SEDGLEY BOYS’ HOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 7

SEDGLEY BOYS’ HOME

OFFICIAL OPENING BY LORD GALWAY.

FINE NEW BUILDING ERECTED

The opening of the new Sedgley Boys’ Home, High Street, Masterton, will take place next Monday at 2.30 p.m. The ceremony will be performed by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, who will be accompanied by Lady Galway. Visitors are particularly invited to be present before the arrival of their Excellencies and party at 2.30 p.m.

The chairman of the executive of the Anglican Boys’ Home Society, Mr R. E. Gordon, will welcome theii' Excellencies and introduce the speakers, who include the Vicar of St. Matthew’s. the Rev. E. J. Rich; the Mayor. Mr T. Jordan; Mr J. Robertson. M.P.; the Rev. D. McNeur. president of the Masterton Ministers’ Association, and Mr W. B. Martin (Martinborough), representing the laity of the Wairarapa. Afternoon tea will be provided at 3.35 p.m. and at 4.15 p.m. the new building will be thrown open to the public for inspection. In the evening at 7.30 o’clock, Mr A. B. Malyon will show films taken at a Toe H camp at Resolution Bay and scenes' recently taken at the Lower Hutt Anglican Boys’ Home. HISTORY OF BOYS’ HOMES. The history of the Anglican Boys’! Homes Society since its inception in 1911 is a fitting testimonial to its ser- [ vice. The first cottage home, opened at Lower Hutt in the year 1912 with but a single inmate, and with accommodation for ten. has now been superseded by two modern and wellequipped buildings, catering for both junior and senior boys, and these are supplemented by a permanent camping site and building. In 1918 twentysix boys were accommodated in two adjacent cottages; and five acres of land in close proximity to them were purchased for farming and possible extensions. Two years later the cottages were sold and a splendid threeacre site was acquired only a few chains away in High Street. The building thereon, adapted in 1921, was considerably enlarged the next year to cater for an increase from twentysix to sixty beys. The Wairarapa was the next field of activity, when fifteen acres of land were purchased at Masterton in the year 1926. Here the Sedgley Home was established, where sixteen senior boys arc cared for and trained to become practical farm workers. Tw' years ago the Lower Hutt Home was completely renovated and modernised; and substantial assistance was given tc St. Mary's Home. Karori, to enable small boys between the ages of two and seven years to be cared for there At the same time the Clulow Camp was established at Stokes Valley to provide a holiday ground for those boys who do not go elsewhere during the Christmas vacation. The new building at Masterton is of modern design., and capable of accommodating thirty-two boys with the necessary staff to care for them. The sum involved amounts to £ 8.500. and it is felt that good value is being received for this heavy expenditure.