The Boys’ Institute.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1060, 23 June 1892, Page 36

The Boys’ Institute.

THE BOY6’ INSTITUTE.

FORMAL OPENING,

ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR,

The BoyJ Institute, which has just been erected in Victoria street at the foot of the Cuba street extension, was formally opened yesterday week by H s Excellency the Governor, in the presence of a large gather, ing of ladies and gentlemen. Amongst the assemblage were M r George Fisher, M.H.R., Mr J. Joyc% M.H. R. (Lyttelton), Ven Archdeacon Stock, the Revs J. J. Lewis, G. J. Allon, H. Van Staveren, J. K. Elliitt, C. Dallaston, T. H. Sprott and J. Paterson, Captain Edwin, Drs Pollen and Fell, Councillors Anderßon and Ilaroonrt, Messrs E. W. Mills, J. P. Maxwell, W. T. Glasgow, and J. E. Pago (Town Clerk). At 3.30 p.m. precisely the Vice-regal carriage, escorted by a couple of mounted troopers, drovo up in a shower of rain, and a moment later His Excellency, accompanied by Lady Glasgow, Miss Hallowes and Captain Hunter Blair (Private Secretary), entered the building, and were escorted to their seats on the platform by Mr J. G W. Aitken (President of the Boys’ Institute), Seats on the platform were also taken by Mr Aitken (who was in the chair), Dr Newman, M.H.It., and Mr J. Duthio, M:H.R. Bunting formed the sole decoration, the Scottish flag, with its lion rampant, being stretched across the wall at the back of the platform, while two strings of flags were stretched diagonally across the ceiling from corner to corner meeting in the centre. The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the following address to the Governor, which had been gratuitously engrossed and illuminated on parchment by Mr W. ft. Bock, of the firm of Bock and Co. :

To His Excellency the Earl of G 1 :sgow, G.0.M.G., Governor of New Zealand. May it please Your Excellency—The Comrait’te of the Boys’ Institute desire to express their thanks to Your Excellency for so readily consenting to open this building. The building has been erected by public subscription, and is fitted up for the purpose of affording a means of education and recreation to boys, who as a rule are to be found in our streets with nothing to do during the evenings. In many cities in Britain and in the neighbouring colonies similar institutions have been started, and have proved to be very successful and popular. The committee hope by careful management to make this Institute a success, their one object being to help the hoys who come under its influence to grow up to he true men. To this end a reading-room has been provided, and a gymnasium has been fitted up, and in due course the committee hope to have classes formed for instruction in such branches of knowledge as may be found desirable. Signed on behalf of the committee, John G. W. Aitken, President. S. G. Martin. Secretary and Treasurer. We'lington, 15th June, 1892. His Excellency, who was received with applause, said : —Ladies and Gentlemen, — 1 am extremely glad that on this, my first public appearance in the Colony, I should be asked to take part in the openiug of an undertaking of Bucb great n.-efulness and promise as that of the Boys’ Institute in which we are now assembled. I say that, ladies and gentlemen, because I think anything connected with the welfare of the young generation which is now springing up is of the utmost importance to the community. (Applause.) The character of the generation that has already grown up is formed ; for good or bad they cannot be much other than they are. But what is of the utmost interest to the public is the manner in which the future generation shall be brought np. I understand that this Institute has been built for the excellent and laudable purpose of affording instruction and amusement to those boys whose homes perhaps aro not so comfortable as they might be, and who have no particular amusement provided for them In the evenings. (Applause.) Here they will have th-> opportunity of combining instruction with amusement and of passing their evenings iu a useful and instructive way. I can imagine nothing better for them Shan such an insti tutieu as this. Iu these days of education and of greater refinement than was attainable by past generations it is very necessary that the youth of the country should have the means given them of amusing themselves in a rational way. I am glad also to think that this institution will be the means of promoting those amusements of a muscular character which increase the health and the stamina of the generation that is now growing up. (Applause) Ladies and gentlemen, an institution of this sort, I fancy, should possess a library, but I do not know whether that c'tncs within the scope cf Mr Aitken’s nr the Committee’s intentions. (To Mr Aitken.) Is it so ? [Mr Aitken : Yes.] There is no doubt that it is of the utmost importance that boys should have the means of amusing themselves in the way of reading. And I say that if one can only feel certaiu of the books boys read and the company they beep, and can be assured that these are satisfactory, one will at once know that the manner in which they will be ocuupied will also be satisfactory. ( Applause.) Bat, after all, to provide thrm with an institution like this is only one step iu the direction of bettering the condition and encouraging the improvement cf the young generation. After all, boys must mix with the world, and it is not enough to give them amusement and instruction. We must render them capable of fighting their v/jy iu the world and of being able to withstand the evil influences which they may meet therein. For that purposo we must inculcate in the minds of the boys eelf-respect and self-discipline. A boy will never beaome a useful man unless he not only respects himself, but is able to discipline himeolf and to keep himself from mixing with the evil ho finds in the Colony. And therefore I think when this admirable institution has bean started

