NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 117, 5 September 1876, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

About fifty gentlemen assembled at the Mechanics' Institute last evening, in compliance wit!i an invitation from his Worship the Mayor asking the clergy of all denominations and the citizens to meet him with a view to take steps to form a Benevolent Society. Amongst the clergy present we noticed the Revs. A. Gilford, A. B. Todd, and J. Armitage. The Mayor was votad to the chair. In commencing the business of the even-

ing, his Worship alluded to the establishment of the Hospital, the success which had crowned the efforts of those who first started that institution, and the immense amount of good it had been the means of effecting. The population had now increased so much that it was found there were a number of distressing cases coming under the notice of the public, waich it was found impossible to relieve. Oamaru had always responded liberally to every call made to heip those in distress ; but it meant a special effort for each individual case, and then it happened that in many instances large amounts were collected, and in otuers the cases were neglected altogether. In his opinion the time had now arrived when some plan of systematically affording relief in cases of distress should be organised. He would suggest, subject of course to the views of the meeting, that the first step necessary to be taken would be the appointment of a Provisional Committee, to solicit subscriptions, obtain members, and frame ruLs. He felt pleased at the response which had been made to his call. He felt sure their efforts would be cheerfully responded to, and that they would take care that there was no want or starvation in their midst. He had now discharged his duty, but before sitting down he would read a letter received tnat evening from Mr. William Young, of Ardgowan, intimating that the objects of the meeting had his warmest sympathies, and he would be • = dad to do all he could to further the interests of tie Society. Mr. Neil Fleming had also intimated to him that business prevented his attendance, but the proposed Society had nis best wishes. The Chairthen called upon the

Rev. A. B. Todd to move the first resolution. The rev. gentleman considered that t'.ie Mayor deserved the thanks of the community for calling the meeting. There could only be one opinion as to the desirability of forming a Benevolent Society. Unfortunately, casus of real distress had become very prevalent of late, in fact, during the past six months more cases had come under his notice than during tiie two years he had resided in Oamaru. He could mention cases which had not come before t'.ie public, but which had been relieved by members of his congregation. The speaker then referred to the noble efforts whic'i had been made towards t:ie relief of the suil'erers by the Waiareka accident, and the c.ieerful and liberal aianiier in which that call had been responded to. It was a well-known fact that our colonists were always ready to lend a helping hand apart from creed, color, or nationality".—(Hear, hear.) They had now reached a when it was necessary tiat soma recognised system should be initiated to afford ralitf, and for the proper distribution of funds. He knew of several necessitous cases w'hicii had not come before the public, and he spoke from a personal knowledge. It was only by ; laving sucii a Society as they now proposed to form that there could be any systematic distribution of funds. The system of giving should not be in fits and starts. He thought a man should give as he had means, and tiiat he siould lay by so much a year to help his fellow-men in distress. Archbishbop Wuately, of Dublin, would not give a p jnny to a beggar because he did not know whether a charity thus dispensed would not be abused, but the Archbishop would subscribe liberally to a Benevolent Society. It had been proposed to call the Society the Oamaru Ben.volent Society, but he thought it advisable to take a wider range, and name it the JS'ort'i Otago Benevolent Society ; but this he would leave to the meeting, as it might be considered more expedient in tiie first instance to confine their operations to Oamaru and t..e immediate neighborhood. He had much pleasure in moving the first resolution, which was as follows :—" Tiiat in the opinion of this meeting it is d ; sirable that a Society should be formed to assist in relieving cases of distr ss, to be called the Oamaru Benevolent Society." Mr. G. Greenfield seconded the resolution.

Mr. Falconer moved—"That the Society be called the North Otago Benevolent Society." Mr. Galbraith seconded the motion. The Rev. A. Gifford intended to rise before the resolution was put, but only with t!'e same view as Mr. Falconer. He thought the_ movement would be more successful if the operations of the Society extended to the North Otago District. Cases of distress would occur in the country, and, no matter under what name the Society wa; formed, they would find it very difficult to reject cases simply because it was called an Oamaru Institution. Mr. Greenfield suggested that Mr. Todd should alter his resolution so as to read "North Otago," instead of "Oamaru." The Rev. Mr. Todd, with the consent of his seconder, agreed to this, and the resolution, as amended, was put and carried. The Rev. Mr. Gifford felt great pleasure in moving the second resolution. He felt that it was a very hopeful task, after the unanimous way in which the first resolution had been received. As with one voice they had decided the desirability of creating a beneficent institution for the district, the next thing to do was to provide ways and means. They could not procsed without the sinews of war. It would never do to break down, especially when it was a work of generosity and liberality. The rev. gentleman then entered at length into the difference between beneficence and benevolence. He then lead up to the resolution by stating that all who gave £1 per annum should have a voice in the management of the Society, but at the same time all subscriptions under £1 would be very desirable, and also very welcome. He expressed a hopa that as they were blessed by God in His providence, they would,

