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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Sailors' Home, Auckland

The Sailors' Home, Auckland, is situated at the corner of Albert and Quay Streets. It was founded in 1883, through the munificent generosity of the late Mr. Edward Costley, who bequeathed a sum of £12,150 to endow a Home for Sailors. The building is of brick, is three stories in height, and matches in style the Harbour Board buildings, to which it is closely adjacent. It contains forty-seven bedrooms, a large dining hall 30 feet by 20 feet, and a reading and social room, 50 feet by 30 feet. Fourteen bedrooms and a private sitting-room are kept for the exclusive use of officers and captains who make the Home their temporary abode. The domestic apartments are situated on the ground floor, together with several bathrooms, which are supplied with hot and cold water, and showers. The bedrooms are models of cleanliness; they are situated on the second and third stories, and are furnished in a most comfortable manner. On the second storey are the manager's apartments, and a private sitting-room for the use of captains and officers. A first-class cook is kept, and the fare is equal to that of a good commercial hotel. Breakfast is served at eight in the morning, dinner at noon, tea at five in the evening, and the institution is closed at eleven at night. The charge per week is only fifteen shillings for those who are in a position to pay; but to deserving men without funds the hospitality of the institution is free until employment is obtained, and those who are thus helped very seldom forget to forward to the superintendent the amount of their indebtedness to the institution. Sailors and others who have lived in the Home declare it to be the finest in the Australasian Colonies, and it is a noble monument to the philanthropy of Mr. Costley. A handsome hall, which is part of the institution, adjoins the main building, and is capable of seating 300 people. It is provided with a fine stage, and there three religious services are held on Sundays, socials on Monday evenings, concerts on Tuesdays, gospel meetings on Wednesdays, a Bible class on Thursdays, socials on Fridays, and concerts on Saturdays. These nightly entertainments are generally of a high-class character; as a rule they attract crowded attendances, and many of the leading vocalists of Auckland take part at the concerts. The present (1900) Committee of Management consists of: Bishop Cowie (president), Captain H. F. Anderson (vice-president), Colonel Haultain (secretary), Captain Clayton, Messrs Button, Ransom, H. B. Morton, Entrican, Peak, Brakenrigg, and the Rev. Mr. Budd, members of the Council The annual subscription is £1 1s.

Sailors' Home.

Sailors' Home.