there is yet a further step wo ought to take for the advantage and usefulness of the boys of this country. I am saying this after consultation with Mr Aitken, who thoroughly agrees with what I am now going to say. I do not know if you are aware of an admirable institution which found its being in my own country, Scotlaud, and which has gradually spread ail over the world. I allude to an institution oalled tho Boy s’ Brigade. (Applause.) The Bovs’ Brigade was not ushered into the world with lofty aspiratiors. it began in a very email way. A most excellent man in Glasgow, an accountant there and a Volunteer officer, who took an interest in Sunday sohools, and in the boys’ schools there, observed from his contact with the boys in Glasgow that there was a want of discipline among them, and that they thought of nothing but amuse meat, and were prone to a great deal of misohiof. And the thought struck him “ If I could get them to take to something which would give them au idea of discipline and cf keeping themselves UDder control, it would be doing the best thing for them.” It was through the exertions of this gentleman—Mr Smith—that the Idea of the Boys’ Brigade was liiot started. I do not know whether you are aware of the manner in which it is worked. It h begun in a distriot by a company being started, recruits being obtained, officers appointed, and a suitable room being procured. The proceedings open with prayer. The boys are affordod a little religious instruction, and they are taught drill. The whole outfit for each boy costs 3s, which provides a uniform cap, a wooden musket, and a badgs to be worn on the boy’s arm. The drill serves to keep them from getting into mischief ; their association together imbues each lad with the ambition of proving himself the best in the Brigade, and they soon become careful not to do anything which would lead to their being expelled. I therefore beg to put before you the idea of starting a Boys’ Brigade in Ibis town as a means of promoting the welfato of the boys in the direction in which you have so admirably started with this institution. Wo are met to day for the purpose of opening tho institution whose function, as I have said, is to provide amusement and instruction for the boys of the town. I have m doubt that you have got an admirable site. I see that you have put up an excellent building upon it, and I hope the project to which you have addressed yourselves will be tho means of affording ratioual amusement to the boys of this towD, and of contributing generally to their improvement. I understand that there is a gymnasium in tho rear, and no doubt as time goes on the means of amusement will be increased as that becomes possible. I am sorry to understand tha this Institution opons with a certain amount of debt, but I atn at the same time gl?-d to learn there is a possibility by means of a bnz>ar cr some other purpose of that debt being cleared off. I can only pay I earnestly hope the debt on the building at present will soon be wiped out, and the institution started on a free basis. I also under tand that the funds at the disposal of the Committee do not admit of their having any paid official in charge of this building, and that the Com mittee themselves are in the most laudable manner going to provide all that is neoi ssary by taking npon themselves in turn the duty of attending here in the evonings. I hope in time as the institution fl lurishes, you may be able to have a paid attendant in oharge of the building who will be able to look after the boys and to instruct and amuse them. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I think nothing remains for me now but to declare this building open and to wish the institution every success. (Loud Applause.) Mr J. Duthio, M.H.R , next addressed the gathering. He wished at the outset to correct the popular delusion that the boys of this city were more of a hoodlum or larrikin class than the boys of any other city. Such an idea was both unjust fled and uncalled for. He deplored the prevalence of strong language at street corners, and he admitted that the street corners of a city woie very bad schools for boys to resort to. But as His Excellency had pointed out, the bonces in which a large number of these boys lived did not afford proper accommodation for them, and at night consequently they were diiven out to the streets. Mr Dnthie went on to say that our records of crime would compare most favourably with those of any other city he knew of. He was sure the Boys’ Institute was likely to do an incalculable amount of good. The hours of work were shorter here than In the Old Country, but the larger amount of lelsnre thus afforded was a questionable advantage unless it were turned to good accou t. The Institute was admirably adapted to find that bsnefic’al employment in leisure hours, and to instil thos ■ habits of application whioh would redound to the advantage of the lads who resorted to it. He begged to move a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Aitken, the Committee and their secretary (Mr Martin) for their zeal in establishing the institute. The vote was passed by %c:l.nnation Dr Newman, M.H.R., thought that of all the questions with which a public man had to de« , th« education of tho young was by far the most important. The Governor would i ecognise that the most valuable part of our p ilitic il system was our national system of education. No doubt he had been told of our glorious scenery, which the newspapers were never tired of cracking up but he thought His Exoellenoy would fled better scenery still to gaze at if he visited tho Mount Cook or Clyde quay public schools. (Applause and laughter ) Any New Zealander who visited the Old Country and saw the schools there mast come back feeling enthusiastic about our own schools and the children contained in them (Applause.) As the Yankee Baid, 4 There is do use wasting a 2000 dollar education upon a 2CO dollar boy.” But our hoys were 2000 dollar boys, and therefore the education provided by the State was not wasted upon them. (Laughter and applause ) 'The Doctor proceeded to enlarge upon tho efficiency of the national *ystem of education. In passing through our villages, His Excellency would always find one prominent feature—not tho publichouse or the squire’s castle—but a handsome , State school, full of healthy, children.

