THE TEPID BATH.

I + A PRELIMINARY CEREMONY. The municipal tepid bath, of which the foundations have already been put in on the site in Manchester Street in the Council yard, will be completed in about six months. Yesterday afternoon the Mayor (Mr G. Payling) laid the foundation stone of the building to face Manchester Street. Among those present w<u'« a large number of Qo.nng.li. lors and representatives of the XV ew Zealand Amateur Swimming Association and other bodies. The Mayor said that h.e was gratified at the progress already made by 'the contractors. He desired to pay a tribute to the action of swimmers and tbe^ uanterbury Swimming Centre in assisting the Council in its endeavour to effect a successful issue to the tepid bath pell. Mr Payling was handed an inscribed Rilver trowel by the builders, Messrs Nightingale Bros, and laid the foundation etone, declaring it well and truly Continuing, the Mayor said that nothing would impede the P™gress of the work. The bath would be 100 ft by 36ft, with plunge bathe and other up-to-date accommodation for ladies and gentlemen. It would be the first municioal tepid bath in the colony, and its Sru<Ln spoke well forthe^ pal enterprise of Chne<tchurch. The city had been able to solve a, problem tn £i»ii» ivMoh l«d Ion? stood mihe TJoi the swimming •*«««£» ££ obtain n* the practice necessary to comSStions. He congratulated the members of the Swimming Association and everybody that liad <^^*? .'l? carrying of the poll. Next to a highprSure water supply, a tepid bjth was » necessity, and he was Ratified that Christchurch would have in a short space of time. He- hoped that the bath would prosper and would be an institution of which the city would be proud. Mr W. E. D Bishop, president of the Canterbury Centre of the Swimming Association, said that the occasion to swimming men was a red letter day. On their behalf he would like most heartily to congratulate the Mayor and Councillors on the step taken towards an institution which would be both beneficial and useful, especially to tne younger gene-ration.. In the past the Association had had to deal with unsympathetic Councils, but fortunately the scheme had at last been carried into effect. Christchurch swimmers regarded the scheme with enthusiasm, as they saw the necessity for it, but their efforts would have been as nothing, if they had not obtained the valuable inside assistance of the present Mayor and Councillors. The Mayor said that although the Association had offered to rent the baths, he was still of opinion that the Council should manage the baths. Even if there was a slight loss, nobody would feel it.