BOYS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 14

BOYS' INSTITUTE.

—* : — THE NEW DIRECTOR.' On March 1 next a new director (Mr. Wm. J. Bennett, of Canterbury) will tako over the work of the Wellington Boys' In-, stitute. Mr. Bennett, who is in tho teachiug profession, in which he holds high certiticatos, has not .only academic qualifications,. but possesses in a peculiar degree the qualities and experience required for such work as that dono by tho institute. Of strong build, standing six feet two inches high, and Weighing over fifteen stone, he has played no mean part in athletics. The boys wilt have as their instructor and director ono who can without training run 100 yards in eleven seconds, jump over twenty feet in length, and fivo feet three inches high, and put the 16lb. shot some 34 fe?t. Mr. Bennett ha 9 played senior football for the past two years in Christchurch, and has represented Canterbury University in many events at the inter-University tournaments, winning in 1912, at Dunedin, the broad jump, and taking seoond place in tho high jump and shot-putting, as well as being ono of the team that won tho relay race. But it is not only in athletics that Mr. Bennett has played a considerable part. Ho has taken some part in every branch of work carried on by the institute. Ho holds tho proficiency certificate of tho, Royal Life Saving Society, as well as those of tho St. John Ambulanco Association, 'both branches of the institute's work. Ho has had experience in organising and conducting religious services, camps, concerts, socials, sports, picnics, etc., and is himself a good singer, and ablo to play cither the piano or organ. Ho has had several years' experience volunteering, and is' at present in charge of a cadot corps. His chief qualification is, however, that • he is passionately fond of boys, and should prove himself to be a'real '[boys' man." Tho institute should now enter upon a new era of expansion and prosperity. Tho boys of Wellington will certainly find in Mr.- Bennett a man of genuino Christian character, who will bo a true friend to them. ■ ■