BOYS' INSTITUTE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1923, Page 10

BOYS' INSTITUTE

INSPECTED BY GOVERNOR

GENERAL

, TESTIMONY TO ORGANISATION.

On. the occasion of His Excellency the Gpvernor-Geheral Viscount Jellicoe's first visit of inspection to the "Boys' Institute last evening, an "at home" was. held by Mr. G. A. Troup (president, of the institute) and Mrs. Troup. Among those present were the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.), the Mayoress, Sir Frederick Chapman, Sir J. P. Luke, 81.P., Mrs. Moorhouse (hon. president of the ladies' auxiliary), Mrs. J. Hislop (president), Mrs. George Brown (secretary),' Mrs. Bell (treasurer), Councillor Mrs. A. M'Vicar, Mesdames J. M'Carrow, Bruce, Christie, and Stanton (members of the ladies' auxiliary), Councillor and Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, Councillor C. H. Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. P, Myers, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Morris (executive), Mr. J. Myers (president of the Chamber of Commerce), Mr. J. Hislop (vice-pre-sident of the institute), Messrs. W. A. Parton, C. M. Luke, and L. Birks. Institute cadets to the number of one hundred formed a guard of honour under Lieutenant Dutton. . The Institute Band was in attendance under Bandmaster Iremongcr, and, as His Excellency drove up, played the National Anthem, and other selections. Excellency was escorted over the building by the president and committee members, visits being paid to all departments as well as to the various evening classes. A comprehensive swimming- programme was later presented in the Tepid Bath. It included a finished life-saving and restoration display, by Teachers' Training College students (Miss B. Cartwright, instructress, and Miss F.'Marton, B. Knell, G. Day, S. Cranmer, V. Craven, and G. Wilkie), an exhibition of fancy diving by Mr. W. Hicks, a boys' swimming race, which was won by H. Houton, and a fine display of lifesaving and resuscitation by members of the Lyall Bay Life-Saving Club (Messrs. H. Winstanley, D. Murrell, L. Jones, F. Thomas, ,L. Beggs, G.-Thomas, F. Mollier, and E. S. Evans, captain). His Excellency then presented sports trophies, which had been won during the past year, as follow :—Sixth class Rugby (seven-a-side)^ A. Legatt (captain), A. Stohr, H. Burridge, T. Montgomery, S. Ward, V. Clark, G. Essen. Seventh class Rugby, R. Watson, J. Wright, E. Barclay, G. Diak, A. Pengally, T. Kane, B. Brown. Soccer (six-a-side), L. Davidson, P. O'Connor, C. Weaver, W. Patton, T. Shaw, E. Roberts. - M'Whae Cup, Marist' Brothers' School, Newtown (D. Scanlon, 100 yds, F. Marshall, high jump; D. Scanlon 120 yds, J. White, throwing the' cricket ball). Junior athletic championship, R. Kidd; Intermediate, A. Mauson. Senior, E. Peterson (Mayer and Kean special' cup). Four mile harriers' race, V. Dv Chateau, 1; E. J. Taylor, 2. Boxing, senior, H. Ellis; intermediate, T. Adams; junior, A. O'Neill and J. Glover (equal). Special prizes were awarded to Reginald Masters. Ernest Farrow, and Robert Masters. ' .

Mr. G. A. Troup afterwards entertained the Governor-General and guests at supper in the dining-room. Mr. Troup, on behalf of the committee, the staff, and the institute, thanked His Excellency for his visit. Quite apart from the real pleasure it had given, them,' the visit would prove helpful to the boys in many ways. It would inspire them to better things, and the staff would also find its work easier for many .'months to come on that account. His visit would also help the committee, in that it would tighten that public sympathy and assistance, without which no institution could hope to prosper. (Applause.) Mr. Troup reviewed the work of the institute, mentioning that all sides to the boys' characters weer appealed to by the provision of educational, religious, and athletic facilities. Swimming and life-saving were also taught the boys. At present, continued Mr. Troup, the institute put into the field every Saturday 28 cricket teams, or a total of some 350 boys. A considerable amount of organisation was required, and that was supplied by the director (Mr. Butler) and the staff. The aim of the institution was to produce God-fearing, loyal, and lawabiding men, and useful citizens. They had been in existence for thirty-five years, and he did not think there was anyone in Wellington who could say they had altogether failed in their objective. He called for three cheers for His Excellency, which, with three for Lady Jellicoe, were heartily given.' In reply, His Excellency said that from the time of his arrival until the present moment, he had been both interested and exceedingly pleased. He said "until the present moment" advisedly, because he hated the present moment, since it found him on his feet—(laughter)—he had seen what might be termed a township training its citizens. He could not conceive a work more deserving of the gratitude of the whole community than that "being carried on by the Institute. The management reflected the/Utmost credit on those responsible. This history of the building, as outlined by Mr. Troup, had shown- him how really wonderful were the activities of the Institute. The fact that 350 boys wer.e sent to cricket every Saturday afternoon when they might be loafing round the streets was eloquent testimony to the organisation. These results could not possibly have been obtained without three things— goodwill, organisation, and hard work. His Excellency said he was very struck with the spirit shown by a little boy with one leg in the gymnasium classThat, spirit was significant of the spirit drilled info the boys; it was typical of, the Dominion, and he might, say of the British; the' spirit which knew no defeat, which allowed no physical disability to prevent the sufferer from taking as big a part in the business of life as if he had all his faculties intact. -. The speaker regretted that it was the first time he had seen the entire activities of the Institute. He had heard of the work, he had been in the institute before in the swimming baths, but he had never really appreciated the work being carried on there until lhat evening. He would like . once again to congratulate all. concerned the magnificent work which was being done in the building, which he hoped would go on and would prosper. (Applause.)