Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10101, 24 September 1910, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES.

INDOOR TENNIS AND BASKET BALL.

When the Secretary a few days ago asked a few young men to gather in the new Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium, ho never dreamt that such an interest would be taken, in what is practically a new game to Mastcrton—Basket Ball. Two teams have commenced practising for the basket ball demonstration on Wednesday next, and splendid form is being shown. To all who come on Wednesday next a treat is promised, and there is every appearance of the game becoming a permanent institution in the physical department of the- Association's work. The boys will play on Monday next at 4 p.m., and the final senior practice will take place the same day at 7 p.m. The parents of the boys arc invited to see the afternoon class at work.

On Thursday night the Y.M.C.A. Tennis Club members played their first game of the season under the rays of gas. The gymnasium floor was marked out for tennis on a somewhat smaller scale, yet despite these ' details some interesting sets were played by the ladies and gentlemen present, lo is the intention of the club, to continue theis practices indoors for the next week or two until the season properly commences, each Thursday evening being fixed for this purpose. On Wednesday next the official opening of the gymnasium will take place by W. H. Beetham, Esq., at 7.30 p.m., and the President will take the chair at the concert which will follow at 8 p.m., when a first class programme of vocal and instrumental items will be given. An important feature of this opening function will be the visit of Mr J. J. Virgo, the General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Sydney, and the Secretary of the National Council of_ Y.M.C.A.'s ■of Australasia. Mr Virgo is a great speaker, singer, and conductor, and the most powerfill factor in Y.M.C.A. work in these southern lands. His visit to Masterton is of a very fleeting character, for he, with the local secretary (Mr Snowball) must leave by first train on the clay following for an eight days' Australasian conference to be held this year in Wellington. It is a biennial conference of secretaries and representatives of all Associations in Australia and New Zealand, and Messrs Hendry, Ibbetson and Snowball are to represent Masterton.

The Strangers' Teas are as popular as ever, and an old favourite visits the Association to-morrow, when Mr J. T. M. Hornsby comes to speak on "Robert Burns—His Successes and Failures."