THE SAILORS’ HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 May 1927, Page 11

THE SAILORS’ HOME

A YEAR OF SERVICE RESTING FROM THE SEA “Russ, German, English, half-breed, Yank, Dane and Portugee, At Fultah Fisher's boarding - house They rested from the sea.” TN Auckland there is no place for Kipling’s water-front den. The value to the community of those engaged in the mercantile marine is now fully appreciated, and to them is accorded the care and attention that is their due. In constant touch with ships and sailor men that have visited the port of Auckland for the past forty-two years, the Auckland Sailors’ Home can boast a splendid record of service. During those years it has provided for the comfort and welfare, both spiritual and social, of countless numbers of seamen, irrespective of nationality or religious beliefs.

“Russian, Yank, Portugee and Dane,” they have come and gone their way, leaving behind their deep appreciation of the kindness and warm-hearted hospitality extended by those who have made it their duty to provide for them a home away from home. The forty-second annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Home on Wednesday, June 15, details another splendid year of service. The total attendance during the year was 12,172, a daily average of 33.35 men for every day of the year. Those contributed for board and lodging the sum of £2,342 Is lOd, the council providing free meals and beds to the value of £155 to those unable to pay. SHIPWRECKED SAILORS

Fortunately, during the past year the necessity of providing for the needs of shipwrecked men was not very great, only one such crew calling for attention when the s.s. Manaia went “on the rocks” outside Tauranga. During its existence this has been an important phase of the work. Since the Wairarapa was wrecked in 1894 forty shipwrecked crews have been received and cared for at the Home. To them it has indeed been a place of refuge. For the purpose of entertainment a large social room has been provided where men may smoke and play cards. There is also a billiard-room, while musical and other entertainments are provided in the Mission Hall adjoining. At Fultah Fisher’s boarding-house, “regally they spat and smoked, and fearsomely they lied.” Those days are done, and, it is hoped, gone for ever. At the Auckland Home, and it is a home in every sense of the word, educational facilities are also available in a well equipped library providing quite a large selection of good reading matter for the use of the inmates. To further the work increased membership is wanted. At present membership consists of a mere handful of about 30. In a city of this size it is reasonably expected by the council that this might easily be increased to a thousand. With an annual subscription of £1 this would ensure an adequate income to enable this work to be carried out on a scale necessary to meet the increased demands being made on the institution. This appeal will again be made at the annual meeting, at which all interested are invited to attend.