THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12954, 25 August 1905, Page 3

THE LEYS INSTITUTE.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. GENEROUS GIFTS. The ceremony of presenting the prizes won at. the recent draughts competition in connection with the Leys Institute Chess and Draughts Olub was performed by the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) in the presence of a large audience in the lecture-room at the institute last evening. Mr. T. W. Leys (president) occupied the chair. The Mayor said he was glad to see that the institute, in so short a period as fire months, had now become the home of such a numerous and enthusiastic draughts club. The faot that there were nearly 70 competitors for the prizes showed that the institute was evidently supplying a longfelt want. One of tie most important social questions of the day was that of supplying rational recreation for the young amid wholesome surroundings, and the way to solve it was by establishing such institutions as' the Leys Institute. Already 500 people were attending it, more or less regularly, and Auc&landers were therefore indebted to the founders—the late Mr. William Leys and Mr. T. W. Leys. The funds, he understood, had not been sufficient for the scheme which the president (Mr. T. W. Leys) desired, and ho therefore had much pleasure in following the example of the late Mayor, the Hon. E. Mitchelson, by donating an equal amount (£100) out of his Mayoral honorarium, and he would suggest that this should be applied towards the erection of a gymnasium in connection with the institute. (Applause.) The Mayor then presented gold medals to the winners of the first and second grades in the competitions. The recipients were Messrs. B. McKay and L. H. Tisehler respectively. A collection of photographs was presented to the winner of the third grade, Master J. S. Sparrow. The president moved a vote of thanks to , the Mayor for his generous donation, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. John Court, in speaking to the motion, announced that the president had said at a meeting of the Committee of Management that he (the president) was prepared to donate' another £100 also towards the erection of the gymnasium. He said that he felt sure that with the £300 which they would thus have in hand the Committee of Management would have no difficulty in raising a further sum. They hoped, therefore, that a gymnasium would be established in connection with the institution before next winter.

Votes of thanks were passed to the donors of the prizes," Messrs. T. W. Leys, J. Court, and G. Gregory.