BOYS’ INSTITUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11663, 30 October 1923, Page 2

BOYS’ INSTITUTE

" WINDERFUL ACTIVITY ”

GALL NIGHT ON OCCASION OF LORD JLLLICOE’ri VISIT.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL. An "at home’’ s-vvimmmg earnivnl was held at the Hoyu’ Institute last night on the occasion of a visit of inspection by Bis . (Excellency the GoieiiKii-General (Admiral Viscount Jellieoe). Ili-s Lxcolloncv was received by Mr G. A. Troup (president of the institute) and Airs Troup; and amongst those also present were the Mayor (Mr R. A. Alright, M.P.). the Mnvoress, His Honour Sir Frederick Chapman, Sir J P. Luke, M.P., Mrs Moorhonso (lion, president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary), Mrs J. Hislop (president), Mrs Georgo Brown (secretary), Mrs Bell (treasurer), Councillor Mrs McVicar, and Mesdames J. McCanow, Bruce, Christie, o.nd Slant (members of the- Ladies' Auxiliary), Councillor and Mrs A. R. Atkinson, Councillor and Mrs C H. Chapman, Air and Mrs C. 13. Morris (members of the executive), Mr d. Myers (president of the Chamber of Commerce), Air and Mrs P. Myers, Messrs J, Hislop (vice-presi-dent of the institute), W. A. Porton, C. M. Luke, and L. Birks. A hundred of the Boys’ Institute Cadets, under Lieut. Dutton, with whom were Lieuts Baeham, Hislop and Ward, acted as the guard of honour. Promptly at 8 p.m. His Excellency drovo up ir. his motor-car and the Institute Band, twenty-five strong, under Bandmaster lremonger, struck up the National Anthem. His Excellency inspected the guard of honour and the band, complimenting them on their smart, appearance; and was afterwards shown ]>y the president and committee over the Institute, visiting the various classes then in session. SPORTS IN TEPID BATHS. The carnival in the tepid bath included a fine resuscitation drill and life-saving display by the Lyall Bay Life-Saving Club—ll. Winstanley, D. Murrell, L. Jones, F. Thomas, L. Beggs, Cl. Thomas, F. Mollier, and E. S. Evans (captain); a clever exhibition of fancy (living by Mr W. Hicks, ex-New Zealand champion; a boys' swimming race— Institute Junior 160 ft Handicap, which was won by H. Houton; and a most excellent exposition of life-saving and restoration by the Training College lady students—Miss B. Cartwright (instructress) and Misses F. Martin, B. Knell, G. Day, S. Craiuner, V. Craven, and U. Wilkie. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. The following sports trophies were then presented by His Excellency to the prize-winners*. — Rugby, sixth class, soven-a-eide—A. Leggat (captain), A. Stohr, H. Burridge, T Montgomery, S. Ward, V. Clark, G. Essen. . Rugby, seventh class, seven-a-side. —It. Watson, J. Wright, E. Barclay, G. Diack, A Pengally, T. Kane, B. Brown. Soccer, six-a-side—L. Davidson, P. O’Connor, O. Weaver, W. Patton, T. Shaw, E. Roberts. Mc-Whae Cup. (open to all primary schools)—Marist Brothers’ School, Newtown. (100 yards; D. Scanlon; high jump: F. Marshall; 120 yards: D. Scanlon; throwing the cricket ball: JWhite). . Junior athletic championship—lt. Kida. Intermediate athletic championship— A. Mauson. Senior athletic championship—E. Peterson (also special medal presented ‘by Messrs Mayer and Kean). - Four-mile Harriers’ Race —v. Du Chateau 1, E. J- Taylor 2 •_ Boxing champiojiship—Senior, H. EUhsj Ln.terro*»dia.t%* T. Adame; junior, A. O’Neil and J. Glover (tie). Other boxing prizes: Reginald Masters, Ernest Farrow, Robert Masters. AT SUPPER THANKS TO HIS EXCELLENCY. The Governor-General and other guests were afterwards entertained at supper m the dining-hall. On behalf of the management committee the staff, and the Boys’ Institute, Mr Troup thanked His Excellency for’ the visit that he had paid to the institute. Apart altogether from the real pleasure it had been, to all of them to have him there his visit to the institute would be helpful in a great many ways. The boys, bo was sure, would not forget the evening for many years to come. It would be an incentive, to them to aspire to better things; and the staff, ho was sure, would be cheered by his presence, and would find their work with the boys iruch easier for many months to come. Hi > visit also would help the management committee, in so far as it would clinch all tho tighter that public sympathy and assistance without which no institution of that kind could possibly hoped to abide or.to prosper. (Applause.) THE ATHLETIC SIDE.

