A CHARITABLE AID CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1804, 18 October 1888, Page 4

A CHARITABLE AID CASE.

A suit has besn oommenoed in the Beiident Magistrate's Court, Duaedin (says a Timaru paper)' between the Otngo Benevolent Institution, plaintiffs, and the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, defendants, whioh will test the liability of Charitable Aid Boards under section 74 of the Hospitals and Charitable Ins itutions Aot, 18S5. Sim* evidenoe was taken before the Besident Magistrate at Timaru on Tuesday for defendants (for whom Mr A. Perry appeared) to be transmitted to the Court at Dunedin. This evidenoe snowed that a girl named Maggie Sharp came to Timaru from Oamaru in April, 1886, and was admitted into the destitute ward of the Charitable Aid Board. She was 19 years old, bed with her a child 15 months old, and was pregnant with another. She remained in the ward, and was oonfbed there in August. Towards the end of October she was allowed to go to a situation, leaving her two children in charge of the waxxUkeeper, promising to contribute to their support, bit she did not do so. On the 6th of April following she was readmitted to the ward, and then for some weeks she was in and out, going to situations and leaving them after a few days. On one oooaiion she went (or started to go) to a situation on the north bank of the Bangi'ata, beyond the defendant board's district, btit was back ten days after. She then requested to be sent back to her parents at Clinton, Otago, and the board paid her pas sage by the steamer to Dunedin, and their officer saw her and her ohildren on board on May 17th. It appears that the girl and her obildren became at once ohargeable to.the Otago Benevolent Institution, and presently the two illegitimate children increased to three. A claim was made by the Otago Board upon the South Canterbury Board, under clause 74 for the cost of her maintsnance.; The chairmen of the two boards happening to. meet disouised the claim, and Mr John Jaokson, on behalf of the present defendants, agreed to pay 10s per week for six months on her account. The Otago Board nowi sue for £2l 10s, at the rate of lOi per ! week from the termination of the six months paid for to the present time. The defendant board dispute the claim on several grounds, and the matter will be argued out in Duuedin. If he returns in time from Melbourne, Sir Bobert Stout will appear for defendants when the oase is taken. The witnesses' examined on Tuesday were Mt B. H. Lough, secretary, and Mr J. Jackson, chairman of the Board, and Mr D. Sabiston, ward superintendent.