AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 14

AQUATICS.

ROWING. In a few weeks we shall have the lowing season with us again. Already nioft of the local clubs have held their annual meetings, and everything points to a promising season. To begin with, thf Sow Zealand Kowing Association has agreed to tho New Zealand championship regatta being held in Auckland this year, which in itself should give rowing a good fillip locally. ll>r champion fours is sure to be keenly contested, and it i.s .i matter of gratirlI'liion that at least two Auckland crews lave been in training for this event throughout the winter. J do not think llieve is much probability of the sculling championship being won' by a local man. but J understand that two or more are going to make an effort. The locale of the regatta has no: yet been decided upon. hut I am inclined te the opinion that Mercer will l>e the si Wcted spot. The waters of the Waitemata arc far too uncertain to place any it-liability upon for such an important Fixture. The result of the Towns-Barry race for the championship of England will doubtless give a big impetus to sculling at Home, and Hurry will be >ure of getting plenty of backers for a race against the winner of the Arnst-Webb contest for the world's championship—a title which was wrested from England in 1K715 by Edward Trickett. and has never .since been held by an Englishman. Most of the local chilis are augmenting their plant. .Auckland club received then three new fours by the last Xydnev lioat. These boats were built by Kdwards aud Son. of Melbourne, who built the eight for them last year. I have not yet heard of any other club contemplating the purchase of eights, but possibly after the championship regatta an uddetl inducement for the purchase of these bouts may Iμ? given. 1 notice that two of the local clubs— Xorth Shore and West Knd—have selected their captains from the maiden oarsmen. Thi-s, to my iniriuTis somewhat of a daring innovation, hut the coining season will, of course, justify the experiment or otherwise. Interest in the training operations of Arnst and Webb is growing apace, says the Wanganui ''Herald.' The weather dining part of this week has lieen unfavourable, but now it appears to have nettled again, and the river is in good condition for rowing. Arnst has got. in f>ome fairly solid work on the river, besides doing a lot of walking, and he is rapidly reducing his weight. At present be tips the beam at something like 13.8, and should have no difficulty in getting down to his racing weight'by the da v of the race. He is improving in style. though still rough when he attempts to sprint. At such times his right shoulder drops somewhat, and he catches the water with his left scull before his rjjbt. When rowing steadily he swings very well, and there is not much to find fault with about his work. Taken altogither. he must be credited with shaping very well indeed, and the more that i.s seer, of him the more favourably impressed are many good judges with him. With regard to Webb, it may lie said that he is going along the right way. He has not yet settled down to hard training , , but does some solid work every other day. In another fortnight or so he will get down to business in earnest, and trainer "Denny" Barrett will lend his valuable assistance. The other day Webb had a hard row over about three n.iles, setting off at about 27 to the minute, and settling down to a ">(i rate, which he kept up right through, lie was picked up a mile from home by young Victor Braithwaite, who soon dvnpped astern, and was sonic distance < v.-ay at the finish. It was a real good pipe-opener, and proved that tin; champion's lungs are. in first-class order, and in no way affected by the illness from A\liich he suffered a few months ago. This is very satisfactory, and will be reassuring to those of his friends who were somewhat apprehensive on the matter. So far as appearances go, Webb is in Hie pink of health, and says he feels as strong as ever. SWIMMING. The V.M.C.A. Club held its aanual meeting in the Association rooms on Tuesday evening, Mr. It. L. Stewart presiding. Tlie annual report congratulated the members on the progress ot the club during the past season, and said that the committee, by hard work, hadi placed the club on a sound footing with a membership of 50. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £11 15/. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the election of officers resulted as follows: — President, Mr. R. L. Stewart; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. A. C. Caughey, F. M. Cory, Wesley Spragg, H. Wilson, A. Wiseman. E. H. Klkin, VV. L, Rowland, A Matthews, J. W. Stewart; secretary, Mr. W. H. Patterson; treasurer, Mr. J. Irwin; commit-

tee, Messrs A. Matthews, W. Campbell, D. Henderson, A. Waddell, J. Irwin, H. A. Robinson, W. Reid; delegates to Auckland! Centre, Messrs. D. Henderson, iL. C. Gibbina and W. H. Patterson. Reg. Bealey. the well-known Sydney swimmer, has thrown in his lot with the Thorndon Club, Wellington, whither he was recently transferred by his employers to their New Zealand branch. According to an exchange, the. Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club is moving in the direction of holding the next New Zealand championships in Masterton. At Long Island, United States, on August 15, Miss K. Golding, in an attempt to lower the woman's record for 100 yds, covcredl the distance in Imin. lasec, which is the fastest time done under such condi tions. On the same day, at the sports meeting at which the attempt was made, a girl won a "hundred" in Imin. 17sec. The rrport states that she was assisted b.v the tide, and this may have been the case in connection with Miss (folding's record swim. Writing to a London journal, Mr. W. Henry, chief secretary of the Royal Life Saving Society, London, says, in regard to drowning cases at bathing resorts that, as these accidents mostly occur close in shore, and the person is soon brought to land, a few words of advice as to treatment may be of interest to many, who, although unable to swim, ?n:iy yet be of service in saving a life liv applying promptly and efficiently the col re-ct method of restoring animation by the introduction of fresh air to the lungs, as directed in the handbook of the Koval Life-Saving Society. The new method of restoring the apparently dead from drowning, suffocation, or electrical shock, devised by Professor Schafer, of Edinburgh University, is extremely simple and easy to learn; it is conducted au follows: — 1. Immediately a person is lifted out of the water, lose no time in attempting artificial respiration, as every instant of delay is serious. 2. If breathing has ceased, place the patient face downwards, and turn the face either to the right or left, so that the mouth and nose do not touch thu ground. .'(. Place yourself at the side of the patient, in a kneeling position, facing his head, with your hands flat in the small of his back, the thumbs nearly touching and the ringers spread out on unch side of the body over the lowest I riiw. 4. Lean forward over the patient, and 1 steadily produce a firm downward presJ sure, which must not be violent. Next j release all pressure by swinging back- ! ward without lifting the hands from the body. 5. Kepeat this pressure and relaxation of pressure every four or live seconds without any marked pause between the movements, until natural respiration is re=-umed. Note.—When the downward pressure is applied, the foul air in the lungs is i j-rei-i-ed out, and immediately pressure ji< released frcsJi air takes its place. In j 'hi- way an exchange of air is effected in I the lungs by artificial means similar to ' the way in which we breathe naturally. : (:. When natural breathing is estab- | Iwbt'd, cease the pressure and non-pres-j Miii , movements, turn the patient lace I upwfcrds, and immediately promote j •varinth by friction over the surface of the body. A.- soon a-s possible roraove ; I'll- patient to the nearest house, put I ll:in to bed, and apply heated flannels, j \vit.er-bottles. etc., etc.. to various parts j i.I the body. See that the room is well ' MTiiilated. and prevent persons crowdI i'.ip round. In all cases send for medical assistance as soon as possible. Mr. Henry concludes with the remark i that in England, the annual death rate j l>y drowning is betweeii 2.000 and .'i.ooo.