A SPLENDID BEGINNING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 911, 2 September 1910, Page 6

A SPLENDID BEGINNING.

BOYS' INSTITUTE CAMPAIGN OPENED. LORD ISLINGTON'S ACTIVE HELP. £10,000 WANTED. i ____________ MEETINB..

/• ■'":"'.His Excellency tiie:,Governor;and;iady ;i..;lslington'- assisted: last','-.night • to. giyo an '}. auspicious itart to -the jcollecting jeam- ;-■'; paign of the; Boys': Institute. : > The object' .:.'' of tho .promoters is .to /'collect..-410,000:. : ,-: Half '■■ of; this sum is 'to.>be devoted to, the ".Erection 6(''\a .new "•', building >■ for the ;■ institute/: 'ati.i. a', site.':'.;'pcdfi ;,.the •.,' Basin ; ■ Keserve, ■ which.'has 'been -given', for'; the -;•' purpose by.a' lady, who prefers to'remain V.'anonymous::.'-The other JCSOOO -is 'to vbe .': ■used'; in ..'creating .an' endowment for;.'the; .: institute.,. Lord/,.lslington,-. who{had. val;. ' : i- ready.' shown a .warm'' interest :in the, ini f/Btitiite i.and its ;'work,' took ..the "/chair.. , at ■ ■ a. large! liieeting/whicli' was ;• held-'. last V. , night in-; Messrs.; Kirkcaldio'and StainVs -tea-room.: He was-accompanied by. Lady; x .'lslington,''• and ': with, them' on;;the plat-. : -form, wore. , Lady jWard and\.Mrs.;.S.;A. ; Ehodes.l.'" 'Among:'] th6se;.%esent..were: the' >CHom>X)r,i Mridlay. aud.Mr.fA.'j p^ Herd-;. :: v jrian,"M.P. The : enthtisiasm of the. meet- ,' ing" was: marked, and the speech delivered '•'••;■■ by : Lord'.'lsiiiiKlon .contribuiediDOwerfully- :;:. to; this" : resnlt.^;;'-",, ; 'v/\/;- ;, ' 1 -:■■■■■'•■'■■ ■'.?■'■■ : -' ; ; .tApY^jSLI^GTPN^WELcbMEp;'^- 1 -: : " "Miss. Coate'a -'briefly 1 ..welcomed;: lady; ;■: .Islington, .making special reference to the : ;,fact- that: this : was J Her-firstj appearance,; .; : .9n''.'a Wellington' platform;■•"■::!'' : -i;■;*■' :' ■:; v' ;>'..,Miss:-.(sfiddori Iwas. elected';.recording Secretary v of ; -the. moveincnlvr-Mrs.. ,;\V; Y Brown V aijd: 1 . Messrs. /.Crawford,:.-';', Young , , oVand'P..', Kbenaii;'cprrespp'ndiug'; secrctdries,: ■•'' Jlissei' Joseph and , ' Miles,;, and ;' Messrs. y:;Av ; T: v Clark ; : and/O. Selected'!'treasurers/ ;;:,:>-..' ...v.-v;':'.- >■ '■■. ; ; >;LORa;JSLINIGJON'S'TiDDRESS.,:;; ."".;:■- His;'EiMllency, '.. -. Coates. for.her ; words> of'hyelobnie;' -to'.-'Lady'-:"Islingtonjon her -.first;.;appearance: liefore '.. a audience , , .said ;■ h«.; looted .; ■iipon':. the ob'jecte of. the -.: Boys , '.' Institute :- as most essential'to;the;welfare''of ..Wei-: ': lington. and the .Dominion of-,'New;, Zea? .'; land.'-'; .He';.wasjttherefore,'..'exceedingly' : . pleased to.'be:among;i)hose' wli'oliad ; epulis'; . for.ward to: promote "tlie .'welfare', and'.adr" Taiicement ■ of,;' tlie.'institute.'.' The; institnte:;iiad D .depended , heretofore on. priyate :.;lelp,' and.- he ?wouldV. like.:to;- seo.: : it' con-' '■■ ; tiniie. : to do-' so';if: possible: :'v He. [realised, 'and appreciated "the great amount of help. ■ •and support given ; by Statejto..mariy"groups 'of tlie community,- lmt the rßoys' , .;;lnstitute- though^:closely; ■'.allied'with-'some '.of the.best work- of), the, State/ was. suppofted'-.entholy/.lDy.-pfiyate; '; ;fhe ■■inStitute ; ' i was ;,-'doingi and inad' been doing ;witlivconsia- :, erable' success 'during; pnst years,,iva'si.to -.