LADIES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.—TEA MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 945, 4 May 1868, Page 3

LADIES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.— TEA MEETING.

The annual tea meeting of the above Society came off on Tuesday evening, 28th. inst., in the large hall of the Exchange-buildings. The hall was found to answer admirably for the purpose, and being tastefully draped with flags, presented at once a spacious and cheerful appearance. The. < chairman's table waß set across the upper end cf the room, two others running down the entire length of the building. The meeting -was influentially and numerously attended, without ' being hi any way over crowded. His Honor the , Superintendent was to have occupied the chair but found it impossible to attend, and through Mr Armstrong, apologised to the meeting for his absence and explained the cause. Thomas Watson, Esq., having been called to fill the seat of honor, the business of the evening was proceeded with; the first part of the programme consisting in the assembly doing what is generally called " ample justice " to the excellent tea and choice edibleß provided by the ladies for their guests. Mr Stobo was then called upon, and read the report of the operations of the Society daring the past year, as follows — BEPOET OP THE IiADIES' BENEVOXEKT SOCIETT. In presenting this report, your Committee feel .gratified. .that the indications of returning prosperity to the province, which had begun to manifest themselves before our last yearly meeting, have, during the year now ended, become more and more marked. It is a matter of thankfulness that the operations of the Society are now limited to such cases of distress as must be continually occurring, in the present state of human affairs, in every community, whether outwardly prosperous or the reverse. " The poor . ye have always with you." It has been so in the past, and will still be so in the future, and it would be little to the credit of .our common Christianity, if, having, by the bounty of a gracious P"roYidence, obtained so liberally the means, we should be wanting in the will to do them good. The nature of the Society's operations, and the strong claims which it has to [' increased support at the hands of the benevolent, '■ yriU be apparent from a statement of the

