BOYS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 6

BOYS' INSTITUTE.

NEW DIEECTOR HE AETILY WELCOMED.

A most enthusiastic gathering of boys, old boys, parents, workers, ana sympathisers, greeted Mr. \V. J. Dennett, tho new director of tho Wellington Boys' Institute last night. The institute building, in which the gathering was Seld, was filled to overflowing, there being over two hundred boys present, ill addition to a large.number of adults. The president of the institute (Mr. G. A. Troup) was in tho chair, and on the platform were tho Rev. Dr. Gibb, the Alayor (Mr. D. M'Laren), Dr. M'Laurin, Mr. Dennett, Captain Simeon, Mr. Menelaus, members of tho committee, and other well-known citizens.

Tho institute orchestra contributed a musical programme. _ Several addresses of welcome were delivered. Dr. Gibb mentioned that the institute emanated irom tho young men's class attached to his church.

The Mayor welcomed Mr. Dennett, on behalf of the citizens, and related some of his experiences as a boy in Scotland in connection with such work as that carried 'on by tl',3 institute. Ho heartily acknowledged the benefits which he had deriVed in this way.

Mr. D. Smith, L.L.M.,. spoke on behalf of 1 the Students' Christian Union, under which tho religious work of the institute is carried on, and welcomed Mr. Dennett as a fellow-student.

Mr. J. Hewitt spoke for the hundreds of old boys who havo passed through tho ranks of the institute, and assured Mr. Dennett that the old boys, though no longer members, were behind him in his work. ' •

One of the present boys, Master Blair, on behalf of his fellow-members, assured tlio new director that lie might rely on their unswerving loyalty.

The president warmly welcomed Mr. Dennett, and assured the boys that tho new director was himself just'a big boy, who could be safely trusted with their confidences. They could take their troubles to Mr. Dennett, and if they got into a scrape ho would help them.

' Mr. Dennett, on rising to speak, was given a very warm welcome. After returning thanks, ho lold tho boys that, with their trust and co-operation, lio hoped to increase the usefulness of tho institute. Ho had many ideas and plans, biit would keep an open mind. Ho asked tho boys for their hearty co-operation, and said that ho would look to them to support him right through.

A presentation of a set of Kuskin's works was mado to Mr. C. Dick, who Ims been acting-director for the past year. Mr. Dick said that ho intended to stay on and assist tho work of the institute.

Supper was served in tho gymnasium, which had been transformed by thoMndies into a banqueting hall, nnd tho boys needed 110 urging to do justice to the good things provided.