THE SAILORS' HOME.

Otago Witness, Issue 1179, 4 July 1874, Page 10

THE SAILORS' HOME.

A meeting of those interested in the establishment of a Sailors' Home in Dunedin, was held at the City Council Chambers on the 26th ult. The meeting, which had been convened by His Worship the Mayor, was very well attended, and amongst those present were — The Bishop of Dunedin, Dr Nevill, Archdeacon Edwards, the Rev. Mr Leeson, Major Richardson, M.H.R., Mr Fish, M.P.C., Mr Stout, M.P.C., Captain Thomson, Harbour Master, Captain Orkney, Deputy Harbour Master, Messrs Walter, Ramaay, Prosser, Strode, Graham, Mudie, Martin, and Captain Clark, of Port Chalmers. The chair was taken by His Worship the Mayor, who explained the object of the meeting, and stated what had been done by the deputation that waited on His Honour the Superintendent about a week before.

The Superintendent had recommended that the Institution should be erected outside the Government, and had promised a subsidy of pound for pound. The matter had received the hearty support of the Provincial Council, and if proper action were taken, they might calculate that in a very short time there would be a Sailors' Home in Dunedin. Mr R. B. Martin said that about, a week ago a deputation had waited upon His Honoiir the Superintendent, and during that interview it was found that the Government had anticipated their wants by having placed on the Estimates a sum of money for a Sailors' Home. At the same time, the Superintendent led them to believe that the Government were willing to give for the purpose a building which he (Mr Martin) believed was on Corporation property. He also recommended them to wait on the Corporation, in order to see whether they would be allowed the temporary use of this piece of ground. The meeting had been called that day because it was necessary to make a start, and he had taken upon himself the liberty of jotting down a few ideas, which he. would S'bmit for the consideration of the meeting. Until the Committee and officers were appointed nothing could be done in the way of collecting moneys or of obtaining the subsidy from the Governmtnt. He would suggest that the Institution should be managed by a President, Vice-President, Trustees, Treasurer, Committee of Management, Honorary Physician, Chaplain, Secretary, Collector, Master and Matron, Bankers, Constitution of the Home, and name of Institution :—: — " (1) That this Institution be designated the Dunedin Sailors' Home. " (2) That the design of the Institution be to provide a suitable home for seamen of the merchant service trading to this Port, and providing them with a cheat) maintenance and comfortable home whilst "on shore, and in doing so protect them from the mischief and contamination of the crimp shops. " (3) That no diseased or injured person be admissible. " (4) That all subscribers of one halfguinea annually shall be entitled to vote at the election of officers. •" (5) That any owner or master of a ship collecting from the crew and others the sum of £ shall be entitled to vote at all elections and at Board meetings. " (6.) That all clergymen preaching and collecting for the Trust at the request of the Committee shall be life members, and entitled to vote, &c. j "(7.) That any society through their Treasurer, or mercantile firm, contributing the sum of £ , shaH|be a life member." These [few matters he had committed to paper without having any guide, and he might 6ay that they had no rules of any kindred Institutions to guide them yet. He believed, however, that copies of the rules had been sent for. The Trustees and Treasurer need not necessarily be upon the Committee, for they would, ex officio, be able to vote. With the permission of the meeting he would suggest that the Superintendent should be appointed President, from the great interest he has taken in the establishment of the Home. He would further suggest Mr Strode — who came from sailor stock — as one of the Vice-Presidenfcs. This gentleman was a good worker, and had expressed his willingness to do what he could for the Sailors' Home. Mr E. B. Cargill would also consent to be one of the Committee, anr! he would also suggest Captain Thomson and Captain Logan, who were residents here. Before he concluded he might announce that Captain Fox had intimated to him that £55 had been collected on the ship " Scimitar," now at the Port. — (Hear, hear.) Mr 11. S. Fish said that it seemed to him that the proper thing for the meeting to do was to appoint a Working Committee, who would take into their consideration all the matters that Mr Martin had alluded to, and who could report to a future public meeting to be called by themselves. The duty of the Provisional Committee would be to consider upon what basis the Home should be established, and to adopt rules for the future working of the institution. If they confined themselves to this, it would be as much as they were then justified in doing. In his opinion, it would be premature to consider the appointments proposed by Mr Martin. His own opinion was that the efforts^f the Committee with regard to subscriptions would be well met by the public. He knew one gentleman who was only waiting to be asked to give half his honorarium as a member of the Provincial Council — £24 — to the fund for the establishment of a Home. Probably others would | give a similar sum. He thought the course suggested by him the proper one, and the Provisional Committee would then be able to come up with a well digested plan. Major Richardson asked Mr Martin whether he intended to place his suggestions before them in the shape of a resolution ? Mr Martin replied that Mr Fish was probably right in the course he suggested. There were, however, some vessels in the harbour upon which money had been collected, and it was not yet known to whom it should be paid. The present meeting might elect a paid canvasser, who would be empowered to receive moneys. j Major Rtohardson said that he agreed with the programme that Mr Martin had put before them, but ho thought Mr Fish's suggestion a valuable one — to appoint a Committee and collect subscriptions. He would also like to allude to the handsome manner jin which the matter had been taken up by the men on the ships at the Port, and which must certainly give them hopes of permanent success, lie did not agree with the suggestion to call another general meeting, but thought that all future business should be

