COSTLEY INSTITUTE ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8471, 23 January 1891, Page 3

COSTLEY INSTITUTE ANNUAL MEETING.

Tub annual meeting of the friends of the. Oostley Instatote-iook place last-evening in the dining ball of the institution. . There waa a large attendance, the hall being crowded by a representative assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. Captain Daldy, chairman of trustees, presided, and wae supported by his co-troafeees, Hon. Colonel Haultain and Mr. William Thome. The proceedings commenced by the singing of the hymn, " All People that on Earth do Dwell." Mr. Thorn (hon. secretary) then read the report and balance-sheet for the year ending 31 sb December, 1890, as follows :— REPORT OF THK COSTLKY TRAINING

It will not be out of place to recall the fact that this institution owes its existence to the princely munificence of the late Mr. Edward Costley, although its funds have been supplemented by a bequest from a practical sympathiser, the late Mrs. Rebecca Hodge. From the balance-sheet which will be presented this evening the income and expenditure for the year will be laid before you, but from figures alone no estimate can be made of the benefit derived by the inmates of the institution. In the balance-sheet of a financial venture our eyes instinctively seek fifst the profit and loss item, and according to the results tlfere shown do we congratulate ourselves or otherwise. In the Costlev Training Institution the profit account is the incalculable advantages of which the inmates are the recipients. Wo recognise no loss account. There is none. Durimr the year wo have had an average of 36" inmates, the largest number on the roll being 37, the lowest 35. At present we have 35. These comprise'2B boys, of ages varying from 13 to 19, and 7 girls. All the boys, except two, are either learning a useful trade or hold situations in otlices, or other positions of respectability. Two are at the public school. With the exception of three, all the boys board and sleep at the institution. We are pleased to find amongst the lads that esprit de corp* which causes them to take a pride in their institution and its inmates. The L'irls are all boarded out with families, the lady head of which is a responsible and experienced matron. Except for the occasional outburst, in a modified degree, of the old Adam, the discipline has been exemplary, and with little or no difficulty maintained. During frhc year addresses have been given to the lads at the institution by -Sir William Fox and Mr. Eugster, and much apreciated. Many of the lads are musically inclined, and some of thorn have good voices. With a view to assisting them in cultivating their taste in this direction the services of a competent lady teacher have been secured, and she report* most favourably of the progress made. The carpenter's shop, under the direction of a competent tradesman, is well patronised. Several of the lads are learning turning, and, for their help, two lathes are placed in the workshop. Some of the articles turned out by these lads are worthy of skilled workman. The health of the boys during the year has been above the average. With the exception of "la grippe" visitation and two mikl cases of scarlatina we have had no sickness. With his usual kindness, Dr. Beale has attended any cases gratuitously. To the constant care and attention of the manager, his wife, and daughters our thanks are due, under Providence, for the almost perfect immunity of the inmates from serious illness. We havo had no deaths. All the boys' clothing is made in the Home by the management ; and when this, in addition to the ordinary domestic duties, is taken into consideration, the services rendered by the manager and his staff will be at once apparent. The evening school, every weekday (except Saturday and the music evenings), is continued, at which all attend. The Catholic children attend the service at their own church, while those who are Protestants attend All Saints every Sunday morning. Sunday evening is devoted to sacred music. William C. Daldy, Chairman. Receipts and Dismrsemknts for the Year Exorno olsT Dkukmhkr, 1800. Receipts— £ a <i £ a d Balance iroin ISS» .. _ .. .. 245 i 0 Interest received .. .. 517 19 0 Earnings Acccount .. 415 7 8 Gifts AcconDt to Boys _ G 2 S 939 9 10 £.1,1 13 10 Disbursements— £ a d £ s d Maintenance -. — 787 15 0 Interest paid on loan (llaymet) .. _ .. 4 10 0 (.'ouuni&non 12 18 0 General expenses .. .. 21 12 10 Repairs aod improvements 20. S 8 Savings Bank lor boys .. 107 3• 0 Boys' allowance .. .. 10 10 t> Furniture . . . ■ . - 7 .} 5 Temporary loan repaid (llaymet) 100 0 0 v J 1,078 2 5 Balance 31st December, 1890— In Bank 100 5 11 Cash .. ... .. ... 0 6 6 106 11 5 £1,184 13 10 Capital Account at 31st December, 1890. Dr. £ ad Amount of Costley Bequest .. .. 12, l. r «0 0 0 Amount of It. Hodge bequest.. .. 072 3 9 £12,822 3 9 Cr. £ s U £ h<l Paid for land for Institution _ .. 047 0 0 Cost of buildings and extras 2,787 9 0 Less Dr. to Revenue Account 434 9 0 2,353 0 0 Balance Costley Bequest Capital - 9,150 0 0 Balance R. Hodge Bequest Capital .... 672 3 9 £t2,*-.H 3 9 Exaiuineil and found to be correct. A. H. OOSSKTT, Auditor. Auckland, 20th January, IS9I.

