Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 7

Y.M.C.A.

— P —— WORK FOB MAORIS. Tho Y.M.C.A., which is always sighing, like Alexander,. for moro worlds to conquer, has been anxious for some timo-to take up work among the' Maoris. The first essentials of successful lvork aro intoi-est arid knowledge, and to encourago these it was decided, at a conference between tho lea'dors of tho Wellington Association and tho Young Maori Party, held during tho recent Natiyo Congross, to form a special class at' which education would be givon in Native matters. Tho resolution has not boon lost sight of since, and tho class will be inaugurated, at tho Y.fil.C.A. rooms ; to : inorro\v night, ! Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.P., has consented to take the leadership of tho class. Tjie oxpeutivo of tho recent Jlaoi'i Congress has presented t)jo Wellington Y.M.O.A. w,ith a set of 'twenty books dealing with Maorj history, customs, language, and litoraturoj as tho nucleus of a library. NEW BRANCHES. Mr. T. Vincent, who is to be seorotary of tho new branch of tile Y.M.C.A. at Hamilton, is at present in Wellington. It is expected that the Hamilton Association will bo opened about September 2, and Mr. Vincent will remain hero till then. Sipce its incoption, threo and a half years ago, Mr. Vincent has been tho honorary secretary of the Levin Association, of which he was one of the founders. A large number of applications have been received for tho secretaryships of the now Associations to bo formed at Masterton, Napier, and Gisborne. NATIONAL CONVENTION. It is probable that Messrs. H.' N. Holmes, H. Part, and T. Vincent, iiow iu this cjty, will bo among tllb New Zealand deler gates to tl)o National Convention of I'.M.C.A.'s, to bo hold iu Molbourno from October 14 to 18. Mr. Gordon Armour, secretary of tho Dunqdin Association, and Mr. j. M'Kinney, InvercargiJl secrotary, will also attend, and is understood that several prominent citizens who aro interested m tho movement will make tho, jouriiey. T|iis will be the second national conference to bo held in Australasia, and the first since what is called tho "Modern Movement" began.' The first convention was held two years ago, iu Ballarat, when Messrs. Poarce and, Budge \yoro busy organising tho 'movement in these colonies. The Melbourne convention, which will be on a much larger scalo than that of two years ago, will include studies of tho social, physical and educational needs of men and hoys in cities, reports of tho recent advances in the Assp-r ciation movement, and conferences on the country ivork, educational work, physical work, boys' work, and foreign work. Mr. 11. N. Holmes, general secretary, Wellington, is expected to speak oil "The Association's obligation to the young .men of tho ivorld," and Mr. 11. Hart, of the local Association, on "Our Missionary Programme." Among the other speakers will be the Right Rev. Dr. Mercer, Bishop of Tasmania, Principal Harper, M.A., D.D., Sydney, Mr. W. Gillauders, National Secretary, and Mr. John J. Virgo, General Secretary, Sydney. OTHER MATTERS. A new Y.M.O.A. building at Brisbane, which cost £25,000, was opened yesterday by Lord Chelmsford, Govornor of Qucouslaiitl. Mr. Lyman L. Pierco, the first national secretary of the Y.M.C.A.'s of Australasia, ,md the successful organiser of numerous financial campaigns, has accopted the ppsi'tiori of associate-secretary of the World's Jjaynten's Missionary Movonierit, a very largo organisation which has its headquarters in New I'ork.