BOYS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3154, 4 August 1917, Page 3

BOYS' INSTITUTE

DIRECTOR'S REPORT. At the last meeting* of the ifanaj!ement Committee oif this Wellington Boys' Institute tho director (Mr. E. Jioss), "in his monthly report, stated that tile membership' of the institute had now increased to 600 boys. During the last month there were 3051 attendances of the members at the institute for instructional and recreative purposes, and for the last five months tho attendances were no fewer than 15,017, made up by average nightly attendances ranging from 120 to .170 boys. During tho month 112S .boys arailed themselves of .the opportunity to swim in the institute baths when it is free to institute members between G and 7.30 p.m. Monthly large numbers of boys are taught to swim. Mr. A. 11. Jj'arnall, j secretary of the Wellington Swimming Centre, presented ninety-two A'.Z.A.S.A. long-distance swimmiuff certificates which were won by members of tho institute. He thought the number was a record for any scliool or institute in Now Zealand, if not outside of .New Zealand. Over and above the ninety-two certificates which wore awarded to tho boys who were attending school, between 50 and GO certificates were won by working boys, Life-saviiiK is continually in progress and in the course of tho month examinations will take place for elementary and proficiency certificates, bronze and silver medallions. Tho institute id connection with the batlfs can now claim two records in one year, one for distance swimming and one for tho number of life-saving awards won in one vear. The physical drill c'ass for juniors, inIcrinedinte jpnynnstic class and senior gymnastic and wrestling classes are all well attended. Recently a. hoaituookwurlc class was formed, and already quite a number of the Twys have completed their hammocks.

At the- Sunday night services tho averago attendances per night during the month ranged between seventy and eighty. Tho ambulance class in connection with tho Scouts is still in progress, ,a number of boys during the month passing their second-class lest. It is hoped to be ablo to report that a permanent Scoutmaster will have been appointed in the near future. The drum and fifo band have been meeting regularly during the month. The institute Association football teams nave had a very successful month. Twenty-six games were played, seventeen wero won, two drawn, and soven wero lost. In all, the institute have 121 players on the- City reserves every Saturday afternoon.