submitted for the consideration of a meeting of subscribers. Mr Fish said that he quite agreed, with this last remark. Archdeacon Edwards wished to know whether the City Council had been waited upon with reference to this matter. The Mayor replied that nothing had yet been done. Major Richardson asked the Mayor whether he could express an opinion as to whether the Council would view the matter favourably ? The Mayor said he could only speak for himself. The Council, however, could not give the ground which the old immigration building, promised by the Government, was on. He could not hold out any hopes with reference to this ground. He had no doubt however, that the Council would allow them the use of the ground for a month or so. _ If the Corporation found that they had a piece of ground of les< value, ho had no doubt that they would come to terms with the Committee of an Institution that was to do so much good. Mr Fish said he would move the following — " That a Committee, consisting of Capi tain Clark, the Mayor of Dunedin, Messrs E. B. Cargill, Ritchie, R. B. Martin, Ramsay, Stout, Captain Thomson, Street, Tewsley, Walter, Strode, Black, W. F. Wheeler, Walcott, Prosser, Rattray, Turnbull, Houghton, G. F. Reid, Guthrie, Brodrick, and the Mover, be formed for the purpose of collecting subscriptions, drawing up a code of rules, and reporting to a meeting of subscribers to be called a fortnight hence." Mr R. B. Martin seconded the motion, which was carried, with an addition, made at the suggestion of Mr Walter, that the Committee should have power to add to their number Mr Fish suggested that a subscription | should be started in the room, but the suggestion was not acted upon. Captain Clark alluded to the wish of the Port Chalmers people to have the Sailors' Home down there, and to the amount that i would bo collected at that place. Now, however, he felt thac they must fall in with the strong, and do their best to forward the Home to be established in Dunedin. There would be a little more money to hand over after the Port Chalmers Regatta. Bishop Nevill remarked that the question before the meeting was not as to where the Home should be. The Committee that would be appointed by the general body of subscribers would take this matter into their consideration, as one of the first steps to be settled. As he was not usually present at meetings of the citizens, he would take the opportunity of stating that he was there that afternoon just to manifest by his presence the interest he felt in the proposal to establish a Sailors' Home, and in all those questions which were of a character bearing upon the progress and interests of the place where he was called upon to reside. It was very little a clergyman could do in such a a matter as this, but at the same time it was a question on which a clergyman could, without incongruity, make his appearance, because the moral character of a portion of the community — namely, the sailors — was connected with the establishment of puch an institution as the one proposed. He had nothing to offer in the way of suggestions, but he would take an interest in the Institution, and help it in any way that might lie in his power. After some further discussion, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairj man.