according to their means, increase the sub scriptiou for members. The Hospital, paradoxical as it might seem, was a symp. torn of their prosperity. The time hail now come when an institution of thekitj now proposed should be set on foot. Be had, therefore, much pleasure in proposing the resolution, which invited the gifts «| the citizens. Tiie resolution was as fol lows : —" That all persons subscribing an annual sum of not less than £1 be members of the Society, with a vote in the management of its affairs. Dr. Dale seconded the motion. Mr. G. Greenfield : Can you tell tl meeting, Mr. Caairman, whether it i likely t.ie Government will subsidise an; monies we may collect ? The Chairman: I conf ss the questioi somewhat puzzles me. I only know o two similar institutions which receiv Government subsidies, and those are a Christchurch and Dunedin. I tuink if as effort were made, and the influence of yon members brought to bear, the Govern ment might be prevailed upon to grant i subsidy similar to that in Christchurc! and Dunedin. (Hear, hear.) Mr. F. Humphries proposed, as ai amendment, that the subscription be £5 T ;e amendment found no seconder, anj the original resolution was carried. Mr. C. Galbbatth moved the third re solution, " That the following g intlemen with the clergy and medical profession o the district, ex officio, be a Provision Committee, for tne purpose of raisin funds, enrolling members, and drawing t rules to be submitted for approval to general meeting of members, to be coi vened for that purpose. The Provision! Committee to have power to assist di serving cases in the interval occurring Ik tween the present date and the date ef tl first general meeting." The Rev. Mr. Armitage, in secondii the resolution, thought it was not nee sary to make any lengthy remarks, would be an easy, and, at the same tin a difficult matter to enter upon the sul ject. He did not believe there was a m present in the room, or even in the tow who did not feel himself obligated I assist in cases of distress. The motion was carried. Mr. Flett said that there was a gencr impression in the town that there was large balance over wi at had been collects for the Waiarcka Relief -Fund. Bi thought it very likely that if a publi meeting were held of the subscribers ft the Fund, they would hand the balana over to the Benevolent Society. The Chairman pointed out thattiiej were drifting from the question before til meeting. They could not possibly du pose of funds collected for a specific pni pose, and the Society could not allocat such monies. Mr. Frank Dunlop, as a member o the Waiareka Relief Fund Committer explained that fiere was a sum of £2-30 in hand, which had been placed at inters! for six months. At the end of that time the Committee would decide what tc do with it. Some discussion then took plsce as I the election of a Provisional Committee. Mr. Greenfield moved, and I M'Cluskey seconded, " Tuat the CaH mittee consist of sixteen town membwl with power to add to their number." H Mr. C. S. Allen moved as an amen ment, "That the Committee consist H sixteen town and sixteen country nieS bers, with power to add to their numbi Mr. Humphries seconded the amen ment. After some lengthy talking the amen ment was carried by a large majority. After the Chairman had taken the nom nations of gentlemen for the town ar country committees, a long argument ei sued as to the best way to elect the thirty two gentlemen. Various suggestions wet tlirown out, but at length it was decide* to place the names of t e town and conn try committee rain in two hats, and selec the first sixteen from each hat. Tiie result was follows : For town. —Messrs. M'Queen, Gal' braith, Herdman, J. H. Milligan, t Fleming, Dawson, J. Booth, A. H. Maude, ■N. "Lane, G. Smnpter, Filleul. Flett, M'Farlane, Ronayne, Allen. Greenfield. For country.—Messrs. P. Williams, W. Moody, W. Gardiner, A. Sutton, ft Borrie, P. Aitcheson, W. Young, T. I Duncan, R. M'Auly, Win. Easton, Wm Murcott, W. L. Liiggatt, Tiios. Hendtf son, E. Menlove, John Maclennan, ais Jas. Laes. It was agreed that- the clergy of all dt nominations, and members of thelnedia profession, should be, ex officio, membtf of the committee. Mr. Jo m Churc'i fl elected" interim Hon. Secretary, and tb Mayor as Treasurer. Mr. Dunlop proposed votes of thant to the, Committee of the Mechanics Ins tute for the free use of the hall, and als to the local papers for gratuitously insert ing the advertisement calling the meeting The motion was carried by acclam* tion. It was also decided that all monies c» lected for the Institution should be pas into the Bank of New Zealand. A vote of thanks to the Chairman ttf minated the proceedings.