SAILORS’ REST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20060, 29 March 1927, Page 5

SAILORS’ REST.

ANNUAL MEETING. A WORTHY ENTERPRISE. '1!to annual meeting of the Otago branch of (ho British iiinl Foreign trailers’ Society took place in the Sailors’ Rest, lower Rattray street, last evening. The president. Air C. K. Bcckingsale, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance, including the members of the South Dunedin Baptist Choir. . . . The proceedings opened with the singing of a hymn and a Scripture reading by the Rev E. S. Tuckwcll. Reference was made to (ho present critical situation in China, and special prayer on behalf of that troubled land was offered by Mr 11. H. Driver. Several hymns wore pleasingly rendered during the evening by (ho South Dunedin Baptist Choir under the leadership of Mr C. J. l/.irracott. The eleventh annual report, presented by the secretary, Mr H. 11. Driver, stated that the work had been continued through out another vear with fidelity, and lasting good had been done. Indebtedness was expressed to the honorary missmners, Messrs W. Buchan and D. B. K. Walker, for their sell-denying labours. They had proved themselves equal to the many difli- / v u\t demands made upon them. Mr Walker 1 I reported on iho work at Port Chalmers that the year had been a busy one and . j that they were happy in having a hno ] j company of workers. Tlwro had been 69 I vessels in Port and the men had made full j use of the Rest. They were greatly tn- { 1 dehted Vo the Unitarian Bible Secretary, \ of London , for a large grant of Bibles and j poitions in the Norwegian and languages. The entire cost of maintaining the work at Port Chalmers had been locally defrayed. Mr Buchan reported that the past season in Dunedin had not been an exceptionally strenuous one, as practically half the ships coming here had been manned by foreign crews. From ships manned hy English the attendance at the Rest, had been exceptionally good. ‘The sailor when he arrives at our port, con tinned Mr Bucban, “is not altogether free from the temptations so ably described by Frank Bullen and the old Rest becomes a city of refuge from the avenger of blood in the form of (ho flapper who has given Dunedin’s waterfront a rather unsavoury reputation A hint to the civic authorities might effect some improvement. ’ _ The result of the religions work of the mission had been very pleasing. The Christmas tea was attended some 25 men from the Tekoa. who themselves decorated the building. ’ The treasurer, Mr C. K Bcckingsale, reported the receipts for the year to have been £ll3 Is, which with £ls Os 5d from the previous vear made, ; £123 Is 3d. The expenditure was exactly the same amount. A bequest of £SO was received from the estate of the late Mr Wm. Taylor and was applied to tho Renovation Fund. It was regretted that onr wealthier citizens in preparing their wills so seldom apportioned anything to this branch of tho British and Foreign Sailors’ Society. A considerable amount was spent during the year in relieving the distress caused by unemployment. The Distressed Seamen’s Fund, founded many years ago by Mr Frank Bullen, had been fully expended and was now £2 8s 4d m debit, and they would bo glad to have this essential fund augmented. _ The present Rest was unworthy of a city <-o flourishing as Dunedin and a port so busy. It compared ill with tho Rests in other nautical centres. _ The Gospel which had been proclaimed in their lowly Rest would lose none of its simplicity and power when uttered in an ampler and nobler building. The adoptioi of this report was moved by tho Chairman, who paid a tribute to the voluntary service given in connection with the branch. If the work were recognised as it should be by the churches that room would not be nearly large enough to hold all who-would desire to be present. The Rev. E. S. Tuckwcll, who seconded the motion 'or the adoption of the report, said they had got a good secretary and should stick to him. The speaker was deeply interested in-the work among seamen, and had been so from childhood. He liad had two brothers bo went to sea, and they both said emphatically, “Never go to sea!” The report had interested him greatly. The noth of lack of support from the Ihristian churches had- been struck, and that seemed to be a lamentable thing to have t( say. The work had been exacting, as all work of that kind must be. They had no right to expect that Christian work would be easy. It never had been easy’, and he thought it never would be. The motion was carried. The balance sheet was nresented by the President, who is also the treasurer of the branch. He though 1 it had been a mistake to put anything in the nature of a beq es* into current expenditure. It should rather be added to the building fund. The employees of M'Leod Bros, had given them a portion of their wages for see-ral months, and had made a contribution of £ll 18s 3d to assist in giving meals to seamen who were out of work, they had found the Salvation Army shcltjr of great assistance in providing meals for men who were n distress. They had a total fund of £IOB7 as a noiicleus for a nuildmg fund, and hoped later on to he in a position to enter upon a new building scheme. Mr A. Mitchell moved the adoption of tho balance sheet. Mr H. K. Wilkinson seconded the motion and congratulated the society on the amount of care that had been given to tlio expenditure of their funds. Ie complimented them also op the very attractive appearance of the Rest. ihe citizens as a whole took little interest in the work, but they gave freely and willingly, recognising the good work that was being done. He thought until they had sufficient funds to put up a building free of debt tho present one would be sufficient for their purposes. The motion was adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr H. K. Wilkinson; vice-presidents, Rev. J. M. Simpson and Mr A, Mitchell; lion, treasurer, Mr C. E. Beckincsalc; lion, secretary. Air H. If. Driver; hou. auditor. Mr D. Leslie; committee —Messrs A. H. Heyeoek, Adam Paterson. George Swainj U. Buchan, D. L. K. Walker, A. C. Fleming, J. Wilkinson, H. C. Campbell, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Inglis. Misses J. Hall. Johnstone. and Patou, Messrs I). Moir, Chaiul- , Icr. W. S. Re.lilell. 1). Macdonald. A hearty vole of thanks to the missinners. Messrs Buchan and Walker, was , moved by -he Rev. J. M. Simpson. It was not always a disappointing work by any means, and he moved that they heartily congratulate the honorary missioners on the services they had been enabled to render the seamen during the past year and tender to them and to their lady helpers j their warm thanks and wished for them i all another year of happy and fruittul : service. , 1 The motion was earned hy acclamation. Mr 1). L. K. Walker returned thanks | on behalf ,f tho workers of the mission, , and referred to some gratifying experi- . cnees in their work, j At the close of the, business supper was handed round and-enioved. f