The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-23 00:00:00

A lotecousria HuMs.

Yesterday afternoon the Earl of Shaftesbury
assisted by • number of ladies and gentlemen, gathered'
together from the metropolis and the immediate neigh-
bourhood, opened at Billey—a small end insignidaant.
village, about five miles from the Woking station on the
London sad South Western Railway—a " Boys' Country
Home, ?arm, and Industrial School.' Thia by no mow'
insignificant or uninteresting itietitition is the last result of
the labonnt of the committee who have, for maw-
years past, applitd their exertions to. rescuing the
" homeless boys of London " from their hopeless and .
dal:virtue ecndition, training; them to industrialperesito,
' and giving them a fair start in life. It is to this worn-
mittee and their supporters that we owe the foundation
and maintenance of the refuge in Great Queen.okre/4
where • bundled or mon of ear street Arabs find • refuge
from destitution end a defence against criminal instincts ;
and the establishment of the Gbiebseter training old%
where a couple of hundred of the isms clam are educated
and trained for a seafaring lifer. Their ofperisace, ex
tending now over genial years, has taught them that
many of the boys who we under their loving care are
in so emaciated and sofeelded • oreditioa ai to require •
somewhat careful preparation before thesieleausnitinther
advantageously safeler=sl=
suite, or niblected to the
ter. Renee in great part, the reason fee the astabledunent
of a country home, where. by the favearinglnfinencre cis
pure atmosphere and healthy out-door esereise—industeri
exercise- the 'heard haws se these helpless children of •
went may he developed, aid ray latent teems of disease
or wtaknews may be eradicated. Besides this, there Ina,
be many boys who haw no emetics for the
sea, and no aptitude forth. kelestnal occupation which
are Wight m •Grf‘t Quermetreet, but who may he
then:welly reclaimed if allowed to tulle.; agricultural •
pursuits. For these the new institution at Besley will
afford a mote real " home " than they could find either
rev the Themes or in the neighbourhood of Lincoln's-inn..
The building at Rialeiis adapted to the aconnimodatioa of
about 100 boys. It has been erected entirely's"f brick. rn
the early gothic style, and consists of. • mike and two
wings connected by corridors. The central diviaiod ire
occupied by committee rooms, store room% the apart-
ments of the master, and the infirmary. The winz to the
lett an you enter is devoted to the work rooms, that to the
right is occupied by the dining-room ; the upper storey.
of both being. appropriated to opac;ous and well•venti-
land dormitories. The kitchens and offices form +imi-
tate buildups: and behind each of the wings the, are
lavatories and swiniming-baths. The whole co.t of the
building Ine been ab..ut 5,774/.. and of this about j..104W.
?Mains to be raiser]. The opening ceremony W.A. of the
inspirit character—being matte. d to the sing-
ing on two hymns, the reading of some per. •
tuns of Setigicure, and the offering of appropriate
synP. At the lunch which fullowed, Lord
hi aittsbury proposed otny one toast. " Prosperity to ,
the Institution,' which was niu.t cordially drunk by .
the guests. Mr. W. Williams,the indefatigable sceretasy t
of the committer, to whose exertions the success of thew
endeavours is largely owing, stated the eireumsttnees
tinder which this institution had been founded; and Kr.
C. Puxton, M.P., made an earned appeal on its behalf for
the support of the public, which was warmly st•coaded by
the noble chairman. Before the close of the proceedings
the secretary was enabled to announce the receipt of sub-
scriptions amounting to about VW.. including 11 Ng. from
a clergyman who desired that Ili+ name should not be
announced ; 100 f. from Mr. C. Buxton. M.P.; del. from Mr.
George Cubitt, M.P. ; 60/. from Mr. W. E. Hubbard: and
11.11. from Mr. Peak, X.P.

SITNDAY EVENING LECTURES FOR TRH

PEOPLE.