SUCCESSFUL TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 11

SUCCESSFUL TOUR.

BAND Or JUBILEE INSTITUTE.

KINDNESS EVERYWHERE

At the last meeting of the trustees of the Jubilee Institute for tH Blind, the director, Mr. Clntha Mackenzie, presented a report on the tour of the Blind Boys' Band.

"It has been an unqualified success," the report stated. "The boys behaved splendidly, giving excellent programives, and everywhere they have left behind them an excellent impression as to the practical results being achieved at the institute. The capacity of the boys to look after themselves in the different homes in which they have been billeted; their enjoyment of swimming, bathing, card-playing, dancing, had given people quite a different idea of the efficiency of the blind' to that which they previously held. •Everywhere, the boys have been received with the greatest kindness, and they were deeply indebted to rotary elubs, red cross societies, churches, public bodies, bandsmen, and others for the hospitality which has been extended. The Government has shown its interest by giving the party free travel on the railways. "The balance-sheet shows that the total takings in various centres, after the payment of local expenses, amounted to £1142. Organising expenses, band uniforms, bovs' pocket money, etc., amounted to £326, leaving the net proceeds at £816. The trustees decided to make a grant of £100 of this money among the members of the band as a reward for their verv fine services, so that the sum of £716 remains available for future development, and the trustees have decided to devote this to gymnastic equipment, and to further musical training." Under the will of the late Mrs. Margaret Marshall, of Southland, the whole of her estate, after the payment of expenses amounting to £743 18/11, has been recevied bv the trustees of the institute. In he expended bv them in promoting the welfare of New Zealand soldiers who baveilost their sight as the result of war service.