THE BENEVOLENT ASYLUM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 94, 27 November 1869, Page 3

THE BENEVOLENT ASYLUM.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Titties.)

Sic, — Charity, in my opinion, is one of the finest precepts Known to mankind, when exercised at a proper time and in a right direction. Do we not often see a fellow-creature — perhaps I a whole family — who have been over- ■ taken by an unforeseeii calamity, — perhaps the bereavement of those to whom they look solely for support, — snatched, as it were, from ruiu and despair by the timely assistance of some charitable person who feels a pleasure in devoting part of his time and his means and exercising his influence in preventing them, it may bo, from being cast penniless on the world. These thoughts occurred to me while passing the Benevolent Institution some time since, when 1 saw a group of young children playing ■with joyous gambols on a beautiful plot of grass, which is attached to the institution, and kept apparently for their recreation. Looking on with anxious care, and listening to their merry prattle, might be seen aged women, bowed down withinfirmities and misfortunes, but who have found a home, for the short time they apparently will stay amongst us, in the godlike asylum which is rearing the orphan children playing at their feet. Still, sir, I am told the funds of this institute are falling- off. How, lam sure the public, and particularly the diggers, only require to be made acquainted with this fact to rally and give their support to this really good cause. Sir, 1 see by a report in your issue of the 30th October that the Waifcahuna people have given another entertainment for the above object. This is the third benefit this truly Christian and plucky little diggings has given for the above establishment, the last of which realized the handsome sum of £35, from a population of under 250, scattered over an area of three or four miles ; and it is -only a few weeks sines this little band of" niggers, headed by a few lively and charitable ladies, realized, by the same means, a handsome sum for the Tuapeka Hospital. In fact, the ladies of Waitahuna (bless them!) appear a united sisterhood, ever ready to use their powerful influence (to say nothing of the expense, time, and trouble entailed on themselves, and which never appears to give them a thought) to relieve the wants of the destitute. Ah, sir, well they know where ladies lead men are bound to follow. lam told that the gentlemen amateurs of Waitahuna are all hard-working men. Now, sir, I think the good people of Waipori might assist this good cause by giving* an entertainment for the benefit of this fine asylum. The inhabitants of "Waipori are not, I am sure, less charitable than their neighbours ; neither do we lack the means,, for we have amongst us musical and dramatic talent of no mean order, as. was proved by an entertainment given some time since in aid of our local school. Besides, sir, innocent amusements like these bring a scattered population like ours together in social intercourse; and as people generally attend them determined to be pleased with everything and everybody, many a misunderstanding: that may have existed is then perhaps cleared up. Let the ladies of Waipori use theirinfiuence, and the Benevolent Institution will gratefully remember the " Thalians" and the people of Waipori. I am aware, sir, there are, or have been, one or two subscription lists kept at one or two of the stores here, for the purpose of raising funds for the asylum, and I know that the gentlemen who got them up feel a deep interest in the welfare of the institution, still I would respectfully suggest to them that Waipori is not a good place to raise funds by thia means, as more than two-thirds of the population live miles from the township ; their stores are packed to them, and they do not visit "the township for months. As a proof of this, these lists have been open over two months, and the amount collected with a population of over six hundred is, I believe, only £11 ; but if an entertainment for the above purpose were announced, the news would soon spread, and I am sure the boys would soon rally round and give their support. Again, the customers of the persons holding these lists, when paying their accounts, very often leave a balance on the books, and under these circumstances the storekeeper feels a delicacy in pressing his customer to subscribe.

In conclusion, sir, I am sure that if the ladies and gentlemen who can exercise the deserved influence over our little community mil take this matter in hand, they will have the hearty support of the people ; the only doubt I have on the matter is tKat theOddfellows' Hall will not be large enough to contain the number that will seek admission. — I am, <&eJ A Resident op Watk>bt. "Waipori, Nov. 16th, 1869. *