THE SAILORS' HOME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6869, 6 March 1883, Page 3

THE SAILORS' HOME.

Beferenoo has already been made in these ! columns to the objects and usefulness of the Lyttelton Sailors' Home, now being created on tho section adjoining the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s offices on Norwich Quay. The (building, whioh is designed by Mr 0. Guff, and for whioh Messrs Sollit and Comber are the contractors, is of three storeys, built of brick, the frontage on Norwich Quay being f aoed with white rook elono. It will occupy an area of 60ft by 40ft, the street elevation is 28ft from the ground to the parapet, and that at the back 95ft, the yard at the baok being 7ft lower than the street level. The style of architecture is plain, but little ornamentation being attempted in the front, the prinoipal feature being the circular-arched main entrance approached by steps from the street. The windows are circular and square-headed, and the front rooms on the area or basement floor are lit by collar lights protected by ornamented iron gratings. Above the parapet and directly over the main entrance, the words — "Sailors' Home" are inscribed, surmounted by a shield. At the back, facing the harbour, two balconies run the entire length of the building, upon which the windows of the second and third storeys open, and whioh will no doubt be appreciated by sailors who with to enjoy a "quiet smoke" during their sojourn at the Home. As to the ioterior of the building—on the baesment, or area floor, are the Manager's room, a cellar, the kitchen, pantry, &c, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. To the left of the hall, approached through the main entrance on the ground floor, are two spacious dining rooms, one 14ft by 13ft, the other 24ft Bin by 14ft, and between these rooms are folding doors, so that both can he thrown into one when occasion requires. On the right of the main entranco are the smoking and reading rooms, fronting on Norwich Quay, and at the back of these the billiard room 26ft by 20ft. The upper floor is de« voted to 18 bedrooms and a bathroom. Considerable progress has already been made with the building, tho outer walls of the basement storey having been erected, and the laying of the foundation stone had in foot become a matter of necessity.

LAYING THE KHTSDATIOIT STOKB. Shortly after 8 pm. yesterday several members of the Harbour Board, the Mayor of Lyttelton and the Lyttolfcoß .Borough Council assembled on a temporary platform that bad been ereoted at the building. There were also present Mr 0. Cuff, architect, Messrs Soliitt and Comber, contractors, Mr Weyburne, Clerk of the works, and a number of master mariners and. seamen. Mr 0. W. Turner, Chairman of the Harbour Board, addressing Mr Webb, Mayor of Lyttelton, said he had the honour, on behalf of the Building Committee of the Sailors'Home, to request His Worship to lay the foundation stone of the building. The Mayor said: Mr Chairman, Mr Cunningham, and members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board,—On behalf of myself and the people of Lyttelton, whom I have the honour to represent in my capaoity as Mayor, I most sincerely thank you for the verv great compliment yon have paid me in allowing me tho privilege of laying the foundation stone of this, the first institution of its kind in New Zealand. Mr Cuff, the architect of the building, then handed a silver trowel to His Worship, who placed in a oavity beneath the stone a phial containing gold and silver coins of the realm, and a Boroll upon which was inccribod the names of the members of the Harbour Board and of the Lyttelton Borough Councils also copies of the Lyttelton Times and Press.

After His Worship had spread the morttuj and tho stone had been lowered into position and tested with the square and plumbline, ho ■truck the stone with tho mallet, and doclared it to be well and truly laid. The Major, addressing those present, said it now remained for him to make a few remarks on tho subjeofc of Bailors* Homes. Philanthropists had not been wanting when anything arose to call forth that sympathy which to a greater or less extent dwelt in every human breast. The names of Howard, Foy, Shaftsbury, Baikes, Burdett Coutts, and Plimsoll were familiar as being assooiated with schemes of philanthropy, and he was pleased to note that the spirit that had animated those persons he had mentioned was not dead, whilst they had men prepared to gire of their subntanoe to support such an institution as this. Some few years ago Mr Plimsoll had exerted himself to stop tho abominable praotioe of sending ships to sea which were unseaworthy, and also with regard to the loading line for ships-services which the British seamen had not forgotten. The accommodation* for tailors afloat had alio, he thought, improved of Into years. But the time when "Jack" is ashore had also entered into the thoughts of many, sad henoethe establishment these '• Homos," and though it was impossible to make up for tho loss of all that was implied to the sailor io the word "home," yet to remedy that loss as much as possible was the desire of the promotors. The sailor's life was ut best an un. comfortable one. In many oases the youth who goesto sea leaves a roost comfortable home and the best of parents, and is afterwards probably disappointed with his choice, And with no one to adviio him and nothing to tostrata him, run« to excess In a strange land. How, because of those untoward olrourostanoei, i the sailor has a claim »F n wr «ympaU*r and regard, and therefore this Home had been established. In doing this the Hftrbour Board had no desire to east mud at any individual or individuals, or reflect on any one, more especially on those who had in that respect carried on their business apart from the liquor traffic. Their wiih *»' rather to wise the etandard of lorooof the lodging houses in fcyttelton, and the Bow was to be made as attractive »»posiible. If his memory served him rightly, the name cf Mr Peter Cunningham bad "been roost intimately am> elated with this matter for some considerable time. The Hon 8. Biohardson and Mr H. Allwright had tonAiJm the Sailors' Homo at the close of the 1881 session of Parlia; ment and they would remember how pleased they were when it was announoaMhat the Government would give «800 toflrdi the erection of the building in addition to the site. Nothing succeeded like success, and he would lay (hat there was not ■ member of the Harbour Board, from the Chairman down to Mmtelf, who wae not prepared to do hii utmost to carry out the work that had been bo successfully began. The budding would then speak for itself. He might mention that when the tenders were received, the lowest was rather higher than the estimate,

and it had bom suggested that the baloony might be dispemed with, but the Hon J. T. Peaoook had exclaimed: " Don't let us spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar," and it had been decided to include the baloonies. He mentioned this to show the feeling of the Board in the matter. He wished to remind them that when the building was finished tho work would be only begun. Tho Architect, Mr Ouff, had prepared excellent plans, which, no doubt, would be well carried out by the contractors, Messrs Sollittand Comber, under the able superirision of Mr Weyhurne, the Clerk of tho works. Then the sympathy and help of the community would be required: their enthusiasm for the Sailors' Home should lead them to deny themselves for the benefit of sailors, who denied themselves for thorn, and no doubt subscriptions would be forthcoming. He looked for help from the ladies of OhristohuroU and Lyttelton. If their sympathies could be enlisted much.would be done to ensure suooejg. Before concluding, he must »f<»r to one thing more, and that is they must not be disappointed if they got no champagne on this occasion. If this institution was to be oonduoted similarly to tin Sydney Sailors' Home, it would be inconsistent on their part to drink success to the building in champagne. One of the rules would forbid intoxicating liquor being taken into the Home, and another stated that no drunkard would be allowed to remain on the premises. There* fore, he considered- it would be the height of inconsistency to partake of intoxicating liquors in connection with the foundation of the institution. After referring to the ultimate sucoeis whioh had attended tb.9 Sailors' Home at Sydney, Mr Webb called for three cheers for the Lyttelton Sailors' Home, whioh wire heartily given. Cheers were slso given for tho Mayor, Mr C. W. Turner, Chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr P. Cunningham, and for "all hands." The proceedings were at an end, and the crowd dispersed.