THE BOYS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2311, 19 November 1914, Page 8

THE BOYS' INSTITUTE

FOUNDATION STONE LAID ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR fn beautiful weather yeßtorday afternoon His Kxcelloncy the Governor (Lord Liverpool) laid the fouudation-stono of tho Wellington Boys' Institute and S. A. Uhodes Home, in Tasman Street.] His Excellency was accompanied by Lady Liverpool, and there was a distinguished gathering present, including, Mrs. and Miss Massey, the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Luke), and tho Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. Herdman). Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. W. F. Maesey), who is in the South Island, the Minister of Finance the Hon. Jas. Allen), Sir Rob-, ert Stout, and others. The Rev. Dr. Gibb presided. •',.,, „ . After, the arrival of their Excellencies, Lady Liverpool and other ladies present were handed bouquets by a bevy of little girls. The assemblage then sang "0 God of Bethel," and the Hot.' J. R. Glasson led in prayer. Dr Gibb, before calling upon the president (Mr. G. A. Trcup) to ask His Excellency to lay; the foundation-stone, aaid that he desired to welcome their Excellencies in the , name of the Boys', Institute Committee. It was an auspicious occasion, for. which they had .long looked forward. It was not necessary that he should dilate upon the time and labour expended in bringing their venture to the present compass. Suffice it to say tlmt. tho work was well worthy of all the work expended upon it. It was a-marvellous institution in many ways,' and in it the boys of Wellington were going to find a »shelter from the various evils of the world. The institution had a certain church connection, hut was absolutely in its constitution, and in all its aims and workings. It had achieved a succors which, he said, had been truly remarkable in the past, hut he ventured to say that the success of the past would.he, altogether exceeded by the success they would achieve.in the time coming. their Late Benefactress,

Referring to tie late Mrs. Rhodes, he said she had ever showed the profoundest interest - und sympathy with the work of '. the ■ institution, and without her great generosity they would not have been where' they were -.■■that day. Now tho building which would incorporate her name enabled them to say, "She being dead will .survive.". Concluding, Dr. tribb made reference to the work of. the president, Mr. Troup. Mr. Troup, he said, had been the main prop and stay of the institution for many years past. Hβ had beeii the heart and brain-of the whole movement, and it was to his blended sagacity and enthusiasm that the institution in all _ its affairs had, achieved the progress it had. He called for cheers for Mr. Troup; Mr. Troup said that he desired to thank their. Excellencies for their grauiousness in attending that afternoon. The institution had been fortunate in always having had the Governors of the Dominion working in its interests and giving it their patronage.and support. Hβ made bold to say but for that the institution would not have held theposition it did that day. ' "Whatever measure of success it had had was due largely to that fact. He went on to read a historical statement showing the inauguration of the institute in 1882, and the growth up to the .present time. Tho site they were on that afternoon, he pointed out, had been presented by the late.Mrs. Rhodes. There w no institute or association of any kind in Wellington that ever had a warmer or truer friend than the Boys' Institute had in the late Mrs. Rhodes.

His Excellency's Speech. His Excellency then performed the ceremony of laying the foundation storie, and with' the presentation trowel ana mallet provided by the contractor (Mr. A. E. Hurrell) declared the stone "well and truly laid. ,. In-the course of a short address he said he had beon told that a considerable number of his predecessors. had associated themselves in the work of the Boys' Institute, and. he could .say that Her Excellency and he ■were proud to come and associate themselves with thoße of their predecessors who had gone before them. The work which the instituto would be doing wouldbe shown in the boys of a future generation. To-day the Empire had neea of its best young men, and in the education of the male population of tie vast Empire of theirs the Boys' Institute was going to- lend a hand, and he had no doubt ■whatever, but that those who came after them would do as well as those who were fighting to-day in this ' time of stress. (Applause.) ; He endorsed what the previous speakers had said about the late-Mrs. Rhodes. She was the benefactress not only of the institute, but of Wellington —(applaiise)—and her name would not be forgotten. At all events those who stood there that day ■would hand down to the younger generation the name of the woman who had no identified herself with the education of the younger citizens : of Wellington. He ventured further to wish the institute, on behalf of Her Exoellency and himself, every good fortune, arid to its inmates, from generation to generation, good luck. (Applause.) Dr. Gibb called" for chaers for their Excellencies, and these were heartily given.The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that the Wellington City Council had identified itself with, the work of the Boys' Institute, for he held that'the City Council, as much as the institute, had the keeping of the boys of the City in its care. He thought future councils ■ would do all they could to ho helpful to the Boys' Institute, and ha hoped and trusted the work done m it would redound not only to itho credit and benefit of the citizens in Wellington, but to the whole of the Empire. (Applause.)

The Boys' Part. The Hon., A. L. Herdman 6aid that he was sony the Prime Minister was prevented from being present. On behalf, of Mr. , Massey and himself he desired ip offer warm congratulations to the public-spirited ladies and gentlemen of the City, who had obtained their object, in stairting to erect a building for the boys. The events which were happening at t'he present time in Europe pointed out to them how much they had to rely to-daj, and in the future, upon , the manhood of their nation. As the _bpy was father to the man, it necessarily followed tliat tho keeping of the nation in , the future would bo in the hands of the boys of to-day. ' Hβ was glad to think that there would exist in the City of Wellington an institution which would seek out and find, and generally look after the welfare of the Doys. It was said by some people that the boys of the colonies were lackinc in traditions.' There might be some foundation , for that statement, but ho would ask thorn to romember tliat the boys of tho Old Country woro much more closely connected with old historical associations. Ho believed that had something to do in making the men of Great Britain liavo a reverence for their nation, and a veneration for the institutions of the country. Hβ belioved tho very fact that .the boy' of England' lived' in au atmosphere of antiquity had had somethins, to do with that niaguificent display of manliness which they had seen iu'the cockpit of Europe at tho present time. The soldier, whether officer or private, fought not because ho expected (some personal honour, but bo.CU.USO tho cotttiu'iea of. great deoda had.

taught him that it was mwily to fight for the preservation of , his country, which ever had stood for the best in the world. He hoped that when the boys left the doors of tho institute they would go out into the world sturdy, strong, independent citizens of their new country. (Applause.) Mr. W. J. Bennett, Direotor of the Boys' Institute, spoke of the work that was being done to help tho boys become good citizens. Afternoon tea- was provided by the Ladies' Auxiliary, and a collection was taken up in aid of the Funiishine Fund.- Tho fund benefited to the extent of £21. Description of the Building. The building will be five storeys high above the basement, and is erected on .the stool frame principle. Particular ! interest is given to this construction lowing to the two trussed beams, 12ft. 6in. in depth,, carrying tho back portion of the building. Practically the whole of the ground floor is occupied by the swimming bath, 100 feet long bv 30 feet wide, finished with white tiles. A heating installation will bo fitted up which will give the water a temperature of 75deg. on the coldest of days, and it is proposed to put in a cleansing' apparatus' to purify the water before-it enters tho bath. -The secretary's office is placed between the two entrances, one to the bath and the other to the institute, thus enabling him to control both portions of the building. The meeting hall and gymnasium are on the first floor, the dining Toom and kitchen quarters on the second, and the remaining two floors given up' to bedrooms and necessary bath and lavatory accommodation. The exterior is to be finished in' pressed brick relieved with cement- stucco, and the roof will be covered with green slates. . The front elevation,is designed in'the English Kenaissance style, and the effect is gained by the simple and well-proportioned window openings. It is expected that the simple treatment will express the domestio character of the building. The plans and specifications of the building were prepared by Mr. W. Gray Young, who is suporvising the erection. .