TKANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 213 



ing for them a small home, whose an-angements might be more of the nature of a 

 family than larger institutions can possibly be. 



It is situated about two miles from Edinburgh, in an airy and healthy locality, 

 as a proof of which sickness of any kind has scarcely, if ever, been experienced 

 amongst its inmates ; the usual nimiber of them is about 30, although two or 

 three more could be accommodated. 



The superintendents are a matron, assistant- matron, sewing-mistress, and two 

 laundresses, and the chief employment of the women is washing and laundry 

 work, with a little needlework, instruction in needlework being regularly given 

 b^'' tlie sewing-mistress. Regular instruction is also given in reading, writing, and 

 arithmetic, with household work and religious knowledge. 



The Home is always open for the reception of inmates ; and it is chiefly through 

 the missionaries, whose work it is to endeavour to reclaim the fallen, that inmates 

 are received. 



After bemg a year in the Home, situations are provided for the girls, and an out- 

 fit given to them ; and, as far as possible, an oversight is kept of them after they 

 leave the Home. The Committee endeavour ns much as possible to send the girls 

 to situations at a distance from their former haunts, and have on different occa- 

 sions procured situations and sent several of them to Canada, c&c. 



The management of the Home is vested in two Committees of Ladies and Gen- 

 tlemen appointed by the subscribers, but the general management is vested in the 

 Gentlemen's Committee, who have the control of the funds. 



The property of the Home was purchased by the Committee four years ago, at 

 the price of £630 ; and they have since expended, in making repairs', alterations, 

 and additions to it, so as to fit it more completely for the purposes of a Home, close 

 upon £900, the whole of which money the Committee have been enabled to pay 

 through extra subscriptions, &c., so that now there is no debt remaining upon it. 



The annual cost of maintenance of the Home in 1870, as per 

 detailed accounts published in the Annual Report for that year, 



was £941 11 5 



(which included £185 4s. Ad., the expenditure connected with 

 carrying on the washing work), whereof there was received from 

 the work of the inmates in washing, &c GO! 13 4 



The balance of £339 18 1 

 being provided by public subscriptions, &c. 

 In connexion with this, it is right to state that all the water required for wash- 

 ing, except the rain-water from the roofs, has to be carted from a burn about a 

 quarter of a mile distant from the Home. 



In the eleven years from 1860 to 1870, both inclusive, on an average thirty- two 

 young women have annually left the Home for situations, received back by friends, 

 &c. 



On the Mode for Assessing for the Poor-Jiates. By James Meiexe, F.S.S. 



On the Administration of the Poor Law. By W. A. Peteekin, General 

 Siqjerintendent of Poor (Scotland). 

 It was the wish of the entire community that no one should die of actual star- 

 vation, and therefore all plans for the distribution of fimds raised for the relief of 

 the poor were based on the minimum necessary to maintain life. This was the 

 absolute requirement. The Poor Law of Scotland required " needful sustentation." 

 The interpretation of that term was left to the judgment of local administrations, 

 and tbere were 88.5 separate bodies, each acting on its own responsibility. Their 

 decisions were subject, on complaint, to the review of a central authority, insti- 

 tuted by Parliament. Uniformity, under such circumstances, was hopeless, and if 

 practicable, would not be desirable. There was no point to which attention re- 

 quired more to be given than to the necessity of each case combining in itself 

 destitution and disability. The question of disability was practically more easily 