Mr Troup then briefly reviewed the various activities of the institute, which, besides boarders, bad some 700 day boys dealing with the religious, the educational, and the athletic sides of its work. Anongst other things, they taught the boys swimming and life-saving, fie bh lieved the institute held more life-sav-ing certificates than any other south of the Line (Applause.) It was very strong' in athletics, teaching gymnastics, and having Rugby, Soccer, harrier, cricket, and other clubs. At the present time, said Mr Troup, they had every Saturday afternoon 28 cricket teams in the field, which, with emergency players, meant some 350 boys every Saturday. He did pot know of any other institution in the Dominion which sent out so many. It required a conßiderabie amount of woric and organisation; and their director (Mr F. Butler) and his staff saw to that. The aim of the institute, in a word, wne to produce men—God-fearing men, law-abiding men, loyal citizens, and useful men. < (Applause.) The institute had been in existence some thirty-five' years, and he tHat anyone who had been in Wellington that time could say that ii had not altogether failed in its objocive. (Applause.) They were delighted to have His Excellency with them. He had conferred a great honour and favour and service on the insfTlute, which they would not forget. (Applause.) He called for three cheers lor His Excellency, which were given with a will, as were three cheers more for Lady Je.liicoe.

HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY. In reply, His .Excellency said that it was very -difficult l'or him to find words in which to express the very real pleasure which his visit to the institute had given him. From tho moment that he got out of his cur and saw first of all the fine* guard of honour until the present moment, he had been both interested and exceedingly pleased. (Applause.) He .said advisedly ''until the present, moment,” because he hated the piescnt moment ns it found him on his feet. (Laughter and applause.) There had been every sort ot' thing to soe. He had seen what one term a township training its citizens (Applause.) Ho could not conceive of any work deserving greater gratitude from the whole community than such work ns was carried on in tho institute; and it was work which reflected ihe Uitm'ist j>ossibJe credit upon everybody connected with it—from the

staff, who, ho was sure, deserved everything ihat could -possibly he said of them, to those ladies and gentlemen who interested themselves nightly in the institute. "ELOQUENT TESTIMONY.” The very interesting history of tho work which had hocn given to them by Mr Troup had shown him what a really wonderful activity was being carried on in that building and outside it. The mere fact that on Saturday afternoons some 300 hoys wore sent onl to piny cricket, who might otherwise be loafing and doing no good at. all, was eloquent testimony to wha.r could bo done by organisation! by hard work, and by good work, lie knew, of course, that these results could not possibly be achieved without those throe qualities goodwill, hard work, and real organisation. The organisation, lie assumed, was due to the talent of the directing staff; and he had seen a little of that that evening at the time of the presentation of tile prizes in the swimming baths. THE BRITISH SPIRIT. He thought that one of the things that interested him most was the gymnasium class of boys; and what struck him very much was the spirit shown by the little chap with only one leg. He took it as significant of ’the spirit which was imbued into the boy® inside the building—that spirit which was typical of the Dominion, and, he might say, of the Britisher; the spirit which knew no defeat, which uo physical disability was going to prevent a youngster or a man from taking just as big a share in the life before him as though he had all his faculties intact. He could not really fiDd words, added His Excellency, to express his deep appreciation at having been asked to come there. His one regret was that that was the first time that he had really seen the activities of the Institute. He had heard of them, he had been inside the Institute before, in the swimming baths, but he had never really appreciated the work which was being carried out there until he had had that opportunity given him that evening. He would once again like to congratulate everybody concerned on the really magnificent work being done at the Institute; and he ventured to express the earnest hope that that work would go forward and would continue in the very successful career that it was embarked upon at the present time. (Loud applause.) X verse of the National Anthem closed the proceedings.