BOYS INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 1 April 1913, Page 6

BOYS INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of the 'Wellington Boys' Institute ' was held in the Institute- Buildings last evening, his Honoui, Mr. Justice Coopor, presiding. In submitting the annual report for adoption, the chairman congratulated the Institute.,on its work. He said that he had' been associated with tlio Institute for a number of years, and he had watched its work very closely. ' He was glad to hear that it was steadily pushing ahead. It. would bo of grcp.t benefit to the institution if the parents could come along and see for themselves the work it was doing.

Mr. Geo. A. Troup (president) qaid that, in his opinion, a romance utir-j-ounded the work of the Institute. 110 could remember whenj years, ago, twenty young men decided to form an institute for boys, and for thftt purpose they held a meeting, and later commenced to collect funds. Tho first of their work realised tho sum of .£B, and some sevon years later had raised that amount to ,£390. With that sum in hand they purchased tho present.'6ite of tho In. stitutc. They were very enthusiastic over their work, and tho splendid financial position °f tho Instituto to-day was 1 tho result of their efforts.' In regard to Mr. Justice Cooper's remarks respecting visits from parents, he thought that a parents committee ought to be formed. He felt certain that as soon as the' new, building was constructed, the work of tho Institute would increase immensely. In conclusion, he desired to thank Mr- Justice Cooper for presiding at the meeting and for the interest which he was taking in tho Institute's work. Tho new director of the Institute (Mr. W. J. Bennett) also addressed the meeting, and stated that the prospects for tho ensuing year were' capital. 1 During the evening special reference wag made to the many benefactions of Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, who had been a great friend of the institution and its work. Tho election of officers for. tho ensiling year resulted as follows:—Patron, his Excellency the Earl of Liverpool; hon. president, Rev. J. Gibb, D.D.; president, Mr. Geo. A. Troup; vice-presidents, Dr. J. S. M'Laurin, and Messrs.' J. Hislop and M. 1). Menelaus; hon. vice-president, Mrs. S. A. Rhodes; treasurer, Mr. \V. G. Smith; secretary, Mr. B. Mabin; hori. auditor, Mr. R. Wilberfoss; hon. physician, Dr. Hogg; dirwtor, Mr. W. J. Bennett; management committee, Messrs.C. S. Moore, J. M- Morice, D. E. Menzics, E. Pearson, and L. Watkins.

With respect to tho new building, the annual report states:—During the year the building fund was further augmented by subscriptions amounting to ,£sll Os. Gd. 1 This sum, together tfitli the accumulated interest, brings the total funds in hand up. to JESG4S 1&. Id. A further sum of .£2ll 15s. is promised, and will 1m pa ; d as soon as the contract for tho building is let; so that a sum of £1859 13s. 2d. is now assured. An appeal will |ie made this year to obtain tho t balance required, and the committee is'hopeful of being able to let a contract at an early date, and to have the foundation stono laid before the close of the year. The report further states, that tho r-evenue for tho year/ with this balanco carried over from the previous year, has been slightly more than the expenditure. Since the institute started work it has always managed to livo within its"means, having never had any debt on its buildings, or nny ehortago in its annual income. While this is so, a more progressive policy could be pursued were funds more pleniifijl; and in view of an increased expenditure in the new building, more annual subscribers are urgently required. Again we have to record our indebtedness to Mrs. S. A. Bhodes for two donations, one of ,£SO and ono of JBB, being made to instal a kinematograph, which will lie paid for by this donation. The committee tenders its thanks to all the subscribers for the assistnnco so readily given during the past year. The report was unanimously adopted.