Y.M.C.A. LADIES' AUXILIARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 202, 20 May 1908, Page 5

Y.M.C.A. LADIES' AUXILIARY.

This week the Ladies' Auxiliary Committoo of tho Y.M.C.A. is reaping tho reward of the work it has been doing steadily in tho interests of the Association ever since it was started nearly six years ago. Tho comfortable and artistic furnishing of tho huge building is duo to their efforts, and it . must give'.them creat satisfaction to know how heartily the crowds who have visited the rooms during, the past few.'days appreciate tho result oi their toil.

They have not'finished'yet, and will, go onf gathering in contributions given, or cash earned, until tho furnishing is complete, :and meanwhile they havo been taking t. h .eir share in l 'the opening festivities. Tho scores.of guests who attended the formal opening of the .building by Mrs. Williams-oil Monday were, oftor-the speech-making was--finighed,. entertained at an afternoon • tea, provided and served by the Ladies' Auxiliary, and ycsterdaj / afternoon they gave another tea for the mothers of boys and . youths associated- with,- or interested in, tho Y.M.C. A. Tho guests met first in the largo hall, whero speeches were delivered by Mrs. J. P. Luke, President of the Ladies' Auxiliary, and Mr. Ilolmos, the secretary of tho Y.M.CjA. ,7. Recitations woro - given .by Misses Arnold r.nd Dix, and tho - Misses Brittain san::. ■ - .

Mrs. Luke,'.,oll; behalf of the Ladies'. , Auxiliary, welcomed; the -mothers, ■ and said she felt suro./thoy would appreciate what was being done, for the boys of- Wellington. Sho paid her tribute to .the munificence of, Mrs) Willianisj who had made it'possible to havo such an The object of the Association was to provide influences that would build up healthy and noblo characters, and send out citizens who would develop the public life of" Now; Zoaland" along the finest lines. There .would : always. bo at . tho YiMiC.A. a welcome for the boys and youths of ithe city' 'and for strangers from other towns, and sho honed that, tho mothers would do all in their power to extend tho Ecopo of tho Association' and rriako it a success.' Tho Ladies' Auxiliary wished to thank . all those, who had helnod them, and wished also to intimato that they would be glad of further assistance, as their work was not by any-means completed. • On behalf of tho Auxiliary Committee, Mrs: Luke made a presentation to Miss Hustwick, who has been secretary of tho committee from the beginning, and who is now only severing her connection with ;it because she' is going to live in Wangariui. Tho' committee owes a great deal to Miss Hustwick's perseverance and 1 energy, : and the presentation was ; a'handsome one, , consisting of brooch, necklet, and pendant. Mr. Holmes spoke of the work" to' bo done by ■ tho Association 'amoni; boys. It,-., regarded . this as beins of even more import-' anco than work older men.' Theprob-, loin of tho boy was very carefully considered, and they sot out to help him in tho best way they-could to become tho .best sort of .man." . The boy department •, was a special branch of their work, and boys wore admitted from tho age-, of twelve—tho junior, members .from, twelve to eighteen ' being divided into two .classes, schoolboys and employed boys. They were interested in tho interests of boys. The boy liked to make tilings, -lie likted to be counted in as an individual. If there were a on, the boy liked to bo invited to it, and invited lie would be'. Tho boy from twelve to fifteen years of age who was admitted to .limited membership paid 2s. Cd. subscription, and was allowed full use of the boys' club room, library, and reading rcom, social events, and all features announced for. boys. The regular membership, .which coat 7s. 6d., gavo-in addition to these privileges the use of gymnasium and baths ac special hours, oil stated days. It was tho aim of thc.Y.M.C.A.. riot, to supersede other influonoos bi'ought;,to bear upon young hoys by paicntG, teachers, etc.,'. but to suppleriieiit thum" At the close "of tho lr.eetins the guests adjourned to'tho tea-room, whore afternoon ten whs served at tables prettily' decorated wit-1. tho colours of tho Y.M.C.A., red and yellow, holly and .-chrysanthemums being chiefly used.

Mrs. J. P. Luko, President of the Ladies', Auxiliary, Mrs: Fossette and Miss Smith (vicepresidents) acted as hostesses, assisted by tho other members of the Auxiliary, Mesdainos Ilott, "Webb, Denton, "Warnock, ,Clelland, and Ralph, and Mrs._ Waterhousc (treasurer), and Miss Hustwiclf. Mrs. Williams was a guest of honour. • The "Queen" announoes that Dr. Fred. H. Cowon, the well-known composer and conductor, is about to marry Miss' Frederics Richardson, a young , yccalist who . studied under Sir Charles. Santley. The wedding is 'to take place towards tho end of June; Evening Dresses.—No -evening dress is modish nowadays, says the "Queen," unless it sparkles, and jet and silver seem. to be the easiest. methods of effecting this in a' fashionable way. Nothing can oxceed the variety and charm of .the embroideries, which' will go on increasing in beauty, and also in crist, as the season advances. Cloth of silver and cloth of gold form'linings to laco, as well as front breadths to' gowns on which laco is introduced as a trimming, and nearly all such drcssos are adorned with bold roses or other flowors in relief- made of silver and gold , cloth.