A special meeting of the Benevolent Institu tion was held on Tuesday, for the purpose of considering a letter from the Colonial Secre tary’s Department on the question of giving aid to the aged and infirm at present housed in the hospital. The Rev. W. H. West said that the committee, he thought, should come to some decision on the subject as to whether they should take charge of the 14 aged in firm men and three women who were in the hospital at present. Ho moved, pro forma, that the committee take charge of these per sona. Ho did so, as he was aware that the Government were averse to the boarding-out principle as regards the infirm. The Rev. H. Van Stavcrcn seconded the motion pro forma. He thought that to board out these people would be merely to hurry them to their coffins. Of course, boarding-house keepers would not look after them; they would merely sup ply them with food. The Rev. J. Paterson would oppose the society being burdened with the care of these old people. He thought that the Government should obtain a cottage wherein they could be taken care of by the State. If these poor people wore boarded out, it would cost at least 15s per week per head; indeed, he considered that it would cost the Government more than that sum each per week if they were thrust out of the hospital. It would be far better that, until the Government erected an almshouse for the aged infirm poor, they should take charge of the people indicated. He was quite opposed to them being upon the institution, more especially as he did not believe that there was not sufficient room in the hospital for them. Councillor Banka thought that the hospital authorities should take charge of the old people. They had the money so to do, and he should, in the future as in the past, oppose the motion for boarding the old men out, more especially as there was an empty ward in the hospital. The Rev W. 0. Oliver considered that it would be in human to take the people from the hospital. Why, ha asked, should not the Government act here as they did elsewhere, and erect a homo for the aged poor ? He should supjinrt the amendment proposed by the Rev air Paterson. 