Young Men and Boy's Club.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1896, Page 2

Young Men and Boy's Club.

Tbe inaugural meeting of tbe Youns? Men and Boy's Club was held at the Club rooms (Glasgow House) last eveni ing, wben about one hundred and fifty > persons attended, including a number of boys and young men. Before commencing tbe proceedings tbe visitors in- ! spected the rooms provided for the en- , tertainmeut of tbe young men and boys of the town. Upstairs the rooms have i been papered and furnished with seats and tables, one of them being set apart for games such as chess and draughts, while two of the others have been supplied with a quantity of periodicals and [ other literature. Tbe large room down ' stairs is intended for a gymnasium and is in the course of being renovated and fitted up for that purpose, several of tbe [ necessary appliances having been given to the promoters of tbe club for the purt pose. i At the meeting the chair was taken f by the Mayor, Mr W. A. L. Bailey, who complimented the management on the > appearance of tbe rooms and wished [ the club every success. > In an address, the president, Mr ( Greenwood, reviewed the work of tbe , committee since its appointment. Tbe , movement was started by tbe ladies of . the town who were desirous of seeing tbe youths of Feilding provided with some kind of amusement to keep them i from wasting their time about the streets. ■ Mr F. Y. Lethbridge was approached ; and be called a meeting to discuss and , formulate a scheme. A strong com- , mittee had been appointed with the . present result. Now they bad started ; the club they wanted the thorough 1 sympathy and co-operation of everyone , in the town, including young men and - lads. They were very grateful to the ladies for the valuable assistance rendered. Concerts would be given at in- . tervals in aid of tbe club, and- the first would be given shortly by a recently formed young ladies club. [ The secretary, the Rev C. C. Harrison, in an address, thanked tbe Mayor . for his attendance and remarks. He said, with the; collection received that evening, they would start free of debt (excepting the piano) They bad leased , seven rooms at a rental of 9s a week, , which would be reduced to a liability of , 6s, they having sub let two of the i rooms— to the Saturday afternoon boy's club and W.C.T.U. The committee would be glad to receive literature, a bagatelle table or appliances for the gymnasium. During the evening musical selections were given by the Oddfellows string [ band, a pianoforte solo by Mrs Caldwell, : pianoforte duets by Mrs Caldwell and , Miss Laura Hiil, and by Misses Giesen i and Greenwood ; and solos by Miss Fty 1 and Mrs Reader (encored) At tbe conclusion of tbe programme refreshments were handed round by the ladies. Upwards of thirty members joined , last evening. Tbe president particularly desires to acknowledge the very liberal and valuable help given by Messrs Watson Bros, in repapering tbe walls and ceilings of the upstairs rooms. They not only supplied all tbe paper at a very small charge but gave their labour for days in putting it up quite gratuitously.