THE following report will give the work done by the Committee of this district during the past year:

There are no special cases for notice. The poor of the village and neighbourhood are so well known and visited that no room is left for the special operations of the Society on their behalf, and therefore the work at the office has been confined to the applicants passing through the village who seek temporary assistance in the shape of food.

The comparison between the number of applicants for relief during the previous two years and the year just terminated is as follows: 1881-2, 1,769; 1882-3, 1,556; 1883-4, 1,381-showing a still further decrease, which is owing, no doubt, in a great measure to the exceptionally fine weather and the additional work provided by a good harvest.

SYDENHAM AND FOREST HILL COMMITTEE

President-FRANCIS PEEK, Esq.

Vice-President-Rev. H. W. YEATMAN.

Hon. Treasurer-THOMAS JONES, Esq.

Hon. Secretary-HENRY REID, Esq.

Office-1 CLYDE TERRACE, FOREST HILL.

Agent-Sergeant VANCE.

Bankers-THE LONDON & SOUTH-WESTERN BANK, SYDENHAM BRANCH.

Members of the Working Committee.

REPORT.

THIS report reviews the operations of the Sydenham and Forest Hill Branch of the Society for Organising Charitable Relief and Repressing Mendicity for the year commencing October the 1st, 1883, and ending September the 30th,

1884.

For the constitution of the Society and the manner in which the District Committees are dependent upon the Parent Society, subscribers are referred to last year's report. Suffice it here to say that this Branch is still represented on the Council of the Society, and that the same two members are still its representatives.

There is but little to report this year. In their Fifteenth Annual Report, presented at the meeting held at Willis's Rooms on May 23rd, 1884, in noticing the special work of each District Committee, the following words were used by the Parent Scciety in speaking of our Branch: The Sydenham Office is used for the suppression of mendicity in a comparatively rural district, but the Committee deals with a larger number of cases than several Suburban Committees, and a considerable amount of assistance, by way of loans, is given from its funds.' This directly refers, of course. to our work of last year, but the same remark would apply to the year under review. Our two special characteristics, then, are (1) dealing with a large number of tramps, and (2) an active and successful loan department.

1st. We have relieved by giving bread to no fewer than 4,027 tramps during the year; this is a larger number than the records of any other District Committee can show.

This fact should assure subscribers and others that the tickets given to beggars in the streets instead of money are not, or need not be, thrown away, but are readily convertible into bread at our office, whereas the money so given is, in most cases, converted into beer or spirits at the nearest public-house. We will speak of the loans further on.

The office has remained during the year at 1 Clyde Terrace, Forest Hill, and has been open for tramps and other applicants each week day (except Bank Holidays) during the year, from 1 to 4 P.M.

The year under review has been an unusually mild one, and there was no pressure during the winter to drive people to the office for relief. There has, however, we understand, been a good deal of distress from want of work. Although there has been a considerable amount of building going on, especially in the Lower Sydenham and Stanstead Road districts, yet it is found that the small builders who have thus speculated bring their own gangs with them.

The funds have not risen much above the receipts of the last two years. The subscriptions and donations this year came to £256. 14s. 6d., in comparison with £245. 2s. last year, and £242. 8s. in 1881-82. These figures would show that the interest in the Society is steady; and we have reason to think that if a hard winter were to visit us this year we should receive far more liberal subscriptions, as was proved in the last severe winter.

A leading feature of a rather uneventful year has been the great number of convalescent letters obtained from the Chief Office. This department of our work has received considerable impetus from the operation of the new Convalescent Sub-Committee of the Parent Society. The Sub-Committee has

secured a large number of beds at the principal seaside and other Convalescent Hospitals, and for a fee of 10s. sends to the Branches letters for approved There is no other payment whatever, except railway fare, and in some cases washing. This system presents great advantages over the old one. Heretofore, on obtaining a letter for a Convalescent Hospital, the applicant had to wait for five, six, or even eight weeks before there was a vacancy. At the very time when the doctors were urging an immediate change of air the patient was forced to remain at home, lingering on week after week in weary expectation of the letter from the Secretary announcing that at length there was a vacant bed.

During the year under review no less than 42 admissions have thus been obtained by our Committee from Buckingham Street, and we are glad to report that this arrangement works admirably, and is a great boon to the poor.

In necessitous cases this Society has provided the 10s., generally insisting on the applicants themselves paying the railway fare; this, however, is as a rule supplied at a reduced rate.

Our loan system has been in active operation during the year, but shows less vigour than usual. Thus loans granted in the year under review came to £65; last year they came to £83, and in 1881-2 to the large sum of £131.

Loans repaid: this year, £71. 10s.; last year, £111. 18s.; and in 1881-2, £179. 98. 6d. The loans outstanding on 30th September, 1884, are £21. 108.; at the same date, 1883, £28. 10s.; and at the end of 1881-2, £108. 11s. 6d.

This District Committee has thus been particularly successful in its loan operations and is known in Buckingham Street as exceptionally so. We are convinced that it is the best way of helping a struggling tradesman or artisan temporarily out of work. The terms are easy, and the applicant's self-respect is not lowered, as it is in many cases by the receipt of relief.

A reference to the Balance Sheet will show that no large sums are wasted in rent or salaries, and that the amount spent in actual relief bears a fair proportion to the total working expenses. The Committee ask for more workers; any gentleman or lady who can give up an hour a week to the work of attending our weekly meeting at 5 P.M. on Mondays will be heartily welcomed.

There is little fur her to add. During the year under review our Officer, Sergeant Vance, has also acted as Agent to the Queensland Government for Emigration, and in this capacity has been the means of sending out 44 men, 27 women, and 77 children. Although this work is quite unconnected with our Society, yet we think the subscribers and public will like to learn that emigration has not been neglected in Sydenham and Forest Hill,

In conclusion, we desire to stimulate the interest of the public in our work, and especially to call the attention of the clergy of all denominations and the district visitors to the facilities which we possess of obtaining information of all kinds bearing on charities, and especially of obtaining Convalescent and other Hospital letters.

We wish to acknowledge the value of the services of our Agent, Sergeant Vance, who has this year, as before, discharged his duties satisfactorily.

PART II.

CONTRIBUTION LISTS & BALANCE SHEET OF THE COUNCIL, AND BALANCE SHEETS OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES OF THE CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY.