OPENING OF THE BOYS' INSTITUTE.

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 141, 16 June 1892, Page 4

OPENING OF THE BOYS' INSTITUTE.

THE SPEECHES. Tho ceremony of opening the Boys' Tnntituto passed off yesterday afternoon with considerable eclul. Tlio interior of the building, which had been decorated tor the occiwion with bunting, was filled with people of both boxoh. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Glasgow, and party, anived punctually at half-past three o'clock, and were received at the main entrance by tho members of the Committee. When they were accommodated with seats on a platform at tho northern end of tho largo class-room, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, President of tho Committee, read to His iJxcelloncy tho address, the text of which was published in yesterday's issue. Lord Glasgow, on rising to reply, was rocoivod with loud applause. He said that he was oxtromoly glad that on tho occasion of hi 3 first public appoaranco in tho colony ho should havo been asked to tako part in opening an institution of such great usefulness and promise as that of the Boys' Institute- in ■which they were then standing. (Applaiisp.) Ho could say that, because ho thought that ffiything connected with the \\cifaro_ of tho young generation that was now springing np was of tho utmost importance. (Vpplauso.) Tho clmrnctor of the generation that had already grown up was formed, for good or bad ; they could not ho much other than they wero. JJut tho manner in which the futuro generation were drought up was of the utmost public importance He understood that tho Institute had been built for tho excellent and landablo purpose of affording instruction and amusement to boys whoso homes wero porhaps not as comfortable as thoy might be, and who had no opportunity of obtaining useful instruction. He could imagine nothing hotter than suoh an institution. (Applause.) Tit these days of education and attainment of greater refinement than was open to the past generation, it was a necessity that tho youth shonld havo tho moans given Iliom to amuse and instruct themselves in a rational way. (Applause.) Ho was glud to think that this institution was aIHO meant to promote amusements of a muscular character, calculated to incroaso health and stamina in tho generation now growing up. (Hear, hear.) He did not know whether a library camo within tho scope of tho committee's ideas. (Mr. Aitken — Yes.) No doubt it was of tho utmost importanco that boys should havo tho means of amusing thomselvos by way of reading as well as by active exercises. If one conld only fool certain of tho I ooks boys read and tho company they keep, and could be assured that thoso wero satisfactory, one would at onco know that the manuor in which thoy would be occupied would also bo satisfactory. (A pplauso). But after all it was only ouo thing to givo them an institution of this sort. Boys must mix with the world. It was not enough to give thorn amunotnont and instruction but thoy must render thorn uapablo of fighting their way in the world and meeting its influences ; they must creato a fooling of selfrespect, and also inculcate solf-di-sciplino. A boy would never become a useful man unless ho not only respected himself, but was also ablo to discipline himself and keep himself from mixing with tho ovil he found in the world. Ho thought that this was an admirable ins'itution. There was yot a further step for tho boys in this colony. Ho did not know if lii-i audience were aware of tho admirable institution which oamo from Scotland, mid was gradually spreading all over the world— the Boys' Brigade. It began in v small way, being started by a Mr. Smith, a Ulnsgow accountant, who was also a volunteer, and took an interest in Sunday School work. He observed a want of discipline amongst the boys, and that thoy thought of nothing but amnsoment. The idea strnck him that if he conld got them to tako nn interest in something which would givo thorn an idea of discipline and koop them under control, an excellent system would result. It was, theroforo, at Mr. Smith's Biiggention that this Boys' Brigado was formed . On a company boing formed officor.s were elected and a room procured. Tho proceedings began with a little religious instruction, followed by_ drill. An outlay of oh provided each boy with a uniform cap, a wooden innekot, aud a badgo. Tho mouihord by this system kept themselves clean, woro less likely to get into mischief, and woro careful to do nothing which would bo liablo to get them expelled. Ho put before them this idea so that a brigado might bo started in this town which might ho the means of furthering the wolfaro of it 3 boys. (Applause). With rogard to tho present institution, wbioh possessed an excellent building, and included a gymnasinra, ho hoped that it would provo a sonrco of pleasure to all who attended it. He was sorry to learn that the institution opened with a certain amount of debt, but tho committee contemplated holding a bazaar or somothing of that sort, the procoeds of which it was hoped wonld clear it off, and enable the Institute to start on a clear basis. He also understood that the funds at the disposal of the committee would not permit of their haying a paid official to tako charge of tho building; but the members of the committee bad generously arranged to undertako tho duty amongst themselves. When the institution became more flourishing, it would no doubt have a paid attendant to take chargo of tho boys and instruct and amuse them. Nothing now remained but for him to declare the building open, and to wish it ovory success. (Loud applause.) Mr. J. Duthio, M.H.K., said that His Eieolloncy had so folly explained tho objects of tho Instituto that there was very little for him to add. Ho wished, however, to oorroet tho sorno wliat popular delusion that our boys wore moro or loss of the larrikin olass. Tho belief was both unjnstified and uncalled for. As much as anybody ho doploredtho prevalence of the use of strong and foul language. Sheets wero a very bad sohool for boys, and a very largo number frequented the streets because there was no other attraction or accommodation for them. Notwithstanding this, our crime records, as far as boys wero concerned, compared favourably with many another and larger cityin proportion to tho population. The Institute was calculated to do an immca surable amount of good, and tho city