j ttanb?r, and a brief analysis of the nature [ of the casea re-ieved during the past year. Number of single individuals relieved, 3 ; numbor of families relievel, 19 i tota * "■ anoint of aid given during the year, £lfil ; ' highest woekly amount given to any individual or ) family, 10* ; lowest weekly amount so given, 4s ; u«uai weekly allowance, ss; usutl number of single individuals receiving weekly ai 1, 1 ; usual n riibci' of families receiving week'y aid, 6 ; total 1 n-unber of souls more or less diroetly receiving . ai i :it i Us beginning of past year, 50 ; total number thus aided at the present time, 24 Analysis of nature of cases — Numberof those who/c want has more or le3s directly arisen from vice, during the year: Individuals, 2; families, 8 ; nnmber of cases in which it is due to sickness, families, 7 ; widows, 7 ; orphans, 3. — By this we mean those deprived of both parents, as also those who have been left to. bo cared for by the public through tho crime or criminal negligence of one or both parents : under tlm head we include only those who have no parent receiving aid from the Society, nor discharging a parent's duty in caring for their children. Among those that arc included in the first head, wo have to call special attention to families that are destitute 1 through the husbands being in gaol. Total ! number of souls, including the children in the ' families in each of the above four classes, Ist, 32 ; •!2ud,41; 3rd, 33; 4th, 3. Greatest length of ■ timo receiving aid in each of tho four classes, Ist, individuals, ten months ; families, one for more than tho year ; 2nd, one family for five months ; 3rd, twelre months ; 4th, ono month. Greatest weekly allowance, least weekly allowance in each of four classes, Ist, greatest,. ss ; least, 5a ; 2nd, greatest, 7s ; least, ss ; 3rd, greatest, 103 j least, 5s ; 4th, greatest, Gs. The above statement will pretty accurately show what has been the extent and tho nature of the Society's sphere of operations during the past year. It is right to call attention to the fact that many of the cases which come under the first and the fourth of the above heads are of such a kind that they can only be properly dealt .with by such institutions as Beforra;itories ; whilst with respect to the second and third classes, tho attention of ■working men especially should be called to tho fact that such cases of distress could generally bo prevented if only heads'- of families would become members of good Provident. Societies and, Life Assurance Associations. This is a 'matter to which the atteatijp of the-ioAusfaipus nrorking classes amoßg.i^^an scarcely "be too iteongly^ dipec-bedi- -w-^ ■ In concluding this report your committee feel it tijeir duty to make an tirgent appeal to the liberality of the public. They deeply regret that' so little "pecuniary help has been afforded from this quarter during tho past yeai\ The most 'sanguine and resolute even of our members have been obliged to entertain the question whether it was not the duty of the Society to dissolve altogether. In the meantime the Government has come to our aid, and subsidised ts to tho extent of £10 per month ; but it ia right that the public should know that we have no guarantee for the continuance of that dole. We should never for a moment lose sight of the consideration that the quarter, to which such a Society as this should look for support in dispensing relief in its own proper sphere is tho Christian public, and not the Government. It is right, however, that it should be known that hitherto we have been compelled to go beyond what ■we consider pur legitimate province, and to provide for orphans and children abandoned by parents living in crime. , This is a charge which we hold devolves upon the State, as coming in loco parerilis. The same thing may be, said regarding all those cases that are proper subjects for Reformatory institutions. So long as we continue to discharge this duty, the Government, we hold, are bound in equity to subsidise us. It -would be better, however, we feel convinced, if arrangements could be made by the establishment of a Reformatory or otherwise, whereby wo should be relieved of this burden. A subsidy would even in these circumstances be advantageous, but we "would feel bound to rely mainly on the charity of the benevolent. It is a matter of deep regret to the members of this Society, that the very help which they have felt called to give to those who ought properly to be cared for by the Government, that is, to children suffering through crime on the part of the parents, and even in some cases to individuals suffering through tho effects of their own vices, that tiiis help should have been used as a landle to raise a prejudice against the Society in the ' minds of f ome influential members of the community. Your committee confidently appeal to tho record of the cases relieved, as showing that your charity has not only been kindly, but wisely dispensed. In one case at least they can point to one plucked. from the lowest depths of degradation and sin. Whilst J.hey have felt called in cases to relieve , some "poor- miserablo outcast thrown upon them, they have always endeavored at the same time to reclaim them to habits of decency, virtue, and industry, and where their efforts have been found ineffectual, they have ceased to give relief. It would be unworthy of the name of Christian charity not to attempt to do thus much, and it ill becomes Christian men to withdraw their aid from, and still less to raise . a prejudice against the Society beeiuse they have done it. In conclusion, whilst we confidently appeal for increased support to the Christian public, we also invite tho co-operation of all ladies' who have at once hearts to feel for the poor, and any measure of time to devote to their relief. Tho Society has been unostentatiously doing a good work, but it is no hole and corner Society, it courts the light of day, and invites every lady to the privileges of its membership who takes an interest in its work. The following, resolutions, supported in each instance at considerable length by both movers and seconders, were then put to the meeting in their order, and carried unanimously. Ist. Mover by *Mr Caldcr,- and seconded by Mr Macdonald — "That the report just read be adopted." 2nd; Moved by tho Rev, Mr Tanner, seconded by Mr T. Perkins — " That this meeting trusts that the Government will endeavor to provide for the education of those desolate cliildren who are at present under no moral control," by instituting a reformatory." 3rd. Moved by Dr. Deck, seconded by Mr Crouch — " That the present office-bearers and committee be continued during the ensuing year, with power to fill up vacancies and add to their number." The evening's enjoyments were . agreeably diversified by the introduction of several songs, duets, pianoforte solos, &c, given with much :taste and correctness by a number of volunteers from amongst the ladies and gentlemen present. Shortly after 9 o'clock the meeting broke up with the customary vote of thanks to the chairman.

— _- «. . Statement op the Eecbipts and Expend itube of the Ladies' Benevolent Societ? troji 19ih Feb., 1867, to 22nd Apbil, 1863. « ■

, . ■ EECBIfTS. Balance Brought forward from last statement ... ... ..'. £10 7 0 Proceeds of last tea meeting ... 11 0 6 Do of Mr ShaYs lecture ... 213 0 Do of Mr Stobo's lecture ... 5 2 2 Do of Amateur Concert ... 16 0 6 Do of Dramatic entertainment 6 2 0 Public contributions ... ... 99 3 0 Amount received from Mr Holmes 5 6. 6 Donation from Provincial Government ... ... 20 0 0 Interest on Bank account 1 16 11 : £177 11 7 EXPBirpiTiraE. Groceries and flour ... ..c ... £65 14 0 Butcher meat"" ' ...' : -*\V; .;. 16 8 6 Clothing, fuel, &0., & 6 19 6 Passage money ... ..." ... 2 0 0 Education of orphan children :■ ... 8 14 0 Caeh relief „ 61 6 6 Balance m hands of Treasurer. ... 16 9 1 "£177 11 7 , A.< Wat3(W, Treasurer.