SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15989, 25 August 1917, Page 2

SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE.

A successful gift afternoon was held '• yesterday in the Seamen's Institute, Lyttelton, for the purpoGe of collecting comforts for distribution among British seamen. During the afternoon some enjoyable- musical items were contributed by members of t*:e Sumner Ladies' Guild, and a dainty afternoon tea was provided. Mr S. Booth, superintendent of the Institute, read extracts from numerous letters of appreciation of the lady helpers' efforts in providing the seamen with comforts, library booko, etc., received from members of the crews of various warships, troopships, hospital ships, and merchant reesels. During tho past, five years no fewer than 3600 ee-c----m-en ha-d taken advantage of ihe facilities offered by the Institute for recreation and religious instruction. The British and" Forcitjn Sailors' Society, represented by the local Institute, had been in existence 105 years. The Society had its birth in London, but it had been given its first great impetus in Scotland, where it was first known under _ ita present title. The activities of the Society were evident in all parts of the globe, and it should l>3 remembered thit when crur ships were-torpedoed, the mcabera of tho Socioty wcr? ever ready offering assistance and comfort-? to the poor seamen. Last year the Institute had been the means of sending be-twe-en 3000 and 400.1 woollen articles for the sailors, and fortunately, not one of these had been lost through submarines. Captain J. A. H. Marciel also gave an address on similar lines. Nearly 200 gifts were contributed, and the cash donations amounted to £11 14s 6d. A fe-r small contributions v.er-s expected to be added to this amount.