- train.;'and {mould. , .'the; oTiaracfersi; of ;,the.. !-boys'.vwho'; came Sunder., its:, influence,; and : >' ; -to- offer. t'o. ; tiem : tie "opportunity'to .de-i '■'•.-. Telop'-vand '' mature : ■'. those. fineV:eharacter r S-isties;%hd qualities..;that :miglitV'6therwise. :vi.lie latent within;fhemw;;;i.;-. : ,:- : -:^ : .; \ ;.;j: 'V'.-. ; .. v l'.'- ■'■ :'-i : : : v;V ;J A^Retrospeci.;, '-" : :-,fi-^'-.yp, : ... He, presumed '.that-, all;' fKose/present; api.' ■."•' preciated the •immense'socjalj 'ivalue"of the wort 'of tlie institute.;,-4t. o'was .opened,, in- the,'year.lß93^-ty",-,one ..ot ;; .(his Lord-. Glasgow, , .- arid: there " -.were'- sfill. gentlemen":'-'connected ■ withv; it ■ ,who: .were among- the/first* yice-presidents. ■.with:: varying' fortunes, '.the. ; institute ,had;;contiriueu':;.to; niaintain'jaud -; increase J nnd. its xisef nl; and-bene- ■' .Ecent :wofk. • Two years ago there were 200 ':■-Txiys;under:, its",.influence'; thereV;were!23o '~! 3 ast!:year; ■and,''to-dayinp. J .fewer|_tlian;3oo : were'en joying thebepefits;of-the ! insti.tu]te: ■'-. - ; (Applause.):, There 'had ..feii.' a; congenial. .'.,.■ and.happ y: home.-tvithin the walls of the. ;;institute '~for: . tie 'lxiys.v of -. parents;, em-f.-iployed 'in the, , vario'ns:.industrial ,-:'■■• tions.! 'of the''-city; :ahd; thoy ..had >been .'-'.- given-'' Qppb'rtuiities ,; of ' '■ deyelopilig ; any vyiiatar^-aHlities ,, 't)iey^mighj;v'iioss(sssi»BM-: : acquiring and maturing, in early life those ',' qualities: and: dispositions ■that ..would ;en-.-'i 'able;:'them'v ; to.; grow..;up ,*and',:take their V-: : places.v^ith.''-roredit; m-. whatever,: careers' ■ .they.might- enter upon. :'■;'■?';•■ •'.'. ■".■ '/■'.'

■ V : '.;''-:: . '; ■\:\~''--; : .,, ■/;'■ - ■ hopo and ambition of ■Mγ.. Troup. arid:the.active,committee, ited- with =Hiih'" to.Wtcnd, and 'enlarge, the i ■scope. and influence 'of.' the institute ;to a''.very .'-material, degree, and that hope,;had ■ beenprecipitated- by\ the generous offejYo.f. ".eired.rfor' the. time being,' to--be,i].nony- ; moris l -r{applause)T- ; and.'ivho, .had offered .a '■ substantial: site; -in■'■■ a central 'part'/of- ■: the.' city,'" on : which;; a new 'institute . might.';. be erected, -on/. more comprehensive .lines.;'. than ;the pW,".6ent'"premises.' ' It' .'-was .a 'condition :lof:this;'generpus gift that'.the. new build--Ing should -, be commenced' before : June'.'of .- next'year, :';and .that ■ ,was- the i.main reason for calling that meeting! ,with ( ■''■a view : to.organisihg..a:generil!appeal /to 'the.public; ricogwseoVand.Mt.' : Troup . and; jtlie committeo ..recognised,' that the .present (time might'not be the most fav- ' ourable.: : for -■'■ making ': '• '-'an- I .=. appeal l ; .io the public.' of A;Wellington,'- : in view ■.■•'of. the'.unqualified" .success of the lat'j effort on ; behalf ■ of: the. Children's. : Hos.'pital—a : upon;' which." he /desired. to .congratulate; the Mayor arid Mayoress! .(Applause.)', -Whilst- it would, perhaps, ;fca,ye',been.better.Hhat,.the appeal .'for; the Boys' Institute", should have been' ; post-' poned'ifor a- few months', so as to "allow the public to recuperate after their, late trials,Vstill they .must admit' that there .was solid reason.for.com ing forward now.

