AT THE BOYS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 8

AT THE BOYS' INSTITUTE

VISITORS GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF THE WORK. In all probability the majority of the people of Wellington know nothing of the Soys' Institute excopt that it possesses tepid baths; w'iffi "ffie Rood, workthat the institute does for. boys vory few are nt all familiar. For this reason it occurred to those in charge that it wnuril He a good thing to throw the pre raises open for a night to public inspection, in order that thos* who thought it worth whilo might go alontr and see for themselvea what the institute represented. The night selected was last night, when the institute sub visited by a large number of people. Every department was shown in full working order, so that as the visitors passed from ono part of the building to another, they learned much moro than they could have gleaned from the hasty perusal of printed reports. In one of the first rooms visited by a representative of The Dominion - , the institute orchestra, which" gives the boys an entertainment every Tuesday, and is in evidence at nil concerts in tho institute, was performing in a fashion that did credit to its training. The institute is rich in musical talent, and in addition to the orchestra there were to be found in thb building a brass band and & junior buglo baud. Tho brass bond has not been in existenco very long, but it promises to hecomo one of the big attractions on festive occasions. Tho games room was found to be well equipped with the apparatus of majiy recreations dear to tno juvenile mind, and the gymnasium appeared to contain all the usual facilities for drill and exercise. An ambulance class and a .boot repairing class were to bo observed at work in different rooms. Instruction in boot repairing is popular with the boys, the reporter was told. Quite a number of the lads are now able to sole and heel a pair of boots in less than one and a half hours. The boarding establishment,'which at present accommodates 30 boys, was spotlessly clean and ordered, with scrupulous neatness. Until quite recently the institute could not take in more than IS boarders, and the neod for enlarging the accommodation was very pressing. There are still moro applicants for board than the institute can provide for. Preference is given to sons of fallen soldiers, to orphans in general, and to country boys who are serving an apprenticeship in the city, and are not receiving big enough wages to pay their board elsewhere. The membership of the institute, it should bo mentioned, is by no means indicated by the number of the boarders, for at present (it -comprises something like GOO boys, whose ages rnngo from 10 to IS years. Convincing proof of the way in which the institute fosters the love of sport was afforded by the display of trophies that was to be seen on tho first floor. The visitors last night took a good deal of interest in a. number of events held in tho tepid baths. Following are the results of these events:— 33 l-3rd Yards' Boys' Institute Intermediate.—H. Holmes, 1; F. jtfollier, 2; G. Gill, 3. Time, 2-1 3-ssec. 1 100 Yards (Open).—H. Anderson. 1; S. Atkinson, 2; W. M'Gill. 3. Time, S2sec. 33 l-3rd. Yards Boys' Institute Junior. —S. Hawthorne, 1; J. Cannon, 2; F. Humphreys, 3. Time, 22 l-ssec. Water Polo.—Lyall Bay B team defeated Lyall Bay A team by two goals after a strenuous match.

A fine exhibition was given of various styles of swimming. Miss Barton gnve two Highland dances.