SOLDIERS' NEW HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 270, 3 August 1918, Page 5

SOLDIERS' NEW HOSTEL

ERECTED.BY SALVATION. ARMY

OPENED BY THE GOVERNORGENERAL Always to the fore where there is a real need, the Salvation Army must be credited with enterprise and foresight in having erected at the corner of Vivian and Tory Strcpls the fine now hostel for soldiers, which whs opened yesterday by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, ' Lord Liverpool. For some time past difficulty has been experienced by 'soldiers on ordinary or week-end leave in obtaining suitable accommodation in town, and the Saivation Army, by erecting this building, have done a lenl service for the man in khaki. The building was a-flutter with' bunting yesterday in honour of the occasion, and half-an-hour before the time set for the opening ceremony the vicinity of the hostel was an animated one. Thanks t<> the perfect weather, the , Army authorities were able to hold the ! ceremony on the Tory Street sidewalk outsido the building, where chairs were arranged for the especially invited 1 guests. Among these were the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P., Colonel Andrew and several staff officer?, and numerous officers of the Salvation Army, including three chaplains. The Mayor CJir. ,1. [>. Luke, M.P.) was prevented from being present oivinj to the non-appearance of his car iit the arranged time. He subsequently sent an apology to Commissioner H." C. Hodder. The eeremony, opened with tho singing of the hymn, "Oh, God Our Help in Afics Past," played by the Fcathcrston (Cl) Ciinip Brass Band, under SergeantJlajor Wills, and sung by all present. Chaplain J. Bladin then offered up a brief prayer, in which he asked Divine blessing on the institution about to bo opened, and on tho soldiers who woro fighting so valiantly for them at the front. Commissioner Hodder said that when the institution was commenced it was intended that it should provide accommodation for returned soldiers and-work-men, but soon after they had started it was considered that it should be used to meet tho needs of the soldiers only, and, of course, returned'soldiers, so its purpose was altered to a soldiers' and returned soldiers' hostel. The whole of tho property, that ,was. the land, tho building,, and the furnishing, had cost .£l6,soo—war" prices—and they had to pay the piper. (Laughter.) The] building con/ tained 90 rooms, "<yid there was room for 10S men to sleep in them. The architect was Mr. W. Gray Young, who had done excellently for them. Tho building was erected by Mr. Bi'ownian, and they considered that ho, too, had done excel--lent work for them. Mr. Roberts was the clerk of works, and he also had done well on the Army's behalf. The manager who had been' appointed was Adjutant Vost. Tho name had rather a foreign sound, he admitted, but he was a member of a Middlesex family, known for three or four- generations back. He was born in Australia. 'The indoor matron was Adjutant -Trovarthen.-. From, yesterday the institution would be open for. the accommodation, rest, and recreation of the soldiers/and he asked God's blessing upon it. Commissioner Hodder then called upon the Governor-General) who said that ho must first apologise for having had to ask the Salvation Army authorities to put off the opening day, as he' had been unable -.to get down from Auckland in time for the date originally fixed for tho opening. He wished to heartily congratulate all> concerned with the work, which he felt was one that would prove of real service to the soldier. With a knowledge of other Salvation Army. institutions, he could-say that they were admirable in every respect, and mot a grave want, particularly in the larger towns. In his efforts to meet that want, Commissioner Hodder would say that he had met with'a liberal response" every-. whore. (Applause.) In instancing how the various claimants for voluntary contributions for various causes worked toHis; Excellency.; -stateS ,thas, j.'in. 'Ancklond/Vto-'l'SalvatloiK'^rjiiyVhatt , '- , cently put ;bff making , ' afr'hppejil' 'in or-! der not to collide with t <)he that was being made for wounded- eoltjiers by the Eed Cross Society. < These , '; institutions were all working ha'nd'.''hn,d glove, and one was always ready to do' a little bit to help -the other, -so ...they could say that the Salvation Army,'the-Lady Liverpool Fund, the Eed Cross,',and Eed Triangle were a very happy- .family. Knowing .tho good work done by the Army, Lady Liverpool and himself had much pleasure in being present. His' Excellency declared the building open. (Applause.) Mr. W. Gray Younjr then presented the Governor-General with a gold key, with which Lord Liverpool' opeil&l the! main 'door in Vivian Street. Their Excellencies and the public, then inspected the premises,',which have':'been fully described in these columns. Some two thousand -odd people must have passed through the hostel during the afternoon.