: '■'.; v ;.-; ; .." New Branch of. Work; . v : • Another °' condition. attached to the gift of the eitc was that. the hew; building must provide : accommodation tor orphan iioya and for. boys who; were not living vith their, parents,'; and who-'■were getting wages" not of- less than 18s.. a. week, to have ahome and be. cared for by.those responsible jor the, carrying on of tho, institute.'. 'That was : an admirabde project, and would. be of the greatest beneit to boys of-fourteen' to sixteen years o{.:'age. ; (Appla'use.)> ;It. was; also, proposed to provide in. the new. building,'a' gymnasium, swimmiiigbokth, and lecture rooms, so ; that the institute.would be a well-equipped, club tor boys living' at home, as well as:a home, for orphan boys., The estimated cost of'the whole .scheme was-something like ..£10,000..'-.Designs: had been drawn for. a building. to cost to .£7500, but 'the ■ sale of. the old building would, reduce this by dE2500 There, would also be a large additional annual expense, because the new building would provide much moTe 'accommodation than the present one,, and also because cost, of maintaining the orphan boys as referred to was; expected , to■ be. 2s. or 3s.' per• head : per weok over and. above tho payments which the boys themselves • would, make. It was..therefore, hoped to raise an-endowment so that the administrators of the institution would . not have to.depend entirely on subscriptions and,donations to meet tho expenditure. .Three Reasons for. Present Action. There were three ' reasons why Mr. Troup iwas anxious ,to begin the. effort ; at once. The first was that the erection of the building hod to be commenced by next June.. The.second was that lie hf.d promised to give, way at, the end of the year to a 'scheme for collecting money for, another: object; ;and the. third was that, if the matter, was postponed now,' he feared some other schemo' would jump in and tako its place. "Doubtless there are many other schemes that might appeal to us in Wellington," said/his Excellency, "but for, the moment I am . here to support thie, particular scheme and in view of the immense benefits of this institute, it Avould lie a thousand pities if that kind gift should be unavailable on account of failure to comply with

tlie. condition that the building must be begun before next June.' Ho was strongly of opinion that there was. hardly any undertaking that would redound ~to thoikenent 'of the future of thu, Dominion more-than that'of-taking; care in.every way possible. of the , young generation. . Ho had already become an enthusiastic partisan for. New Zealand.' (Applause.) He : was going to watch; and,; he hopefl, help .wherever he;could, in. ; the: progress aricf advancement in every sense and form of New Zealand during his stay here.. He realised the enormous progress Kew Zealand 1 had; already made, and lie wanted it .to - Vgc. still ic-n? ard;, with leaps and strides. • To do this-they must hot rely only: upon their resources and ■ trade! but they must have a'.fine .people-as well. ,1 .commend tlie institute strongly to ; your, support," concluded his. Excellency, "and I 'promise -for myself, and; Lady Islington. ;that-throughopt the work ypivhave'before -j-ou,' you may: rely "upon active ■ cooperation." {.(Much: , japplause.) ;: "'' ;.;. -

