my rights, and I did not send to ask for it until I Inherrited it. If you will not send it to me I will come and see the Trustees about it, and know the reason why it should be kept of me until Midsummer, and I shall expect you to pay my expenses there and back. I am almost distressed. I owe £8 for rent and £4 for clothes, and £3 IDs. for provisions, and I have not got one shilling towards paying either of the bills, and I think it is very hard that you will not send me my allowance, and it his my rights and which I ought to have had it at Christmas.” The Charity Commissioners, in the appendix to their report for 1868, give the following specimen of an application made, but not granted. The father of the pnpil was a brass and ivory turner,. earning 255. 6d. per week:—“Branstone Road, July 31, 1867. H. Smallman’s compliments to Messrs. Bray and Oo.j and wishes to know if they will allow Miss C. to learn music, as her mamma thinks it quite time she commenced.' Anearly reply will oblige, Miss Smallman, Ladies’ School, Gothic House, Branstono Road, Burton-on-Trent." “ Gothic House, Branstone Road, Burton-on-Trent.—Mr. Bray,—l received your letter on Sunday, and the parents of E. C. are surprised at your thinking it unnecessary for her to learn music. It is the wish of Mrs. C. to have them educated for governesses, ns they are delicate children, therefore music is essentially necessary. I shall feel much obliged by your remitting ray small account of Miss E. 0. at your early convenience; also your decision as regards the music.—l am, yours respectfully, H. Smaluiak." These are a few examples of the way in which Alderman Smith’s-bequest has been applied. The Master of the Rolls

has now dire'CledV fresh*’scheme to be-framed, and a part of the "funds to be applied for general charitable uses.