REPORT

Southland Times, Issue 635, 22 February 1867, Page 2

REPORT

Of the Committee of tlie Ladies Benevolent Society, Invereargill, read at the Annual Soiree, on Wednesday, ISfh February, • 1866. It is now nearly three years since the establishment of the Ladies Benevolent Society. Your committee hav.e„ not wearied in their efforts but have presevered under many difficulties in their duties of visiting and relieving the poor and needy in this place. Many cases since the last report have come under the committee's notice, and every possible enquiry has been made into each one, so that they might be fully satisfied that assistance was really needed. The class of persons aided with food or clothing has generally been the wives and children of men who have migrated to the West Coast or other places in search of employment; some of these have been unfortunate, and not able to remit money to their families, while others have apparently quite forgotten that they had claims on them to do so. Of this kind there have been 27 cases. In addition to the above, ten invalids have been relieved who were either friendless or in families that were not in a position to procure medical comforts or attendance. Your committee also report that they have assisted five wives with children to join their husbands in other provinces by paying part of their passage money, or in lending a sum for that purpose (which loans have been honorably refunded.) Ten widows with children, twelve, wives where the husbands were out of employment and two wives with children, whose husbands were in prison ; making a total of €6 adults and 157 children/The num-7 ber of families still on the society's list is ten, viz., six widows and four families where the husband is absent. The report would be incomplete, did it not record a pleasing instance of gratitude on the part of a family which was sometime ago found in very poor circumstances. Aid was promptly given, but as soon as work was procured, the money which had been given was returned to the „■ society with interest. The committee wish gratefully tb acknowledge the many subscriptions and donations which have been received from various sources towards replenishing the funds, and also for contributions of cast off clothing, and would impress upon the public the desirability there is for voluntary subscriptions in place of the annual systematic canvassing of each district. Hitherto the house to house collecting has been, to each lady, an arduous undertaking, and has occupied much time that might have been spent in attending to the necessitous and relieving the s ufferings of the afflicted. In concluding this report, the committee would urge upon the community, ari iriqreased liberality towards tb. .uudi of

the Benevolent Society, so that they may Have it put in their power to reach a certain class of women, whom starvation has often driven to the lowest state of degradation ; to reform these is as much the work of the benevolent as to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Mere words of kindness in such cases will -*jsrove of little avail, unless accompanied substantial proofs of sympathy. * . "With thanks to Almighty God for the degree of prosperity given toi the Society the committee are stimulated to strive to follow in the footsteps of their Divine Jlxerriplar in works of mercy, remembering that it is written that, "He that Hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, tor ne giveth of his bread to the poor.*' The following are the officers and committee : — President, Mrs J. ¥. Dundas; VicePresident, Mrs C. A. Ross ; Secretary, Mrs J. T. Shaw; Treasurer, MrsT. Watson j i Mesdames Crouch, Deck, Dundas, Geisow, M'Oulloch, T. M. Macdonald, Macpherson, Ross, Stobo, Stock, Shaw, Tanner, J. P. Taylor, Trumble, Watson, Yule, and'Misses M'Eachern and Stobo. TbeasuSeb's Eepoet #rdni Jari; 15, 1865, to Feb. 13, 1867. Dr.

• To balance £35 17 6 „ Proceeds of first soiree 12 10 0 „ Amount refunded from Provincial Govern- ' ment for work ... 6 14 9 „ Gentlemen's Benevo- i lent Society 3 9 6 „ Amateur Concert ... 10 12 0 „ Dramatic Club ... - 218 6 „ Interest at Bank ... 118 „ Committee of New Biver Harvest Home 2 14 0 j, Proceeds of second soiree 15 10 9 „ Mr Win. Steel's concert ... ... 613 0 „ Sale of greenbacks ... 23 19 8 „ Drawing Room Entertainment 15 2 6 ?„ Collections at the united services of . Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and Independent Churches held on the Fast Day in December, 1865 ... 818 11 "„ Bev. Mr Steele's lec- ; ture ... ... .;. 4 13 6 „ Moneys returned ... 14 13 0 ' „ Subscriptions and Donations 170 14 8 Cr. By Groceries £139 13 3 „ Butcher's meat ... 46 8 10 i, Belief in money ... 48 4 6 j, tiaker ... ... 8 5 2 5, Drapery . .. 711 3 ii School feei for two Orphan children ... 12 0 0 Boots 215 6 Implements 3 9 0 ' Passage money and loans 28 13 0 „ Funeral expenses ... 3 7 6 jj Medical attendance, nurses, and medical comforts ... ... 17 13 6 „ Printing &c.,... ... 3 10 „ Miscellaneous (tea meeting expenses &c.) 5 2 0 „ Balance on hand ... 10 7 6 £336 12 2