:l\ :■;/OTHER SPEAKERS; V- :■.:,' ; •Mγ.. A. '.],.'. Herd ru an, M.P.; woved.— ■ ';;"That this.meeting approves of the :. : work^about-to; be'undertaken•"•■by > the.-. ■ Boys': Institute, and commends- it to ■ / : the. citizens as : being/."'worthy■ "of sup-, i.'.port." , ,' .: v : , '■■■ ■ . : \\. /' v --'■';.■:.,;': .''■:,'■■''■: ' The.''mov«r.'.sfUd- ; he:,knew .of no cauiso' ■iuthe oity'that, vas'moie thoroughly .do-". , .eerving ot'.'Snppdrt.: :Vlt. hiulbeen said that-tho: average boy was a queer problem; but/he;thought the boy . was a. most in■teresting -stud}-.' ••' IJor the future of "the country-we-baa, to look 'to'the boy of; today. , He , hoped : ,the ■Instituto/'wouid' guide the- thoughts of the lads to tlio." feet that, iho.greatness of dub'riot i 'so' , much to.afmies-iand.-no-vies.as to.the' integrity: and hard work -of : the-inen of. the/past. .(Applause.),"-'.-V .."•'■ ■ ..'; ; : f." '■* lir.-W. Moqrhouse; : seconded the. mo-. .tion. s""i:-^;•"■-.:■■ '■^J : ;''i'- '■'"' ■■■^• ;l ."■■■:■-.'. V .Remarks by'. Dr.- Fj n diay V ; ."■■■'- ; - ■.'.'■ : ; Tlie Hon. Di , :. Firidlay said that with Lord,and. Xady Islington, as-{its sponsors .tho-supces'sof .the ,moyenlcnt was. assured. .Tiit'-'in^itutß.l.gttyft.ijladsvii.Aelpiiig'.'.liah'd , .at that ■most";perilb'us;.'time"b'etween;;the ages, of fourteeu'-and,':;:twenty-one, iiud. ,sought:to' lead th\lnv to all -that'made ioi; ,ti'uo'irinnhoo'd.'; ;: 'He.:hacl. seen in' Ministeria'l .work how very Very. , much wastage went:': on , in the'ybting manhood of 'tilts' 'country; , :- -Tn; lbolfing,, : ,ihtd,.tl\e,'careers' of ■• boys wlip had•'■ tieon. 'committed to, the ; industrial Schools; he..had been convinced 'that -many'.a ;■ young "lad. who -had : : found -hiS;Way, to one oi , . other : of. those- instit.u.tions. would never have had that ■ stigma ' upbny. hini, ,ahd -; might ■have- hold: up; Ida ; head tliroughout his'life.'if, ho ."had had, : the advantages that were conferred-through .such iari"•brgamSjition : : as the Boys' ; Insti-; .'tuto.. .'(Applause.), i-;'. .';■'.'. ■■'; : .: •. -'•'■'.'\..-.;,; ■ , 'Mr. JK: Gray:■ moved'i.V'^ha't' I this nieet--■■ihg'i-'Vin- recognition bf/.the .generosity, of the .anonymous • donor .of ■Jα new 'site, for, ;the "Boys' - Institute, ! . : slio>Vs.'.its appreciar tionVbf the ;sameßy tesolving to. do: its beat-to< fulfil 'the conditions attached to' the gift." ■">::::■■ .'';■;.'-,- ,: ' , ■;■<>.>'\ : } : ' : y ' : 'Mr. (J. , J.'- Crawford :'seconded the motion', which vyas carried .:■ SrA ;7i;,.-. .'CampaignirP!ans'..; : r ;,:'..,; ■'Mr; G;, A.-Troup said what. was :ta- be undertaken was a campaign of straiglitoiit' giving. ' They, hoped, to so canyaas tli?- city' that' not one individual in: it ; would-escape. > The city: had been marked oitt' in,:blocks;/arid each,.collector...wouldbe .invited , ; ;'either; ~'to' ' take V.a .block',, or "-•".to ■•. actV:'.'as '.-'..a,,-, free-lance In addition: to tho, straight-put, collectini,' 'campaign' there , were:to, be;several enter-' i ;"aid~ of-'the'-'fund;- West s and:Epyal-Pietnres,had-offered .a benefit night" on .Septemfe 13, ..paying, all : the 'expenses, and: giving•; half .•■ the proceeds, to the Institute. The ; Puller Proprietary was doing the same thing; at the-skating.Sink: An. Athletic/carnival -was to "bt''held in : the-Athletic; Park on October il, 'and;in'.:the /following..weeTc there would be a fancy'dress procession throii'gh.'the'.city, , in:which students "would. assist. Tlie j Chinese.. Consul (Sir. Hwang) had promised to.get.up a Chinese contingent for'this procession, -withv a Chinese band.' Mfes -MiMs and- other -wero making arran?em(?nts ;;I for, ; an entertainment'in the: Concert.Cham bet. on ,pcto-. b'er: 11; half the-proceeds to.'go !to' ■'the'.