WELLINGTON CITY MISSION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 7

WELLINGTON CITY MISSION

. History Of Its Work NEW BOYS’ HOSTEL BUILT "Bear ye one another’,s burdens an so fulfil the law of Christ.” —The We lington Central -Mission, an Anglic-u organization, for the last 36 years ha endeavoured, in the face of great oddto carry out the spirit of that motto i tlie heart ol the city, where such effor is most needed. Witli the completio: of the new Boys’ Hostel on the corne of Taranaki and ’Wigan Streets, th splendid practical memorial to the hit Cation Thomas Bidden Taylor, it i appropriate to review the work o ■ the mission. Tins work is carried on in a district consisting for the most part of Wei lington’s mean streets'. Such spot; are to be found in most large cities, am it is always a problem how to deal witli them. There have been schemes for doing away with tire whole of this area of Te Aro, One proposed by Sit Charles Norwood, when mayor of Wellington, was to clear out tlie central block between Vivian Street ami Buckle Street, and yreate there a new civic centre, and a boulevarde, which would terminate at the foot of the Carillon tower. But the scheme was found to be too expensive. This district lies within the parish of St. Peter’s, and it was naturally the duty of that parish to do something about it. That was not done till 1904, when the vicar, the Kev. George Paul Davys, proposed a mission, on the lines of those conducted in some of the larger cities of Britain, lie secured the services of -Mr. W. 11. Walton, a Church Artny worker from England. A start was made in a room rented in Taranaki Street, up a crazy stairway. Even in such depressing premises good work was done. Small Beginnings. As the work progressed from these small beginnings it was found necessary to secure better premises for the mission. A section of land wasecured in the heart of the district in Taranaki Street. Upon it a brick mission hall was erected —the gift of a parishioner of St. Peter’s. The foundation stone of that, building was laid by his Excellency Lord Blanket on October .16, 1907, in the presence of Bishop 'Wallis, and many of the Anglican clergy and laity, 'The hall of the 'building was opened by the late Archdeacon Pa t ico art. After six years of difficult pioneer work, Mr. Walton resigned to take up work in Kilbirnie, and he afterwaijd became vicar of Batea. Archdeacon Harper, who had succeeded tlie Bev. Davys as vicar of St. Peter’s, appointed the Kev. W. Baine to carry on the work of the mission. In 1914 Mr. Kaine was appointed vicar of • Foxton, and because of the war it was found impossible to fill the position of missioner for a time, so the work was carried on by a volunteer staff from St. Peter’s Church, splendid service being given in that period by the Bev. T. Gardiner. | who died in the epidemic of 1918, and | the Kev. F. M. Kempthorne. It was also found necessary to appoint another sister, and the services of Mrs. Hire-ball were secured. It says something for the vitality of this movement that it was during this very difficult period that the mortgage on tlie mission hall was paid off, and a forward move was made to provide classrooms and a residence for two parish sisters. 'The addition was opened by the Bisbop of ’Wellington on July 8,191 S. Twelve months later Canon Thomas Eielden Taylor, back from the war, was appointed missioner. He was full of enthusiasm and had a definite goal in mind. What debt remained was soon paid off, and within five years the block of land with the houses thereon was bought and paid for. One house was taken as a residence for the missioner, and the other two as a boys’ hostel and residence for the assistant missioner. The property adjacent to the mission hall was used as a boys’ club, and was enlarged for the time being by the use of one of the army huts from tlie Featherston camp. By 1921 Canon Taylor had a vision of the future. There was a night school, as well as the boys’ club, Christmas camps were arranged for the boys and girls, and in 1922 provision was made for the serving of hot meals to old people for a shilling a week. In 1928 the mission was constituted as a city mission by Act of Parliament, which facilitated the scope of the mission and the administration and execution of its work. In January, 1930, a start was made with the erection of new mission premises, to cover a jumble shop, an oilice, a hall, room for boys’ club, girls’ club, ladies’ guild, and kitchen. The chapel was also renovated. This new building was opened by the mayor of Wellington, Sir George Troup, on July 8, 1930. Work in Depression. Then came the depression, and witli it if mountain of work for the mission. Many deserving jnen, who were close to the bread line, were provided for, in a large store with frontages Io Haining Street and Martin Square; it was fitted as a shelter, and for some time was filled. Canon Taylor worked very hard through a difficult period in spite of his failing health. At one time it seemed likely that the mission would have to close down, and a commission was appointed to inquire into the position. It decided that the work should go forward. Undaunted by past troubles, the. Canon instituted a campaign for a new boys’ hostel. The public responded generously, the result being the fine modern building that now stands at the corner of Wigan Street and Taranaki Street, a credit to (lie mission and a notable memorial to Canon Taylor. Canon Taylor died in 1937. For a time tlie work was creditably carried on by -Mr. Neville Titchener, who had | been the Canon’s assistant, and in May, 1939, the Kev. 11. Squires, Grey Lynn, Auckland, was appointed missioner, and with youth and energy, and a great heart for the work, he is making his presence felt in many activities of the Wellington City Mission. Mr. Squires is a man of ideas. He does not believe in merely catering for the passing need. lie is a strong advocate of preventive work, and considers that if the Government could be brought to see the value of preventive education among the young people of New Zealand’s mean streets, it would lie putting money in tin- bank, as it would lessen the demand for much court work, and much accommodation in jails, State farms and Borstal institutions. "Get the children away from evil influences, and give them healthy employment and recreation, and you will do a great work for humanity,” lie says. “Give them more and ’more leisure to play around streets and absorb evil influences, and you l:ty up a store of trouble for the future.”' The new Fieldon 'Taylor Boys’ 1 Hostel is to be opened on Saturday afternoon, September 7, by the Prime i Minister, Mr. Fraser. ‘ t