NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 598, 2 April 1878, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of the above Society was held last evening at the Secretary's office. There were present—Mr. N. Fleming, President (in the chair), the Rev. Mr. Gilford, Messrs. Hassell, Falconer. Milligan, Steward. Allen, Ronayne, .Kerr, and Hardy (Secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved. The Visiting Committee's report was read, and the several matters referred to therein dealt with. The Committee recommended the application of Mrs. Mantell for the admission of Ijer three children into the Institution, she agreeing to pay LI per week for their maintenance. After some discussion, it was agreed to comply with tlie request. The report/of the Barrack-Master (Mr. Hesketh) was read. The writer stated, amongst other things,-that 17 domestic servants have been admitted into the Servants' 'Home, all of whom, the exception of ope, have readily obtained excellent situations at the highest cur-rent rate of wages. He also acknowledged the gift of fruit from the Hon. M. Holmes and Mr. Peter Orr ; als», prize vegetables from the IST.O.H. Society. It was ordered that the thanks of the Committes be tendered to the gentlemen named for their donations, Messrs. Lees and Moore wrote complaining of the doings of some pigs in the following terms':—" We are much annoyed by pigs. They are, we believe, owned by those persons living in the immigrant cottages, which, we understand'', now belong to the Benevolent Society. May we ask yew''to endeavour to stop the nuisance if possible, as we should not like to have to destroy the pigs in self-defence."—The writers were referred to the Municipal Council.

The Rev. Mr. Gifford, the President, and Treastirer, were appointed a .Subcommittee, to consult with the Hospital Committee, with reference to the admission of certain inmates of the Barracks into the Hospital. The following tenders were accepted : Bread, 7d, Mr. Davidson ; meat, 3d, Mr. Norman Lane ; groceries, Messrs. "Bailie

and Humphrey; medical comforts, Messrs Bailie and Humphrey; firewood and coal, Mr. John Orr; vegetables, Messrs Spence and Bee. No tenders having been received for the supply of milk, fresh tenders "were ordered to be called for, power being given to the Visiting Committee to deal with the same.

The accounts, as certified by the Visiting Committee, were passed for payment. The term of the agreement between the Government and Mi-. Hesketh having expired, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Allen, seconded by Mr. Falconer, that Mr. Hesketh be ; offered the charge of the Home and cottages belonging to the Society at a salary of L 75 a year with rations for four persons, for six months certain, three months' notice to be given on either side, at the expiration of that term ; the engagement to commence on the Ist April.—The President and Treasurer were appointed to arrange with Mr. Hesketh.

It was resolved that a letter be written to the Minister for Lands referring to. previous correspondence on the subject of Block XXXII., and the barracks and grounds, asking fiat in order to the Society being put in a position to administer in the most satisfactory manner, steps may be taken to vest the said properties by Crown grant in trust for the purposes of the Society, and the names of Messrs. Steward, Fleming, and Ronayne suggested as trustees. The President, Treasurer, and Mr. Steward were appointed to draft the letter to the Government, and the Secretary was instructed to prepare a tracing and particulars of the laud.