LEVIN Y.M.C.A.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 September 1910, Page 2

LEVIN Y.M.C.A.

AXXUAL DISPLAY BY THE .JUXIOIW. A RECORD OF GOOD WORK. Last evening in the Centnry Hall the junior members ol' the Levin Y.M.C.A. pave their annual display and from every jfuint of view tlio proceedings wore an unqualified success. There was a very large attendance of i'l'ienus and supporters of the instil-!! Li oh, and throughout the greatest interest prevailed. During lie evening .Mr 0. K. Ransom rend tlio annual report and balance .sheet. The latter showed that the subscriptions from the boys amounted, during the year, to L' 2, and the proceeds of the concert last year, minus expenses, were C 4 7s. Expenses ran into I'd, leaving a credit balance of 7s. This announcement was received with applause. Tlio annual report read as follows :--- "Tn pre.senti.ng this report of tlio third years work done by this branch of the Y.M.C.A., one cannot help feeling that this department of the Association's work will play a very important part in the moulding and tlio developing of the characters of the young men of this town. Altogether the work done this season lias been of a very definite ond successful character. The names of n'l hoys have boon entered en the roll (this being a distinct advance on last year), with an average attendance of L'l. The average attendance is not quite as good as we would like it. This is owing mainly to the smallnoss of our present rooms, which ibeeonio overcrowdedJ)y the time we have got 2! or 2o hoys inside, and thus many are kept away through- the lack of suitable accommodation. Two of the hoys, Colin and Leslie Arcus, attended every one of the seventeen meetings held. The committee are veiry thankful to the following gentlemen, who gave the boys addresses on various subjects: — Rev. J. White, Mr F. Hirst, Mr \Y. J. Rrov. n, Mr T. G. Vincent, Mr C. Murrel], Dr Kennedy. Air J. O'Donoghue, 'Mr G. P. 'Browne. Mr J. Harvey, Air H. Andrew. Mr T Brown and Mr Win. Roid. These addresses have proved both helpful and instructive to the boys. Dur-

ing the season a class 'of twelve boys were given instructions b.v Mir O'Donoghue on rope knotting. The. boys have been thoroughly instructed by this gentleman and we are sure that what they have learned will prove very useful to them in after life. The thanks of the com-

mil toe are ('me to M'r O'Donoghue for his able wo;ik among the boys, andalso to Major Burlinson for allowing Mr O'Donoghue leave of

absence rrom his ordinary duties so as to give his time tcf the boys. Iho work in the gymnasium has been of a very successful nature.

many of the boys hnyin.tr attained a fairly standard of proficiency. r [ he character and genera.] bchavious of the boys has been of a plonsin# nalii.ro. nothing haying occurred 11s ;iL would tend to bring a c-iscredit o\i the A.ssocialion. The outdoor work of the .junior department. has not- been ol a very extensive character. At the end of last year a picnic was held 011 the banks of (he Oliau riven-. This proved a very enjoyable outing for (.lie twenty odd boys who availed themselves of the opportunity. A Marathon race has also been held this season

a hunt- twenty hoys taking part. The committee in,t end ivin.l2; theboys several eutintr.s dll ri ii_ts the coin- '" — summer months. Special thanks are duo (0 the committee consistina' ol the superintendent, Messrs Ualph Herd. Muirell. N'. C lloMnwav and W. .1. Hrown. for the able manner in which they ihavc ea.rriod out their respective duties, and it is hv .such help as is rendered bv those that the Association is enabled (o carry on its humble endeavours to immove t'io characters ol the young lads of our town, physically. menially and spiritually."

.the reading r 'i' these documents was received with general applause. During the evening a really firstclays pro-gramme of songs, recitations, choruses, physical exercises ami other items was gone through, and was followed "wit<!i the greatest interest throughout. -Mr \V. J. Gibson, the popular snperintomlant. at the outset, marie a lew appropriate remarks, pointing out that owing to the prevalence nf influenza :i number of hoys were Unable io (alee part in the proceedings. lie gave a cordial welcome to all present. IJccitaf inns were given by (J. Areus, and W. and 0. Walker, anrl all gave evidence of careful {raining, their enuiicia I ion was most distinct, and I hey well merited Ibe applause they received. K. Williams sang ''Down by the Swanre." lie lias a very pleasing voice, and bis interpretation of this popular song was extremely creditable, and there were loud calls for an encore. One of the most interesting features of the performance was a competition in naiflieal knot tying. The boys have only received eight lessons in this art, but the smart way in which they carried out a scries of exnrcises relied ed the highest credit upon them and Mr O'Donohue. who, through the kindness of Major Hurlinsou, the manager of the Hoys' | Training Farm. has ;n\-en them in- ' struefion on the subject. In the. mater of gymnastics, the lads exhibited an amount of skill that would have done credit to youths oi' much more advanced age, and it was evident that during (he present session they had paid the closest attention to the instructions and demonstrations of .Mr 0. E. Ransom, who is a- tower of strength to the institution. There were snveral humorous items performed. and these greatly tickled the risible faculties of the audience, and lauglitci iang loud and long. An interesting feature 'of the proceedings was a memory competition. "Mrs A reus read an appropriate story, and subsequently a number of the boys repeated it in .substance from memory. In this connection H. Jones took first prize, on a papular vote, and O. Walton second prize. Two essay competitions wire won by TC. Coppin, and a recitation prize went to G. A reus. In the missing word competition the prize was taken by P. Hignol, while the honours of the day for selling most tickets in connection with the display fell to W. Walker. 11. .Jones securer! fclic prize in the nautical knotting competition, and W. Laing was second. A. Gray secured two prizes, one for spellin gj'omp.'titim and onefor word transposition. M) O'Donoghue expressed the opinion that the boys had shown marked intelligence during Ihc short time they .had been itndei his tuition, and Mr Gibson appropriately took the opportunity of expressing his thanks and the thanks of the committee to Major Hurlinson and Mr O'Donoghue in connection with the matter.

Mr James Pi'ouse gave the various prizes awav towards the close of the proceedings. In a characteristically happy speech, he expressed pleasure at seeing such a large audience, and in a few reminiscent observations said t.lvat what he had seen that evening carried his recollection back to the days of his youth. He reminded those present that the boy was father of the mail, and impressed upon the younger section of those present the -supreme importance of practising healthy habits and cultivating honest and honourable friendships. Kindly references were mad© during the evening to those who had helped the work of the Association in any way. ami those who availed themselves of the opportunity of witnessing last night's display went away satisfied that the work iii

which Mr Gibson, Mr ."Ransom, Mr Vincont nnrl their colleagues are engaged l is of a mwt beneficial and elovntiug (Om.rnctor, and is helping to mould and shape the characters of the rising generation, and to inspiro them Avilll tho necessary jnoral and physical courage to enable them to successfully cope with the stern realities of modern life.