taxation; but no one could grumble that out of the revenue derived from, and the property of the whole country, a portion should be set aside for the relief of the unfortunate.… The institution provides for the relief of the widest divided forms of want and distress. The wife and children unable to procure fuel will not be allowed to perish with cold; the immigrant arriving penniless will be enabled to get a meal and a bed until employment is available to him; the workman temporarily disabled will be able to get temporary relief; the convalescent will not be suffered to remain adrift on the world, unable, from the effects of illness, to cope with its stern necessities; and, lastly, the sufferers from chronic incurable diseases will be enabled to pass their few remaining days on earth, their pains alleviated, as far as can be, instead of being increased by want and exposure, and their religious wants attended to." The writer then leaves the issue of the movement "to the dictation of the nobler instincts."
Other meetings followed in rapid succession, and at a meeting of subscribers, held on May 22nd, at the Athenæum—(then in Manse street), St. John Branigan, Commissioner of Police, in the chair, it was resolved that the Institution be governed by a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Committee of eight, to be elected annually. At this date the financial condition of the Institution stood thus:—
| Collected by Rev. E. G. Edwards and Messrs Strode, Douglas, Oswin, and Hardcastle | £172 | 19 | 6 |
| Proceeds of Entertainment by the Garrick Club, per B. L. Farjeon | 64 | 7 | 6 |
| Government Grant in Aid of Building | 1000 | 0 | 0 |
| Government Grant in Aid of Maintenance | 250 | 0 | 0 |
| Subscriptions promised | 221 | 1 | 0 |
| £1,708 | 8 | 0 |
As yet such subscriptions as had been received were entirely from the citizens of Dunedin, but 66 lists had been issued to gentlemen in various parts of the Province.
In addition to the grants-in-aid of the building and for maintenance, the Government signified their willingness to grant a site, but ere that question was finally settled, there was vexatious delay and a considerable amount of parleying and of "hope deferred." The first offer of the Government comprised
