regarded Elberfeld, was that in five years the number of paupers was reduced from 4,000 to 1,500, and the expenditure from £7,000 to £2,600. Sketching the system, he stated that—"The town (equal in size to that of Dunedin) was divided into districts, and each had a certain number of visitors, and each visitor had four paupers to look after. The best families were called upon to serve, and they did it with the happiest results. In Elberfeld everything was scrutinised to the utmost degree, while, at the same time, a feeling of kindness and sympathy prevailed betwixt those who received relief and those who gave it. Parties receiving relief found out in abuses were sent to gaol. The system had been tried in New York, Boston, and various other towns, with excellent effect." The motion was carried unanimously, and remitted to the Committee for consideration, but nothing further came of it.
As has been already stated, at the meeting of the Interim Committee in May, 1862, at which the Institution was formed, it was decided that it should be governed by a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Committee of eight (afterwards increased to nine), to be elected annually. In the third year Trustees were added. It goes without saying, therefore, that from first to last a large number of gentlemen co-operated in the philanthropic work for which the Institution was established. Of those who throughout a course of years took a prominent part in the work, Mr. A. C. Strode, Mr. E. B. Martin, Mr. James Fulton, and many others, are still to the fore; but others of revered memory have gone to their rest. The names of Sir John Richardson, St. John Branigan, J. H. Harris, James Wilkie, John Bathgate, and Alexander Rennie, will long be held in kindly and grateful remembrance. Formerly the Committee and office-bearers were all elected by the subscribers, but now, under the Charitable Aid Act, and under the name of Board of Trustees seven of the Committee are elected by the Charitable Aid Board, and two by the subscribers to the Institution, the Committee being left to appoint their own Chairman and Treasurer. The first office-bearers and Committee consisted of Major Richardson, President; Mr. J. H. Harris, Vice-President; Mr. Day, Treasurer; and Messrs A. C. Strode, St. John Branigan, Julius Vogel, Douglas, Rattray, C. H. Street, Casper, and Henry Cook.
