ROTARY CLUB

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11655, 20 October 1923, Page 7

ROTARY CLUB

BOYS’ NIGHT AT TOWN HALL MONSTER AND MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTERTANMENT. “Boys’ Night,* s the monster entertainment provided at the Town Hall last night by the Wellington Rotary Club fur the boys of the upper standards of the public schools, proved a great success. Never before, probably, has the Town Hall been such a scone of whole-hearted enjoyment. Long before 7.30 p.m., the time fixed for the opening, big. boys, little boys, tall boys, short boys, thin boys, fat boys, dark boys, fair boys, boys of all grades ; and all shades, were concentrating on the Town Hall from all points of the compass; and a bumper house, bright, i breezy, and very vocal, rewarded the | kind haste who had laid themselves oui 'to give- the youngsters a good time. Prior to the entertainment, Jupp’s Band marched from the Y.M.C.A. to the Town HaJlj and played a number of appropriate selections at the front entrance. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir Francis Bell) occupied a front seat in the body of Hie hall; and among those also present were Sir John Luke, M.P., Canon Fsilden Taylor, Messrs P. Fraser and R. McKeen, M.lVs, and a good sprinkling of ladies. The boys were in great- form, and so were their entertainers. On mounting the platform, Mr C. C. Odlin (president of the club) was received with loud appKuse and cheers, a referee's whistle end a megaphone having to bo requisitioned to gain him a hearing. He briefly but heartily welcomed the guests of the evening; and then, at the cull of Mr J. >l. A. Arlott (the 1 megay-honist), the boys 6ang with , great vigour and enthusiasm a verso !of the National Anthem.

B3' way of allowing them to blow off steam—a very wise precaution, no doubt—the boys were then put through a course of community singing by Mr W. J. Mason, M # r Harry Wilson, and Mr J. W. Carr presiding at the piano. “Peggy O’Neill/’ “Abe, My Boy,” “Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold,” “Early in the Morning,” and “Land of Hope and Glory’ s were the songs chosen. The boys, though somewhat vociferous in their renderings, showed a good_knowledge of the times; and they certainly allowed no feeling of bashfulnese to prevent them joining in the singing with great gusto and manifest enjoyment. A VARIED PROGRAMME.

A very fine and varied programme followed. -Songs were sung by Master Billy Cooley (‘‘The Swallows”), and Mr Howard Foster (“Up from Somerset-”); tiie Boys’ Institute junior team gave a very excellent- physical drill exhibition, and tho Y.M.C.A. juniors an admirable gymnastic display. A clever entertainment at the pianoforte -was contributed bv Mr Frank Andrews, and a most laughable Punch and Judy show by Mr R. G. Denton, and an instrumental item by the Boys* Institute Band; while Mr Les Martin (from His Majesty’s Theatre) greatly delighted the audience with his “Odds and Ends on the Violin.” The boys, also, thoroughly enjoyed the cinematograph show provided—and a mirth-provoking Oeufcury I comedy. “Red-Hot Rivals.” Mr Andrews ami Mr Les Martin were most heartily and deservedly encored; and the physical drill and gymnastic displays were also specially appreciated. THE PRESIDENT’S GREETINGS. Giving Greetings to the guests of the Rotary Chib, the president said that th?. entertainment marked the beginning of “Boys’ Week,” when the busines;; men and the boys of the citj would join hands in a. movement to fo ctis attention upon the nation I ** great asset, its boys. The school teachers were caring for the hoys well while they were at school. The Rotary Club was more concerned with them after they left school. He strongly advised them to stay at school as long as they could, to learn all they could, to cultivate good, clean minds and healthy bodies, and to respect their teachers and their ciders. Good manners, g-cod habits, he said, went to make a real man. In their spar© time they would do well to join siicli movements as the Boys’ feecuts and tho Young Citizens’ League, which would teach them how to occupy their leisure usefully and happily. They should remember that the GovernorGeneral (Admiral Viscount Jelticoe) was the chief scout; and they could not do hotter than follow his example. (Applause.) Mr Odlin urged the boys, while at school, to bo good sports and learn to play the game and smile when they lost a game, for tho other fellow must- win sometime.

After leaving school, he said, they should have a hobby and learn a trade, remembering that a- good trade was a bank account for life. The Rotary Club was considering a suggestion to appoint a committee of business men to visit the public schools in December next, on a date to meet the hoys and girls who were leaving school, and give them «o*me Rotary advice about their future. Next Sunday he hoped that the byys would all attend church and Sunday School, and take their fathers and mothers with them. They should tell theitr parents that it was up to them to support the Rotary Sunday and stand by the boy. CANON FEILDEN TAYLOR'S SPEECH. Stirring five minutes’ addressee were also delivered by Rotarian G. A. Troup (president of tho Boys’ Institute) and Canon Fcildon Taylor. Unliko himself, said Canon Taylor, the boys before him possessed an undeveloped to-morrow; and that tomorrow would be what thev made it Cm© of tlieso days these now *boy& would be the Mayor and councillors of Wellington, tho Parliamentarians of "Wellington, the business men and the citizens of Wellington. To-morrow was theirs; what they made of that tomorrow would largely depend upon what they were themselves, upon what they made of themselves. Let them remember that; and, for goodness sake, let them make their to-morrow better than to-day, ( Applause). Hearty votes of tnanks and a verse of the National Anthem closed the pro- ; ©codings.

TO-MORROW’S PROGRAMME.

On Sunday as will he seen in the incidental advertisement, the second part of the programme is due. Jt represents th© serious side ol the work undertaken. Arrangements have been made tr> attend the various services, boys and Rotarians together, and services will be given by the various pas tors, in the shape of talks both to the boys who arc t h-e fathers of the men of the future, and to the parents wins arc tho fathers and mother* of the boys of the present. As about -11-tm were present at the Town Hall on Monday night, the seating capacity ol the various churches will ho tested to morrow. Earl 3* attendance all round is particularly requested, and parent arc requested to come with their boys