which do occur, and without the aid of a Benevolent Asylum they must remain unattended to."
Two months later the movement started by "An Old Otago Colonist" took practical shape, and at a meeting held at the office of Mr. A. C. Strode on April 24th, 1862, the Otago Benevolent Institution was formed, and the interim committee then appointed at once issued an appeal to the people of the Province, and took the necessary steps to secure subscriptions and to obtain a measure of government support. The Times of the following day announced the fact, and stated that the new society was established on the most cosmopolitan principle, its objects being "to relieve the aged, infirm, disabled, or destitute of all creeds and nations, and to minister to them the comforts of religion:—
"1. By relieving and maintaining in a suitable building such as may be most benefited by being inmates of the Asylum.
"2. By giving out-door relief in kind to families and individuals in temporary distress.
"3. By affording medical assistance and medicine through the establishment of a dispensary. [The necessity for this provision was obviated by the opening of the out-door consulting department of the Hospital.)
"4. By affording facilities for religious instruction and consolation to the inmates of the Asylum."
The Times again warmly supported the movement, and expressing the opinion that "the most effective form of relief would be an institution subsidised by government, with an independent management, and with private subscriptions," and the belief that "the people of Otago are not hardened by prosperity into indifference to the sharp cry of misery and to the weak wail of helpless want," and would not "rest under the reproach that in a community of undoubted richness there was neglect shown to the claims of charity," the editorial conveying the foregoing information went on to say:—"The principle is a sound one of taxing the whole community for the benefit of the unfortunate amongst its number. Hence, in England, the Poor Law Rate. Here, with a revenue in excess of the requirements of the country, it would be folly to have recourse to special