The Chairman said he was glad to see so many friends present at their annual meeting, but which he thought, shonld rather be called bheir annual reunion. The trustees had nob to talk of prolit and loss, nor ask for money, but simply to .show what had been done during the past year, and to induce the general public bo take an interest in the lach>. They would be glad to hear any suggestions which would tend to increase the efficiency of the in.sfitution. There were in the institution '28 boys, five girls boarded out, and in addition one girl afc domestic service and one apprenticed. The cost, including repairs to building, rates, etc., was £24 6s per head. The boys' earnings (leas bank accounts?, etc.) were equal to tho contribution oE £8 7s per head, reducing the tot-.il chargeable on the funds of the institution to £15s IDs per head. Several of the boys, and all but one girl, Vi uro attending school, and contributed nothing to the earnings, which amounted to £415 7s Bd. The cash banked for the boys and one girl wa.s £107 3s 6d, gratuities paid £10 6s (id, and pocketmoney allowed out of earnings £2t (is. But it was the duty of the trustees to look beyond the matter of expenditure, and watch the progress of the lads morally, socially, and religiously, and keep an eye to their training and conduct. He was happy to say that in these respects there were manifest signs of improvement. During the past year there bad been fewer offences and less punishment, and the conduct of the boys had given more satisfaction to tho trustees than in any previous year. (Cheers.) This improvement he believed was due to increasing knowledge, to religious training. The lads should feol that it was a credit not a disgrace to belong fco the Institute, and he hoped that some of them one day would be able to fill the presidential chair. Dr. Barnardo, so well known in connection with his London Destitute Children's Home, had for some years past been receiving from an Australian squatter, one of his old mission boys, a Christmas present of half-a-dozen fro7<en sheep for bis Homes. He (the chairman) hoped that if any of the lads out of the Coetley Institute came in the days fco come to be blessed by Providence with wealth he would remember the institution in which he had gob his first start in life. One source of gratification to the truetees was the healthy condition of the lads. There had been only one case of fever, and the absence of sickness was remarkable considering the social condition in which some of the children had been found. He attributed it to wholesome diet, regular hours, healthful exorcise, and the daily use .of the bath. During the past year the boys had shown a greater pride in their Home, and were getting rid of those undesirable traits of character which had been manifested by some of them on the first establishment of the institution. Every month the trustees received reports from employers relative to the conduct of the lads apprenticed out, and the reports were uniformly satisfactory, while in some caaee the employers spoke very highly of the lade placed under them. (Cheers.) The chairman concluded by inviting anyone present to make a few remarks. As the trustees had seven girls on the foundation, they would be glad to hear some of the ladies also say a word, or two.

Mr. EtJGSTKR said he felfc a pleasure in being pctieaub tjjaat evening as be had done

