BLIND BOYS' BAND

Evening Star, Issue 20032, 24 November 1928, Page 5

BLIND BOYS' BAND

VISIT TO DUNEDIN Not enough is known in this district of tho extremely interesting and productive work being carried out by the Jubilee Institute for the Blind in Auckland. It would bo better described as tho New Zealand Institute for the Blind, as it is the only organisation of its ki'm’ '1 tho dominion, and it embraces ' whole of tho blind population within its various activities. Away back in 1890, however, fate decided its name, for it was tho surplus money from the fiftieth jubilco celebrations of tho colony which formed the first nucleus of its funds. Prior ta that date New Zealand children had been sent to the Melbourne Institute for training. A blind man from Australia (Mr John Tighe), however, endeavoured to interest tho New Zealand people in the question of establishing a.much-needed local training centre, and with the hearty co-operation of the late Bishop Cowie and the late Mr John Abbott this was achieved. Supported by private generosity, subsidised by Government grant, 'and assisted materially from time to time by kindly bequests, tho institute and its organisations have steadily expanded, until to-day there exists in Auckland an active, busy centre,' occuping attractive grounds of about fivo acres, with three handsome buildings, where 114 blind men, women, and children are either in permanent employment or are receiving vocational training or primary school education The school is very similar to any boarding school, where happy girls and boys learn tho three “ R’s,” geography, general knowledge, handwork, and indeed everything in the primary school syllabus except drawing. In leisure they run and shout about tho sunlit grounds, interested in their games, with the same bright merriment; and always from tho background somewhere comes the sound of a pipe organ, piano, cornet, or banjo submitting to tho daily practice. Those boys and girls will in duo course take their place m tho everyday world, and it is tbo object of tho institute to train them to become all-round men and women. It is impossible to describe here the main* difficulties which they have worn derfiilly overcome, but the people of Dunedin will bo ablo to get some idea of the results being achieved hy attending the concert which tho boys are giving in His Majesty’s on Thursday next. Fourteen of the institute boys are tonring as a band, which was formed some eighteen months ago, and they have already attained a high musical standard. " The boys have other items up their sleeves with which to interest and amuse —pianoforte solos and duets, songs, recitations, Braille readings, and so on. Mr Clutba Mackenzie, tho director of the institute, will he present, and will speak briefly on the work of the institute. The object of these boys’ visit is to show tho many old friends and supporters of the institute in tho district something at least of tho work being achieved. Tho boys arrive in Dunedin to-night.