BLIND PEOPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 13

BLIND PEOPLE.

BRIGHT AND CHEERY. INSTITUTE'S CONCERT. VICE-REGAL PARTY PRESENT. A remarkable atmosphere of happiness, cheeffulness, contentment and enthusiasm prevailed among the inmates in the hall of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind last night when the annual breaking-up concert was held. His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Galway, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and Mr. S. Donaldson, Mayor of Newmarket, were present, Lord Galway presenting the prizes won during the year. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, chairman of the board, Mr. J. Peabrook, a member of the board of trustees, presided. In welcoming the Governor-General the chairman referred to the warm personal interest in the welfare of the institute and its inmates always taken bv their Excellencies. In a letter read by the chairman, Mr. Hutchinson expressed his appreciation of the efforts of those associated with the work and of the co-operation that existed between the various departments. Greetings for Christmas. Christmas messages to the blind in the Dominion wete delivered by Lord Galway and Sir Clutlia Mackenzie, Director of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, and broadcast by IYA. Lord Galway, in extending cordial good wishes to the blind, wished them continued happiness, prosperity and enjoyment of life in the New Year. "I am delighted to read of the wonderful progress of the school and the success of the workshops at the institute," said his Excellency. "The high quality of the work in all departments reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. The music is of a high standard and I am . glad to know that so many of yon are proficient in swimming and other athletic sf>orts which all make for your health and happiness."

Sir Ernest Davis said he was sure every citizen of Auckland was behind him in wishing the inmates and the staff a merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

In a happy speech. Sir Clutha Mackenzie sent greetings to the blind throughout the Dominion. "We are all bright and cheery here and not a bit worried over our blindness," he said. "In fact we teach them here the motto 'What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve.' (Laughter.) We have many thoughts for those in the world who are not so well off as we. We have the most marvellous friends and I wish on behalf of our people to thank all sections of the public who make | sacrifices for our happiness, including the policemen and the tramway men who help us, too. 'We are cheerful over our handicap of blindness, so much so that it becomes an almost negligible handicap," An enjoyable entertainment was presented by the Girls' Orchestra, the Institute Band and school choir, solo items being given by Julian Lee, R. Gherardi, J. Papesch, F. Robinson and the Rev. Ernest Chitty. Presentation of Prizes. Awards were made as follow:— Schopl Prizes (for best all-round work)." —Upper division : Ronald Gazley. Middle division : Terence Small. Junior division : Verna Bunting. Music Prizes (greatest improvement made). —Pianoforte: Doris Starck. Band: Richard Gwynne. Orchestra : Rina Bodogni. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's special orchestra prize: Connie Whitford. Handwork (greatest improvement made). —Girls: Elsie Mutlmer. Boys: Edward Mutimer. Woodwork: Hardy Gilbert. Swimming: George Phiskie. Special prize for good "first year's" work : Aileen Sutherland. -Conduct (public spiritedness).—Boys: George Phiskie. Girls : Dawn Gavan. Swimming Certificates.—so yards, Trevor Luxford, David Anld; 50 yards and 100 yards, Clssie Riley; 100 yards, Laurel Mutimer, Richard Gwynne and Terence Small ; 440 yards and 880 yards, Dawn Gavan; 500 yards, Ronald Gazley, Julian Lee and Betty Taylor; one mile, George Phiskie.