lasb year. Hβ could corroborate the statement of their chairman as to the improvement in the conduct of the boys. It was not at that meeting, when the lads were on their good behaviour, was the right time to judge, but as he had done when he had seen them in the town, and come in contact with them in every-day life. He could only say that their conduct wae creditable to the trustees, the management of the Home, and to the lads themselves. It was to be hoped the lads would remember the kindly words of the chairman, and that they would sink into their hearts and bear fruit in the years to come. Hβ believed he was speaking the sentiments of the visitors whon he said thoy took a lively interest in the boys, and their sympathy for them was alao snared by the general public of Auckland. (Cheers.) The Chairman remarked he would like the ladies and gentlemen present to hear an essay which had been written by one of the boys regarding the Costley Institute. He hoped next year to have more of such' papers from the lads. A boy named Henry Lyeaghb then came forward, and making his bow to the assemblage, read the essay, as follows : — It is now twelve months ago that _ the trustees of our Home met for the first time. We were then told to whose noble generosity we owed all our benefits—our splendid home, our food, clothing, and employment Then, for the first time, we seemed to realise what our home really is. We contrasted ourselves with what we should be without it, and came to the conclusion that if we do not feel grateful to tlio memory of the truly benevolent gentleman, Mr. Costley, we have not one spark of good feeling in us. From all we have heard, Air. Costloy left an immense sum of money at his death, but we also know that he started life in the same position as ourselves —that is, " without any,' and then we ask, How did he Rain his money ? Why, by earnest hard work, frugality, honesty, aud sobriety; therefore, we, the Costley boys, have not only to love his memory for the benefits he has left the orphan, but we have a true and (food example to follow. There is a saying. " What man has done man can do." We are only boys now, but some day we shall be men ;uid citizens of Auckland, the same ae you are, dear friends, therefore, whv should we not the same, and make a name for ourselves worthy to be loved and respected bv our fellow men. We all have a good trade put into our hands; and by our exhibits- shown this evening, you may see we take an interest in, and are fond of, our work, and we mean to let you see what the Costley boys can do. We want to try and make not only the name of Mr. Coetlev remembered with respect, but also that of the Costley boys.

Mesdames Daldy and Goodwin gave a few words of kindly advice to the bo}'s, to the effect that though they should be grateful to the kind friends who had done so much for them, they also owed a debt of gratitude to a. beneficent Providence, which, ruled over all.

During the evening the Cosfcley boys, under the conductopship of Miss Lurnsden (who attends twice a week to train them in the tonic sol-fa system), rendered a couple of part songs, "The Hunter Hanged,"-* and " The Sun is Sinking in the West ;" and one of the boys, Thomas Bradley, sang very creditably " The Midshipmibe," the refrain being taken up by the lads. The Missos Hawkins contributed an instrumental duet, " The Sleigh Race," and also played the respective pianoforte and organ accompaniments. The meeting concluded with the Binding of the well-known hymn, " Abide with Me," and then the National Anthem. The visitors then inspected the building, more especially the classrooms and the workshop to see the work of the lads and girls. In one of the classrooms wore on view a variety of exhibit*. Among them we noted a vase of Oamaru stone surmounted with wood executed by Thomas Bradley, who ha.? developed quite a gift for turnery ; a gipsy table and louvred ventilator for coiling, in fretwork, by a boy named Johnson in the employ of the Kauri Timber Company ; a little vertical engine in full working order, also a pair of callipers, made by a boy named Sutton in the employ of the same company. A lad named Wade, working at Fair weather's, blacksmith, Grey-street, also had some good work dona in his third year ; H. Wilson, second year at Lonergan's, plumber, showed pips joints and a bush chimney ; A. Wilson, at Phillips, blacksmith's, Newton, a pair of horseshoes ; Trupp, first year, at (Joodacre's?, cooper, a small cask ; and S. O'Real, at Macrae's, cooper, had a similar exhibit; F. McUabe, four months at Atkin and Sons, a pair of pincers. There were six saddles from the establishment of Mr, Allen, saddler, made by five lads. One was an all-over hogekin exorcise saddle, fancy inlaid ; another a heavy stock saddle, while the remainder were ordinary town saddled. They were made by Parkes, third year ; Woods, fourth ; Buck, Negus, and Price, third. The workmanship w:ie very creditable. Edith Wilson and Eva Brett showed some good needlework, their exhibits being pillow-slips, chemises, night dresses, &c. The school exercise books of the lads were also placed on the table for inspection ; while on the walls were specimens of drawing and mapping, etc., done by the boy?, under tl*e instruction of tho Misses Hawkins. A number of tho visitors then went to the workshops, where the boys exhibited the lathe.* for wood and iron at work, and gave exhibitions of turnery. On returning to the main building light refreshments were laid out in the dininghall and served to the visitors, the boys also being suitably entertained. The visitors went away very much pleased with the Costley Institute and its management.