OPENING OF TIMARU SAILORS’ REST.

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 353, 18 December 1924, Page 4

OPENING OF TIMARU SAILORS’ REST.

Viscount Jellicoe. upon his farewell visit to Timaru, opened the W.C.T.U. Sailors’ Rest. Outside the new hom* for sailors was an improvised plitform for the speakers, and children from all the town schools, in charge of their teachers, were marshalled in close proximity, presenting a fine spectacle of the young of Timaru.

The Mayor welcomed Their iixcel lencies, and expressed their apprecia tion of Viscount Jellicoe's splendid ser vices as Governor-General of the Do minion, and their regret at his depar ture.

Mr Rolleston, M l'., said it was most appropriate that the last official acrt of the Governor-General in Timaru should be to open an institution for the benefit of the sailors, whom he loved so well. In the years to come, when the men of the sea made the Rest their home, they would recall with pride that it had been opened by the greatest sailor of modern times. (Applause.) Mr Kollesion went on to congratulate all who had worked so hard and so sue cessfully to secure the Rest, making particular mention of Mrs Norrie (President), and Mrs Minifle (Secretary). The Rest w r as a monument to the generosity of the people of South Gan «terbury and to the devotion and seif sacrifice of those splendid men and w omen w ho had laboured so ha i d to erect it. Having been on the committee himself, he knew the difficulties which had had to be surmounted, and he could only admire the gn at work which the ladles had done in securing such a fine home for the sailors. In spite of all difficulties, they had gone ahead firmly, and had the satisfaction of know Ing that the Rest was b> ing opened free of debt. (Applause.) Mr Andrew Wilson (Chairman of Sailors’ Rest Committee) said he had recently read the report of a meeting held In one of the cities in the Dominion, In which a gentleman had been called upon to speak, and had said: "For these and all other mercies, O Ix>rd. make us truly thankful.” He could not help feeling that that should be the dominant feeling with them that day. People here were patriotic to the core, and it was good to see the Union Jack, the emblem of the great and glorious, waving so proudly in the breeze, speaking its message of liberty and freedom They had looked forward

to the time when his Excellency would open the Rest, and felt that it was fitting that so gallant and a v *e a seaman as they knew Ix>rd Jellicoe to be should perform the ceremony. (Applause.) The building of the Rest had been long in their minds. At first they had aimed at obtaining £3OOO. They had not only got that, but had exceeded that sum by £49. Subscriptions had come from people in every walk of life; a penny had bein contributed by a school boy, whom he hoped would one day be an Admiral of the Fleet. On the Sailors’ Rest Committee they had both heroines and heroes among whom were Mrs Norrie (President), Mrs Minifle (Secretary), Miss Peaison (Trea surer), and Mrs Black. One gentleman indeed had been a hero, namely, Mr R. J. McKeown. He thanked the archi lects, Messrs Panton and Sons, for their services rendered free of charge; also

the contractors, Munro anti Prosser, ior th'“ manner in which they had built the Rest. In conclusion, Mr Wilson expressed the hope that God would continue to guard His Excellency and all who were dear to him. and that Lord Jellicoe would be long spared to do good service for the Empire, which was so proud of him. (Applause.) Mrs J. A. Norrie (President of the Women’s ('hristian Temperance Union) stated that that day was a very p.oud one in the history of the W.C.T.U. The members were all very proud that their Excellencies had come to Timaru to open the Sailors’ Rest. The erection of the Rest had long been their prayer and their dream. It was a home for the men who kept the country going, and the men whom they adored. It was to provide these m<n with a home to which they could go when they were

away from home, and their hearts were overflowing with gladness that they now had such a splendid building in which to entertain them. For years they had done what they could in at little wooden building, which had been totally inadequate for their needs. They were sometimes told by stamen that nobody cared what happened to ■them, but the W.C.T.U. They had with them that day several old warriors, who had worked hard in the early days and whose work had probably been much harder than the work of today. She wanted to thank the residents of South Canterbury very heartily for the manner In which they had responded to the appeal for funds; nobody had refused them, and offers of assistance

had been readily forthcoming. Tl • y themselves did not take any praise. Their services were for God, home and country. There had been years of pray ers, and dreaming, and now their ers had ooine true. They thanked G<.d for their new home, wherein they could help the seamen and try to keep them on the right path. In conclusion, M s Norrie asked the assemblage to join in the singing of “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” The request was promptly complied with, and at the Mayor's request more cheers for their Excellencies were given, the hand also playing “For they are jolly good fellows.” The presentation of a beautiful calendar, mounted on a lia.se of New Zealand greenstone, fashioned by Mr F. J. Dunn, to His Excellency, wasth*n made by Mrs Norrie, and four little gills, Margaret Martin. Hazel Rule. Jeanette Plarkson, and Jean I>ough nan, presented pretty bouqu* ts to the Viscountess and the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe.

His Excellency, on rising to reply, was received with cheers anil prolonged applause. He expressed the deep appro ciation of Her Excellency, their family, and himself for the honour which had oeen done them by the great gather ing of the afternoon. He would not speak for long, he said, because one of his children, who was ill in bed had sent him a message in letters of geld: “Silence is golden. ’ (Laughter.) It was a great pleasure to him that h s last official visit to Timaru was connected with the opening of the Sailors' Rest, for he was deeply interested in anything which concerned the we]i being and the happiness of the sai’ov and they all knew how nobly the n.f*’

of the Mercantile Marine had done their duty during the war. facing a I hazards, in order that the people of thi Mother UVmntry might get food. (Applause.) He expressed the gratitude of all seam°n for what Timaru had don* in erecting the handsome new Rest which he was about to open. It was n beautiful home. New’ Zealand’s gratl tude to seamen had been shown in many directions since the war. one of the most noble being the erection of that splendid place. Flock House, and that day they were opening another He wns sure that he was voicing the sentiments of all seamen when he expressed their gratitude to those who were responsible for the new Sailors

Heat. The building was worthy of Tiniaru. and all seamen who visited ’his *ort would appreciate It. And all vould agree that the seamen deserved thanks for the work which they did. i Hear, hear.) His Excellency went on to say that ie was specially glad of the opportunty afforded him that day of seeing the children of Timaru, and to hid them fa-ewell. He had seen a good deal of the children, and had learned to love ind admire them; and leaving the children of New Zealand was one of the things which Her Excellency and he most regretted. They wished New Zea land’s future citizens great happiness, long lives, and much prosperity. He noticed the harbourmaster had been good enough to hoist a signal at the flagstaff, which read: “Welcome! Will you not come back again as soon as possible?" Should they return to New Zealand, it would be one of the most pleasant experiences or their lives (Applause.) His Excellency then formally declared the Rest open, after which he said he was sure that the children must be tired through having been standing there so long, and he asked that they be given a holiday in recognition of the opening of the Rest. (Cheers.) His Excellency and Lady Jelliooe and Hie Hon. Lucy Jellieoe then left the speakers’ platform, and walked up and down the lines of school children, and in the happiest possible way wish.J them farew’ell. Tne official party were afterwards eniertained at afternoon tea by the Ladies’ Committee of the Sailors’ Rest. (The above report culled from Timaru I apers.)