AUCKLAND SAILORS' HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 6

AUCKLAND SAILORS' HOME.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Auckland Sartors' Home was held yesterday evening in the Mission Hall, Albert-street. There were preisent: Messrs. H. Peake (president), P. J. Nerheny (vice-president), T. H. Giles, T. Gresham, J. Magee, P. H. Mackay, E. Phipps, and Dr. King.

The annual report was submitted to the meeting. It stated that the year just ended had proved very satisfactory, both as regards the number of seamen accommodated and also as to the financial position, the Council having been able to spend £100 out of income in improvements to the Home without increasing the Bank overdraft. During the year 43 shipwrecked seamen were received at the Home. As the result of application to the Harbour Board, that body had promised to introduce a bill to Parliament providing for the use of the Mission Hall property rent free. The Minister for Marine (Hon. J. A. Millar) had, on a recent visit to the Home, expressed his gratification at the splendid accommodation afforded to seamen there. The seamen's trust account >b,owed that the receipts for the year had totalled _ 1663 2/6, and the payments £ 1545. The mission and social work carried on in the Mission Hall had proved very attractive to the seamen, and had been attended with much success. The Council desired to record the generosity and self-sacrifice of the band of voluntary workers who had undertaken the management of the services held on ships throughout the year. The credit balance of the working account on March 31st was £2Hi 15/2. The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, pointed out the importance of such a Home for seamen, and the desirability of increasing the -attractions and comforts. The house account had proved very satisfactory. He wished to see a convalescent tund established. In regard to the furniture for the new portion of the Home, he considered that there was a possibility of the Government supplying that, but he wished to draw the attention of the citizens to the fact that they were practically without a library. Some gifts of books had been made, and he hoped that more contributions would be made shortly.

It was decided that it be passed as |_n instruction to the incoming Council to prepare a merit board containing the names and photographs of the presidents iof the Council.

The president (Mr- H. Peake) announced his intention of retiring from the Council. The following officers were then elected:—President, Mr. P. J. Nerheny; vice-president, Mr. E. H. Potter; auditors, Messrs. W. Taylor and H. Goulstone; honorary surgeon, Dr. T. Hope Lewis; members, Messrs. T. H. Giles, T. Gresham, J. Magee, P. M. Mackay, E. Phipps, Little and Dr. F. W. King. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring president for his valuable work, and unsparing pains in the interests of the Home. Mr. P. j. Nerheny thereupon took the chair, announcing his intention of retiring himself at the end of twelve months, as he considered the position should be given each year to a different memberIt was decided to forward the thanks of the Council to Mrs. Kinder for her donation of books, and to Dr. Lewis for services rendered.

The following committees were chosen .:—House: Messrs. Gresham, Giles, Magee, Little and Dr. King; Finance, Messrs. Gresham, Mackay, and Phipps; Mission, Messr3. Phipps, Potter and Nerheny, MA Glfiesham was appointed, fhadrman of the House and Finance Committees.