was greatly indebted to its promoters. Mr. Dntliie pointed out that boys of the class whioh it was sought to improve had a far greater amount of leisure than tho lads at Homo and in other countries, which shonld be applied for their benefit. In an Institute of this sort thoy would be taught ■ to acquire habits of application, and trained to become good citizens and fitted for their future positions in the world, whatevor thoy might happen to bo. Mr. Duthio concluded by moving a hearty voto of thanks to tho Committee, Mr. Aitken, and Mr. Martin {Secretary) for the zeal thoy had displayed in successfully establishing tho Instituto. (Loud Applause). Dr. Newman, M.H.E., next spoke. Ho said that of all public duties which he as a publio man had to porform, there was not one whioh mado him so glad as to appear at anything in connection with the education of tho poopld of the colony. Of all questions, that of tho education of onr ohildrcn was tho most important. When His Excellency had been amongst us a little longor, ho (tho speaker) thought lie would agree that onr primary education systom was a most glorious one. His Excqllenoy had no doubt beon told about tho sublimo scenery of tho colony, but if some day he wonld visit some of our State schools, he would see more oxcollent scenery. (Laughter.) Any one acquainted with tho schools at Home, seeing our State schools, could not help boing enthusiastic about the children to be fonnd in them. A Yankee had said* that it was of no uso providing a 2000 dollar eduoation fora 200 dollar boy, bat onr boys were all 2000 dollar boys. (Laughtor.) In the olden times vast sums of money were expended on 008 ties for kings and nobles, but now it went for a hotter object— schools for ohildren. No matter whoro one travelled in New Zealand, thero was always one promi- , nont building in each town, and that was the Stato School. (Applause) Good as our present system was, to his mind it did pot vet go far enough. The oducation of mankind ought to begin at infancy and continue till manhood. Ho agreed with Mr. Duthie that what people said about the prevalence of larr'ikinism was absurd . There was much more larrikinism among.->t the students at tho Universities at Homo than amongst tho youths in our streets. Ho knew it; he had boon out at night and knew it. (Langhtor.) Records proved that there were loss young New Zealandorfe in gaol for crime than in any oivilised coun try in the world. As population increased tho gaol population would docroaso, because we wero trying to edncato our children, and bring them up in the way thoy should go An institution of tlii-, kind, for the reception of lads of 15 or l(i, who had just been turned out of school, was most necessary, because , thoy had to recollect that tho boys of to-day wore tho men of to-morrow, and, as Sir Geo. Grey had said, thoy wore to bo tho fathers of the unborn millions, 4 therefore it behoved tho present generation to specially look aftor them. Tho speaker warmly onlogiscd those who had promoted tho institution . whioh ho hoped would live long and flourish As regards what His Excellency had said , respecting a library, the speaker obsorved that if everybody present would contribute three or four volumes apiece the nucleus of a splendid library would bo formed. For his own part ho would bo pleased to contribute foni 'books, and ho wonld also try and induce his friends to do likewise. (Applanso.) Mr. Aitken said he had recivod an apolo<*v for the absence of his Worship tho Mayor through a cause which they Would all rogret His Worship, however, had intimated in the - letter that his third quarter's salary as Mayor, 25 guineas, was at tho disposal of the Committee— tho first two quarters were otherwise disposod of. (Applanso.) His Honour the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Richmond , the Hon. W. P. Reeves, Mr. Geo. Beetham, and others, had ajso apologised for their absence. Concerning tho Institute, Mr Aitken said his only fear respecting it was that there would bo overcrowding, and that , the Wellington public might, perhaps, be led to expect moro from tho Commit- , tee than thoy were really ablo to accomplish. Regarding what Mr. Duthio had said about boys finding a greater delight in standing about tho stroets than in staying at home, he (Mr. Aitken) might explain that it , was not the intention of tho Committee to . draw boys away from their homos— that is, boys who had homes where they conld romain and whore thoy liked to remain. They behoved that home was tho bestplaco for i boy, if that home was a proper one. (Hear hear.) Ho hoped that the public would be lenient with tho Committee for the first vcar by whioh time thoy expected to have the institute in good working order. It « ould not be their fault if what was nimod at was, not accomplished. Ho tbankrd the Wolliwr. ton pubho m the name of the Committee for . having so generously respondod to the appeal made on behalf of tho Institute, and trustee tftat tho debt with which the In&titutistart?d would soon bo wiped off. At present the raembors of the committee wero per. sonally responsible to tho Bank for the amount- somothing like J22OO— but he felt quite sure that the public wonld not permit that responsibility 1 to remain very loiu/ In conclusion, Mr. Aitken stated that a collection would be taken np towards liquidatinflr the debt, and announced that Hia Excellency had just handed, him a jsum of

£!0. He then called for three cheers for i:U Excellency, which wore given most v .-nrouxly. I! in Excellency replied, thanking those present for the reception accorded to Lady Glasgow and himself and tho Committed for the handsome address. He sincerely hoped that tho institution wonld bo as great a Biircess as it desorved to be, under the Miperintendenco of such a public-spirited Committee. (Applauso.) After inspecting tho building, His Excellency and party drove off amidst cheers. Tho amount subscribed in the room, incluaivo of tho Mayor's gift of twenty-five guineas, His Excellency's donation .£lO, and a contribution of £5 made by Mr. E. Vuile amounted to JEC3 7b. It may bo added to this report that the contract for tho erection of the Institute was very faithfully carried out by Messrs. Eineny and Hitchena, at a coat of .£853, from plans prepared by Mr. W. Crichton. Messrs. VV. Dear and Sou did the brickwork, Mr. Edward Snaddon tho plumbing, and Messrs. Carpenter and Juckson tho painting.