(Applause.) After defending the youth of the Colony from the oharge of larrikinism and oompariDg them favourably with the children, and even with the students, at Home, w th whom he had been associated, and referring to the testimony borne by our criminal statistics, the Doctor proceeded to point out that establishments like the Boys’ Institute would look after lads after they left school. Personally, he would like to see our system of education carry on the work of instruction from babyhood right up to manhood. A Boys’lnstitute of necessity required a library, and as there were about 300 people gathered together in the room, if everyone of them furnished four volumes, the Committee would be at once furnished with a stock of 1200 volumes. He had told Mr Aitken he would send in his four volumes, and got some of his friends to do likewise. As Ibbetson said, “ Every child should be bred to be a nobleman,” and as we bad really fine children he hoped we would bring them up to be true noblemen. Every office in the State was open to them except that of Governor, and there were many people who believed that even this office should be elective. (Laughter and applause.) The Chairman read the following letter which he had received from the Mayor—who was absent for n reason with which they all sympathised : —“Wellington, 15th June, 1892—Dear Mr AitkeD, —I regret that I cannot attend the opening of tho Boys’ In stitute to-day. I have no doubt that you and the Committee will kindiy excuse mo I shall be happy to subscribe my third quarter’s salary as Mayor (25 guineas) towards the furnishing of the Institute ; the first two quarters are otherwise disposed of. Yours truly, H. D. Bell.” (Loud applause.) He had also received apologies from the Chief Justice (Sir James Prendergast), Mr Justice Richmond, the Hou Mr Reeves, Mr Beetkam, and one or two others. The only fear the Committee had with regard to the Institute was that it would be overcrowded, and that the Wellington public might expect more from them in the first year than they would be able to do. lie hop d. therefore, the public would be lenient with them, as they were rather raw

and green at the work to whioh they were addressing themselves. It was not the in tention to draw boys there who had comfortable homes of their own—for a boy was best nt home—bnt to provide for those who had cheerless homes. He wished, in the name of the Committee, to thank the Wellington public for having so generously responded to the appeal made to them l2 months ago in respect of the Institute. Still there was a debt of £2OO, for which the Committee had had to give a personal guarantee to the bank, but he was sure the public would not allow that responsibility to remain long on their shoulders. With the view of allowing those present to show their sympathy and goodwill it had been arranged that a collection should be taken up. The collection was then taken up, and with the donation of 25 guineas from the Mayor, yielded £63 7s. His Exoellenoy the Governor giving a cheque for £lO, and Mr E. K. Yuilie contributing £5. At tha call of tho Chairman the audience rose and gave three hearty' cheers for Lord and Lady Glasgow. His Excellency said : I have to thank you very heartily for tne kind reception wbiefi you have given Lady Glasgow and mysolf, and I have also to thank the C mmittee for tho beautifully emblazoned address which has been handed me by Mr Aitken. I sincerely hope this institution will be as groat a success as it deserves to be under the superintendence of such a publio spirited Committee. This concluded the proceedings. His Excellency and Lady Glasgow were shown over the building, and as they left three oheers were given for Her Ladyship. Mr W. Crichton was the architect for the Institute, Messrs Emeny and Hitchens wore the builders, Messrs W. Dean and Sons the bricklayers, Mr George Snaddon the plumber, and Messrs Carpenter and Jackson the painters. Tho contract price was £353.