-Art'.Society.'and : , half, to; the :Poys' Institute. , j 'A gTand concert iii. the. Town Hull 'was'being , : arrarced, by :Mr:--New-'tori,' Mr.'Morris.,Fox. Mr. : 'M'Kenzie, and other iperitlemen'.' . The . Eastbourne .'.Drainatie' Society , had promised .'assistance, and there.'.would be..a very important lec-■tire,',which'-ho .could •'.not■: yfit mention : more definitely. Another scheme"':. was that; the ;work'ini? boys .of ■ the,, institute were ■ getting. : ; a -large , riumter.-.'of bricks, which they were goins to sell at Is. each, . and' they hoped to raisein.-this way .£IOO. Mr. Coloneus.had in hand' the" arrange-: merits 'for' a cadet arid- boy scout military tournament,with the /same; object.. , . Ther,e ! .was also a- new. gariie invented by some connected' with; the- institute and patented with the aid of Mr; Eayward. It-was , : called "Papsinir" -the Ball," and those; who were .privileged to pas?-tho Ml would ,al.Ro..be privileired to give Is/ to the institute... Several , /other plans' wero under 'ponsideratibn.-'Thev:would go; into , the, matter..''with a ( faith, which, they, hoped, would reriVoyo mountains—Mountains, of money. . (Applause.)':: /'■'■■;'. ; ;: :, / ..:: . During, the evening: a.pjanofbrte . solo .■was": Riven > by Miss; Wntkins, a recitation: by Mr. V'J. M/ , ClarkeJ and .a song .by .Mr; -S. Clarke Johnstone. ' . ;, •-',.' Announcement was made: of.,the receipt of' syrbpathetic .letter?' from the' Prime Minister' (Sir' Joseph, WaTd), the Mayor (Mr. T.'M; Wilford, M.P.), Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P.; and • Mr. A.' H. Miles, and Mr. and Mrs. Shirtcliffe. ;'. ' -

..Before leaying,- his. Excellency the Governor expressed a' , wish'.';.to- , -be actively engaged in the work of -the .committee, and requested that'a number of the members of the Business Men's.. Advisory Committee should be associated with him, he 'acting-as chairman. >..,,:.; ..,'-'■ SUBSCRIPTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED. During the evening tho following subscriptions were a'ck'nowledgedi. amounting, as will : be set-n, to upwards of £1000:— •'■ ■-■ ■-. ' : ■'■■': " : V: '■'■''' .. ' £ s.d. ' '■ S. ..Kirkcaldie ...:........... .100 0 0 Anonymous '....'.....;....'..■ 100- 0 0 'i'Jqhn Duthie ■......'. ■.....'.. 100 0 0 '.Levin and Co. ....;......... 100, 0 0 .Mrs; S.' A. Ehodes ;. :.'.. 100 0 0 Eobert Hannah- ;......-.....;;i.j. 65 0 0 James M'K«rrow 50 0 0 G..J. Bullen ...........-...■......■.:;. 50 0 0 W. CI Buchanan 50 0 0 C. J. Crawford :. 50 0 0 Anonymous ;... 25 0 0 Murray; Roberts, and Co. ... 25 0 0 '■E. Leish :.......... 25 0 0 Mrs. G. Fitzgerald .....;.'..'... 20 0 0 G.Fitzgera1d,,.......;....'...'...... 10.0 0 J, Boag .....:. 21 0 0 W. E. Bethune:and C 0...;.... /10 10 0 W. E. Befchune ....:....„ ' 5 5 0 T. Covprdak .....;....„>..;...... 10 10 0 ,T. Johnstone :'..... 10 0 0 "Friend," Otaki ..............;. 5 0 0 ■ M. Frazer ....- 5 5 0 W.' Watson .L. 5 0 0 Ferguson and Hicks.-. 5 5 0 . E. Wilbcrfoss 5 5 0 Joseph Joseph 25 0 0 Mrs Joseph .■ 15 15 0 , Miss Joseph ........'.:...:_..::; 15 15 0. The three last-named • donations were forwarded thrdugh Lady Ward.. In addition to tho above, it was'announced that a friend who desired to remain anonymous, had- promised to give tho last ,£<ioo necessary., to. complete Hie amount which it is desired to raise. Through the kindness of Messrs. Macky, Logan, and Caldwell, a -special office for the fund is to' be opened in a shop on ! the 'Willis. Street frontage of the lung'e [Chambers. , ■ .