NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 November 1880, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the aboye Society was held in Mr. Greenfield's, Auction Mart, last evening. The President (Mr. J. H. Milligan) occupied the Chair, and there were 20 subscribers present. The Chairman having read the advertisement convening the meeting, the Secretary (Mr. J. Hardy) read the minutes of last annual meeting, which were confirmed. The fourth annual report of the Committee of Management, published in our columns isome days' ago, was then read. The balance-sheet was also read. Some- discussion tpok place on the stoppage of the Goyernment subsidy in Mrs. O'Brien's case, afser which the re? port and balance-sheet were adopted. The Kev, Mr, Coleman asked whether any of the Committee had supplied goods to the Society during the past year contrary to rule 20, which says < f l!Jo member of Committee to supply any artiples for the use of the Society for which he may receive pecuniary or other compensation." The President said that some members had supplied articles to the Society by order of the Committee.

Mr. Headland, as a member of Committee, had supplied goods on the understanding that the rule referred only to tenders for supplying the Home. The President said this course had been pursued from the beginning, and ifc had

become so general th^t,-he..did not know until on lately reading bvei?'the.rules that it was an infraction. The Rev. Mr. Coleman suggested that the good 3 be tendered for arid distributed by the master of the Home. Mr. Ronayne thought that the rule should be expunged altogether, and if he wa3 in order he would like to make a motion to that effect. He thought that a large amount of waste would take place if the goods were allowed to be distributed by the master of the Home. The Rev. Mr. Coleman said that the goods could be sent to the Home in small quantities. This would have the effect, at all events, of stopping the "bottle system." He had heard of a bottle of brandy having been supplied by a storekeeper. - - - Mr. Falconer said that he thought they were quite near enough to the parochial system existing at home., He pictured poor women leaving their homes and children to attend the. Home to. get their weekly pittance doled out. ■ * Mr." Connell was in favor of the Rev. Mr. Coleman's, suggestion, but thought that the goods might be tendered for and delivered by the storekeeper. Milk and meat we're tendered for, and he did not see why all goods should not be tendered for. He thought the Rev. Mr. Coleman was deserving of the thanks of the Society for bringing the matter before the meeting. The President explained that it was only outside relief- that was not tendered for.

After some further discussion, the President said that the manner of disbursing relief had been considered by every committee since he had been a member of the Society, and he hoped, that the incoming committee would consider the suggestions thrown out hy the Rev, Mr, Coleman and other gentlemen. - A number of resolutions having been proposed, it was eventually resolved on the motion of Mr. Falconer, seconded by Mr. Greenfied, "That the question of supplies be referred to the incoming committee."

The election of officebearers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows : President, Mr. Greenfield; Vice-Presi-dent, Mr. Headland; hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. T. Evans; Committee, Messrs. Ronayne, Stevenson, Milligan, JTlemmg, Connell, Humphrey, Grant,' Qgilvie, M'lritosTi, B, Mollison, Hislop, and J. Mirams.

The following cquntry members were re-elepted :—Upper Waitak.i—Mr. IV. PSutherland : Lower Waitaki-=Mr. T. Y. Duncan ; Waiareka-Mr. C. Todd ; Duntroon—Mr. E. C. Smith ; Kakanui—Mr. M. Morton ; Ocepopo—Mr. T. Henderson ; Hampden—Mr. W. W. Murcott; N<*apara-Mr. W. H.Walker \ Maheno— Mr. J. R. Elder, The Revs.' A. Gifford, A. B. Todd, C. E. Barley, W. Coleman, and J. Crump were elected ecc officio members of committee. The name of the Rev. John Foster was struck out.

Messrs. Jas. Hasscll, anci Henry Aitken were elepted auditors. The question of discontinuing the Servants' Home was then discussed.

Mr. Headland proposed that the Serr vants' Home be re-opened far admission to and that the same be advertised.

Mr. Connell seconded the resolution. The Rev. Mr. Coleman and other gentlemen spoke strongly in favor of reopening the Home, and remarked upon the amoutit of good that had been done by it in the past. The motion was then put and carried, Mr. Qreenfiel4 being thp only dissentient. Mr. Fleming moved, " That this meeting is of opinion that Rule 20 ought to be altered or rescinded, and that the incoming committee take the necessary steps to act accordingly." Seconded by Mr. S pence and carried. Mr. Fleming moved th&fc it also be a recommendation tq the incoming committee to endeavor to reduce the expenses of the Society where practicable. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Headland, and carried unanimously. Votes of thinks were accorded to the outgoing officers and the Chairman, and the meeting terminated at a few minutes to midnight, _^____