HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1792, 25 June 1906, Page 3

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

A MODEL MISSIONED.

(ByPenhloms.)

| Wellington. Mr Moore, our sailors’ missioner, is decidedly a personage in our city. If you notice a short dapper man, in spotless frock coat and tall hat, strid» ing along with chest thrown well out, and with the jauntiest of walks, that is Mr Moore. Talk to him and you will be struck by the kindly humor of the pleasant face, by the thick.’greying hair, the straight-looking brown eyes, and the infectious enthusiasm of the man. He can do anything, and is as good a boxer as he is a preacher. He may be seen somtimes leading, with infinite tact and no loss of dignity, a helplessly drunken fireman aboard one of the big liners, and he is brother, adviser, and friend to all sailors who come to this port. We have now a splendid building for them, with a fine church above, and a great room below, where the men sing, play games, write and read. Throe billiard tables are set out when the games are in full swing, and the men can have a happy time outside a public-house, i which, before this work was started, 1 was their only haven. Such grateful ' letters have been sent from all parts | of the world to Mr Moore, from ! widows whose husbands have, thanks to the institution, received decent burial here, and from mothers whose wandering boys have had a helping hand in times of trouble. This week a nautical bazaar was held at the Mission, and the hall was crowded. An unobtrusive figure in the thing was Mrs Williams, to whose splendid generosity the sailors owe this Mission Hall. The idea of the sea was carried out in the decorations, for each stall was like a ship with sails and head-lights, and rigging and hammocks were slung from the ceiling, while port and starboard lights fianked the stage. The side-shows were doliciously quaint, and most moderate in price, sixpence admitting you to the whole of them, and some only costing a penny. The model of a fore-xastle exact in every detail, was most interesting, and an old curiosity shop so fascinating that we all wanted another twoponnor’th. The little room was filled with old things, a sampler, miniatures, old muskets—one dredged up from the harbor—aged books, an antique deed«jJiest (found in Lincoln Cathedral), and a host of other things. Behind the table sat an old man and young girl, who recited a little bit of Dickens, a dialogue between Nell and her grandfather, with quite touching effect. Still another side-show was a diver at work among shells, fish, and the rest of the appurtenances of the fiow of the ocean. He looked like some pie-historic monster as he stamped in his half-foot soles about the dim enclosure, turning his lantern first on one object of interest and then another. It rather spoilt the weird effect when, in answer to Mr Moore, a a mulfied voice from the helmet admitted that he was a bit tired, and agreed that a soft drink would- be opportune. During the evening, besides music and other attractions, some of the Pioneer men did some splendid cutlass drill and single-stick exercise. To the delight and astonishment of the gathering, Mr Moore himself took a hand in the latter, and gave his adversary a hard row to hoe. It was comical to, see the dapper little figure in the frockcoat and the big wire mask darting round the burly jack-tar, who lunged unsuccessfully again and again. Muscular Christianity has a great fas-

dilation for tlio sailor man and liia bo longings.

ABOUT PEOPLE,

Lady Plunket is bettor, and was I ablo to got up last wook. Sho is still in Nurso Palmer’s privato hospital. Mr Waterfiold and his brido aro in town. Sho is related to tho Helmores, of Christchurch, and was married from Mr Goo. Helmoro’s house. Ono quiet wedding took place in the Collogo Chapel, and was tho first corornony ever performed there. Tho Kov. Mr Moreland officiated, and tho Hon. Kathleon Plunket, Captain Braithwaite, and Mrs Wallis, tho Bishop’s wifo, wont from hero to bo present It will bo strange after this long regimo of baeholor private secretaries, | to havo a married man holding that position at Government House. Mrs Moorhouse has gono for a change to tho country. Sho was unfortunate enough to discover, when she opened on her arrival a hat box, in which she had packed six hats, tho 1 case absolutely empty. However, later on, sho found the missing hats all scuffed into another trunk. Evidently the thief, who must have gained access to it on board, had found his booty was not at all what he expected, and took tho easiest way to get rid of it. One of the hats was made from |

the lovely grey plumage ol an American dove, fashioned into a toque with knots of grey velvet. Mrs Bawson, who lost her daughter quite recently in Christchurch, from appendicitis, is staying with Mrs Stoll, General and Mrs Babington leave this week for Home, and will be much missed. Mrs Babington has been

much with Miss Seddon, who was quite prostrated with the shock. For some time she has been run down, and when the blow came she was unable to bear it. Indeed her condition has given her friends much anxiety. By the Sydney boat this week leave Mrs Miles, Miss Hilda Miles, and Miss Bita Simpson. They intend to spend six weeks in Australia.