At the Benevolent Institution this afternoon Mr D. Robertson said many indigent people were feeling the wintry weather just now, and the institution could not meet all demands for fuel.
Some rather pitiable cases were dealt with by the trustees today.
In one case, according to Miss Kirk, the inspector, a family were starving themselves to pay back debts. They were in a state of destitution and illness.
The applicants had been helped by neighbours, but were badly in need of clothing, as they were all but naked.
The father, wife, and four children were recovering from scarlet fever.
It was shown that a most heroic struggle had been maintained against misfortune. In this case relief was granted.
Another case was that of a roadman and his family, who had been burned out during the bush fires of last summer.
To add to his troubles the road work ceased, as the vote for the continuance of the work had not been passed.
The man has seven children, their ages ranging from 10 years to six months.
The family were living with a labouring man and his wife in a Wellington suburb, all in a three-roomed cottage - 11 persons in all.
It was stated that beds were made up on chairs.
The case was relieved without any discussion on the application, the trustees being satisfied of the genuine hardship of the case.
The head of the family had got work, it was stated, but would get no pay until the end of the month.
• It is said that a certain cure for the bite of the katipo spider is (according to the Maoris) to rub on the place burnt rimu bark and bathe immediately in sea water or salt water.
But burnt rimu bark is not always readily procurable, and at the seaside where katipos principally are met with, such a remedy is almost out of the question.
• A pig-hunting party on Mr Donkin's Sunnyside Station, comprising Messrs Elworthy and P. Studholme, from South Canterbury, Dr Snow (Invercargill), Messrs McGregor and Cox (Mount Linton), and Mr Glendining, accounted for 127 pigs.
- ODT, 10.6.1908
