arrivals—individuals and families—were penniless, and at once required assistance to save them from starvation; others were physically and otherwise unfitted for colonial life, especially digger life, with all its risks and hardships and exposure, and numbers of these required help; others, again, leaving their wives and children in Dunedin, set out for the goldfields, and some of these families were left destitute by the desertion or death of the bread-winners, and they also had to be cared for. These and other contingencies in connection with families and individuals, speedily arose, and simultaneous with the opening of the goldfields, and consequent tremendous influx of population, there were calls for the kindly assistance of those to whom the instances of distress became known.
The first public reference to the necessity for some general organization to meet the too rapidly growing poverty took the form of a letter in the Daily Times of January 6th, 1862, and signed "An Old Otago Colonist." As that letter was the first step towards the establishment of the Otago Benevolent Institution—as it was the little seed that developed into that philanthropic organisation—we think it deserves in extenso a place in this narrative. It is as follows:—
"Sir,—With the large accession to our population it will be evident to every one who considers the subject that there must be amongst us those who have arrived in the Province within the past few months a great many persons in distress from various causes—sickness being the principal. Now, Sir, I think the time has arrived when we, in prosperity, should do something to relieve the necessities of those in adversity, who in time of sickness 'cannot dig, and to beg they are ashamed.' It may be said that the hospital is available for such cases, but it is well known that that institution is of limited capacity, is always full to over-flowing, and a great many cases consequently are refused admittance. To come to the point, we want a Benevolent Society formed in Dunedin, having for its object the relief, after proper inquiry, of cases of distress. At present, supposing a rich merchant or fortunate digger desires to make an offering for charitable purposes, there is no authorised person to receive it or organized body to apply it. This, I think, is a matter in which the ladies of Dunedin and its neighbourhood could do really essential service; and, moreover, I am sure that if the case were properly put to them they would join heart and hand in the good cause. To make a practical suggestion, would it not be a good plan to have a fancy bazaar to start the proposed society? I will venture to say that it would be well supported. I enclose my name, and beg to tender my humble services as a working hand to any who are willing to assist in the formation of a
