WEĹINGTON BOYS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 11

WEĹINGTON BOYS' INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The annua] mooting of the Wellington Boys' Listitute is to bo held to-morrow evening. Tlie following are some extracts from the annual report to be presented to subscribers :—

"On rondering the report of the work for the year 1909, we desire to remind our subscribers and' friends .that the Boys' Institute! conducts a Work of prevention rather than cure. It is during his leisure hours .that.the boy forms his character: because of this, and of the fact that there are so many pitfalls besotting the life of every youth,' we try to secure the boy .during the formative period of his life, and so direct his leisure time that.ho will naturally form habits of thrift, resourcefulness, chivalry, patriotism, and good citizenship. We not only keep the : boy off the street', but provide useful' and instructive evening classes and entertainments; and with football or cricket, cadets, boy scouts, and .other agencies, also havesupervision over him on his holiday afternoons. During -.the .year 146 applications for membership wore filed'by boys of various; ages; and a total of 23U. boys came under the influence of-" the institute. The membership during the, winter months was 200, and during the summer'months-150.. -' The weeknight attendance throughout. the year, averaged-over 40; so that in saying the work is. conducted to keep boys off the street, the institute.has certainly.justified its existence in the past year." [ In the physical department reference is made to the several activities in which . the institute takes part—gymnasium work, swimming, life-saying, Association football, : athletic' sports, basketball, and cricket. .""■'.

; "Another new departure during the year was the inauguration of a, night, school for fifth and eixtlil Standard work, -Many of our boys, through'stress of circumstances,. are compelled to leave school before completing their course of study. The aim of the night school is to take, them through the rest of the course to,enable them- to sit for the ex-, , animation for a certificate; the Educa- , tion Board very, kindly agreeinK to examine: our students along' with those from public schools. ... While no boys went up for examination this!yeari several were helped in their studies, and feel grateful''for'.the opportunity thus given. :; The work of the 'school was handicapped a great deal through lack of space, and'in being- in such close proximity to the other partß of the work! We aro indebted to Messrs. D. Patterson; E. Crawford, and J. Young; the instructors, for the time given to this important work. No boy is deprived of tlie privileges of the institute if he does not attend the religious functions; but all are invited, and many attend. The religious work committee, under the supervision of.. Mr. G.. Vf.'.' Morico, carried on an. extensive iwork. Mention should be made of the excellent work done by Master H.'Martin,' as'ithe b.by:chairrhrin,of this.comiinifcfce.'f, .'■■., "A meeting for senior members is con- ; ducted each. Sunday night, when the boys are..' addressed' by, various- laymen; and the general secretary .conducts a meeting for junior members on Tuesday., nights. Forty-five-meetings were, held for senior members, with a total attenadhco'of 1309, arid an aVerage attendance of 29.'.Thirty-four meetings were held for junior members, with a total attendance of 1309, and an average attendance of 23. This makes a -grand total attendance of 2114, and a grand average attendance 0f.52 boys; and when we .stop to realise that, as a rule, ( thes&;.Uds do not attend church, or .Sunday school, it makes us doubly glad that we havo been pormitted to reach so large a number. A feature of the seniors' meeting was a _ series of seven addresses, given by various members of Parliament,, at the closo of which a banquet was given for attendance at five or moro of the sories: 35 boys sat down to tho banquet, and 28 received special prizes for attending the complete series. The. junior' gospel meetings were made interesting through the kindness of Mr. J. W. Reade,:who lent many lantern slides, and presented the institute with a large phonographic horn,'and Some sacred records.;: :,.,.. .;.; -.'•' "An increasing number 0f.,, positions: were secured through bur employment department.. Business firms are findiiigr! out' that hoys recommended by the department always, give satisfaction.. . .'! ''As we,,predicted in our last report, the work outgrew tho building during '.the year. It is:vefy gratifying to-be "able to report that the £1100 granted by the Oity Corporation as compensation, after being, submitted to the Supremo Court, has been' paid over to us. The property adjoining the institute on, tlie east,, a six-roomed 'dwelling-house, has been purchased, and with' the balance in hand, it is hoped to enlarge the..swimming bath, and.conrieot the house with the institute in such a manner that they can be used as one building. The addition of these rooms to our present quarters is very welcome, and should enable the quality of class work, to be greatly improved. . ■ "Owing, to the tightness of the money market the past/year, the regular subscriptions to -file work fell off considerably. Wo started-the year with a balance, in hand of £74 7s. 9d., we carry forward smaller balance (£l6. ls.-9d.) this year. We are glad, however, to state that'we have met all our 'liabilities. Tho, committee is of, one mind' in a determination not to incur any liabilities they cannot see their way to meet., In addition to the usual expenses for 1910,. wo have to furnish the new class rooms to be added, and the lighting and .cleaning of them will, also have to bo provided, for. "What can I do for Boys?— This is a question which should command the attention and favourable consideration of every patriotic citizen of Wellington. Taken from the lower point of view, the question" of. whether we shall train the boy- for useful citizenship, •or allow him to go his'own way,' and, in many instances become a drain on the community by-and-byo, is one that should bo faced by every ratepayer and business man. Taken from the higher point ■of-view: do we not, as Christian men and women, owo our heartiest co-opera-tion and support to this work? which is striving to provide for the manly Christian development, along broad lines, of the boys of this city."