THE ADMIRAL ENTERTAINED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1619, 10 December 1912, Page 5

THE ADMIRAL ENTERTAINED.

NAVY AND MERCANTILE MARINE, ' The Hon. f/M. B. Fisher (Minister for Marine) and Mrs. Fisher entertained his : Excellency Admiral Sir G. F. King-Hall and many other guests (including the Hon. ■\V. H. Herries and the Hon. H. D. Bell) at the Missions to Seamen's Building yesterday afternoon. After tea Mr. Fisher intimated that the Admiral would say a few words regarding ' the missions. _ ; In introducing his Excellency the Hon. Mr. Fisher stated that he regretted the < absence of Sir Robert Stout who was un- , able to be present and also tho absence of Mrs. Williams, to whom the missions were ; indebted for the present buildin?. Ha then, formally thanked, his Excellcncy tor ( , being so kind as to speak. . ' His Excellency thanked Mr. and Mrs. ; Fisher for affording liim an opportunity of speaking on behalf of the Missions to ; Seamen. Tlie number present indicated • tho interest taken in it in Wellington, One might say that our British Empire floats upon the sea, and that practically tho whole of its commerce is carried by tho ve«sels of the mercantile marine. Ana as the Royal Navy existed to protect these -.1 the both scrvioes were closely united together. In the. navy tho seamen wero : 'wall looked after and, wherever there was a pennant flying—be it on the largest j 1 battleship or 011 a coast-guard station—' ; the men nave daily prayer. But this wa< not so in tho mercnntilo marine. I ■ • only wish and hope that everv captain ; of every mercantile ship would look alter . not only the material part of' tho man, but also his spiritual' welfare. It is to mcft this need that tho Missions to Sea- : ; men exist." Continuing, the-.Admiral ro- ■ marked that he knew of missions to sea- -. ; ' men nil over the world and that in some parts their buildings were very fine, as for in»tanco the liawson institution in byd- : ney. Having soon the work of such in« stitutions in many parts lie could testii , fy to the wholeheartedness and single aim ' of their purpose. By nature sailors wero. easily led astray while on shore, and in' • the 'institute they would find a friend : ; ready to extend to them tho hand of Christian friendship. In concluding, the i Admiral heartily commended the mission to the sympathies of those present. He again thanked Mr. and Mrs. Fisher and .1 lie was very pleased to be there .on bo- t half of his fellow-seamen. ' ; Mr. Fisher then called upon Rev. A. M. Johnson, as hon. chaplain of the misr sion in Wellington, who also thanked his Excellency for his kind words on be? half of the missions.. 1