SAILORS’ HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 3533, 19 June 1874, Page 2

SAILORS’ HOME.

DEPUTATION TO ■ THE SUPBRINTENDK NT,

This afternoon at 2.30 a deputation waited on his Honor the Superintendent to ask the assistance of the Executive towards establishing a Sailors’ Home.

The deputation was introduced bv Mr H. K Fish, M.P.C., and among those present were Mr M ‘Demid, M.P.0., his Worship the Mayer, Messrs R. B. Martin, Mudie, (i. F. Reid, Captain Clark of Port Chalmers and Mr Walcot, Captain Har’and of the Buckinghamshire, Oaptiin Rankin of the William Davie, Captain Crawford of the Janet Comt, Captain Cowan of the Wild Deer, and Captain Fox of the Scimitar. Mr Fish said he ha *. been requested to inthe deputation, compruing merchants in town and captains of vessels lying at Port Chalmers, who asked to consult his Honor m reference to the establishment of a Sailors Home. Resolutions were carried during the last session of the Provincial Council recommending the founding of such an institution, and the object of the deputation was to ascertain the views of the Government regarding it. The Superintendent said the Executive were desirous of promoting the object of the deputation, but they thought the matter should be taken up outside the Government, which would subsidise the institution as liberally as possible, in a way similar to that m which it encouraged and supported Benevolent Institutions, ifc would be better that a bailors Home should be started by the community, and managed by a committee, L n rnment merel y contributing. • , R ‘ Martin said the deputation simply wished to ask if the Government were prepared to take initiative steps in the matter. One or two things were necessary to be ascertained before forming ft committee, it was necessary to know if the Government give a buildin 8 site, and whether they had at command any old building that might be made available. Sailors d!d not require an elegant building-merely comfortable lodgings. Some months ago his Bonor suggested that an old building at Port Chalmers might be made available, but the captams present thought Dunedin preferable. The deputation therefore wished to know whether the Government could give a permanent or temporary site. The Superintendent said the Government had no other old building at disposal except the old Immigration Barracks. bunding^ 1 * WM gokg t0 BU SB e,t that The Superintendent : If the Corporation would allow that building to remain it might be m available for the purpose at once. Mr Mercer said that was the only difficulty. The ground was top valuable for the purpose, but he had no doubt the building might be used for a short time. Alter further discussion, his Honor, addressing the Mayor, asked if it could be arranged for the building to stand for twelve months.

Mr R. B. Martin said in twelve months k® ~ e “®7 e d- it would be self-supporting. Mr Fish suggested that the deputation, after leaving the room, should wait on the Mayor and Corporation. The Mayor said the allotment would 'be submitted to juicturn, but the Corporation, if asked, would probabljr give permission to occupy it till hen. Would the Government give assistance during the present year ? The Superintendent ; Yes. The Execuive agreed to subsidise the institution one pound for every pound subscribed, and with ?j e ' ° f t th f t building the institution hi f k Bta S- re P l y t0 M r K. B. Martin, he thought it probable the Government would give a site for a building, should the corporation refuse. The Government would amount 6 m6fcltution to au y reasonable

said the captains preOhalmJr 0 a Ugh \k Dun -, dm P referab le to Port Chalmers, as the sailors would be nearer the us om House, at which final arrangements IlT 6 an<i also that ife must be considered the centre of attraction to them. * C? x ® aid Bailors would never be content with Port Chalmers, and'he thought a better working committee would be formed lomHoMe.’ " WeU " be !“« V"