BOYS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2930, 16 November 1916, Page 3

BOYS' INSTITUTE

. The Director of the Boys' Institute in his report on the month's work at the institute stated that the roll had increased Ey 42 names during the month, making the total membership 647. Since the inception of the new building, the membership , had increased by 205 in five months' time. The Drum and Fife Band continues to make steady progress under the tuition of Mr. A. H. Brown, and. the same applies to the physical drill for. juniors, seniors, arid intermediate gymnaßtio classes. 'During the month a Boy Scout troop,, under the scoutmaster-, ship of Mr. H. Blair (one of the old boys of the institute), was formed. [Already about 70 boys have joined the troop, which bids fair to become one of the principal attractions at the institute. The Sunday evening service continues to attract large numbers of the boys; on one Sunday during the month no fewer than 90 boys attended. During the last three months the boys of the institute have, gained no fewer than 107 Eoyal Life-Saving Society Certificates. On Saturday afternoons seven institute teams participate . in cricket matches, and between 60 and 70

Scouts receive instruction in all about 150 institute boys under supervision indulge "in. healthy outside recreation. The magazines and books in the lending department of the library are a source o£ great interest to the boys, who enjoy the reading of carefullyselected books, a.nd the games room and gymnasium are taken every advantage of. Two institute. old boys, in Lco.-Corpl. W. Jennings and Rflmn. W. G, Drummond, have made the great sacrifice for King and country, and Pte. P. Rusterholz and R. M. Ferguson lave been wounded. Now that the institute has been opened six months, a few figures in connection with the boys' work prove interesting: 6422 boys have availed themselves-of the opportunity to swim in the baths between 6 and ! 7.30 p.m., ■'when the baths are open free to institute members. A great number of boys, have been taught to swim and float, etc.; 9344 boys have passed under the control of the institute authorities in the games room, gymnasium, and classes, etc.,. not to mention the hundreds who are weekly supervised at all the outdoor games. The public aTe welcome at any time to inspect the institute building, and a visit in the evening, when the boys are at work, would be well worth while. ' '