MASTERTON BOYS' CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4530, 22 September 1893, Page 2

MASTERTON BOYS' CLUB.

Formal Opening. ; At the opening of St Matthews ■•'", Boys' Club yesterday at the Maßterlon Theatre Eoyal, the Preaident (the . Rev, W. B. Paige, Mi.,) in ufow introductory remarks said that hitherto the ■ hoys of. Maßterton: had nothing to employ them of an /*w* ing, and bad been compelled about the streets. The Olab was formed to give them the opportunity - of obtaining moral, intellectual and pbysioal enjoyment, and also '■ wholesome instruction. He hoped to see'. lectures given and regular olasses, ' formed, before long, for those who wh>hed to gojn foe tliehigber broncbea' of education. The Club had beef named St, Matthew's Club, but he would tako the ' opportunity of. again pointing out that it was entirely undenominational, All classes of the community had come forward most readily with support for the institution and foremost amongst them was Mr W. H. Bootbani,and bis brother, Mr Geo Beetbam, who waspresout with them on perhaps his last visit to Maßterton before proceeding to England, All present appreciated His Excellency's kindness coining up to Maßterton, and hoped in that in the future he would never have cause to be ashamed of having launched the Masterton Boys' o!ub, (Applause). He felt sure he was only expressing the feelings of tho parents and friends in thanking His Excollenoy most heartily for haying come such a long distance to open the Olub, (Applause). ' His Excellency (who was received with applause) said it was with very great pleasure that he had accepted the invitation to open St Matthew's Bojß'Club. He might also at this stage express his satisfaction at the very cordial reception accorded him by the people of was indeed similar to he had received in every placeTroWl; visited in the colony. He felt deeply the kindness which had been expressed towards liiui, and it said much for the cordial nature of the people of ?!ew Zealand.: It was a great pleasure to him to ■. open the Bovb' Olub, because its object was to do good to tho rising generation, It was most important to see how the rising generation grew up. He had met delightful children wherever he went in New Zealand, and often wondered what would become of them when they grew up, Boys would be boys, and they Yfe'rp also gregaripus aninials. They wpujcget together and'always wanted to ije doing 'somethjng. 'They all knew tlje saying that 'I Satan always'finds some mischief for idle hands to do," and it was their ohjoct to keep the boys out of mischief by giving them something rational to do in tho Bhape of healthy occupation for their minds, The Oiub should prove of value to the town and help to train and educate the generation now growing up,' and make them worthy successors of those who ciune before' them, by growing up honest, godly, straightforward, upright men, and fit to worthily fiirihe'plapesofthevAfafterg, They all dame into the wcrkqlo fulfil two duties -towards God and toward? tboir neighbour. Tho admirable Byatera of education in New Zealand taught niuob, but it did not teach .. self-respect, self-reliance, and other things which were esjeutiajly home education. Slat)/ parenja could not find time to give this home education as it should be given, and the Club was in Rome nieasqre id supply this and tq take tljoir place, His Excellency then referred to the success of the Boys' Club in Wellington, and also to tho Boys' Brigade in Glasgow, where he had once inspected 8,000 boys all drawn".op Their watchword was ''BelßMuTnce'' and it was a good one too.; The St, Matthew's Club would enable the Maßterton boys to enjoy themsolves in a reasonable and rational maimer, and he hoped all the boys present would join, In conclusion he wished the Club success, and hoped i', would grqwjpbp of_gWilr|o the' toitf He baa not saicj half as/much as "He shoujd have lfkedi 'becanso'hewas not a good speaker, but tie felt u>eply on the matter, and earnestly wished to see the young colonists grow up to bo good useful members of society, (Applause),

I MrW.G.Beaid,oneofthe6iubV: Vice-Presidents, said that it was a generally recognised fact jhaUhß success of an insiitutoj^M''\te<j' very largely upon 'thoTucoess of it's opening.. If this wore so then tbo' Bfi Matthew's Boys' Club sliould have-' a'.-', most successful career before it', They must all indeed feel honoured by t]ie presence of His pkcellenoy lipon tile. present picaslon, |ut tli'ey we're certainly not/'surprised %' find'"hjnr amo'ngßt the.ni, it'was well known what' deep, interest, the|f governor jobk in' any 'good'"\forki (applause). On this occasion, the, usual . voteof thanks would hardly express.' their feeling; and' he should, therefore, ask them to give three hearty oheefai ' The audience then gave, thi'oe ring- : ■ ing oheers, and His Exoeltooy oame-i----forward and. briefly acknowledged they compliment puid'to him, again'alludr ing'to. the importance of,home j.iion.*' '-.«■;.- .■.■'...;.< ::--..'=*;-!C' i: •-'.'•.;■ ■■l : ' l -'*i-isr& I 1: The gatherin{?;<'theu ; ; eroverDorbeing^epeaSedly cheered - blVcariiage passed along QmU jpo*