LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 207, 29 August 1912, Page 4

LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Royal Lifesaving Society will be held to-morro,w evening. A short preliminary report dcails with the formation and aims of the Society, the different methods of rescue and resuscitation. The utility of the methods is illustrated by the report from the London ihead office, stating that 12,753 awards were gTanted during 1912, as against 11,021 during 1911, making a grand total of 82.155 since the ] formation of the Society in 1801. The Auckland centre instituted classes for ladies and gentlemen in tbe Albert Street baths, but owing to the inclement season the examinations had to be postponed until early next season. The centre is badly in need of instructors, and also of bathing accommodation. It is hoped that residents will take advantage of the opening of the SheDy Beach and Mount Eden baths to <take a course in instruction. The executive held ten meetings during the year. Through their removal to other parts of the Dominion they have lost the services of Mr. Rankin and Mr. Snowball, the death of Dr. P. H. Hammersley, one of the most active members of the executive, and hon. principal medical officer, has alfeo been a severe loss; and tie death of Sir John Logan Campbell, vice-patron of the centre, is much depllored. The hope is expressed that there will be no repetition of last year's state of affairs, when Auckland, with. the best swimmers in the Dominion, wero unable to send a team to compete for the shield presented by the Hon. H. F. Wigram at the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association's Ghampionship meeting in Christehurch last February. The. Royal Life-saving Society is purely an educational institution, founded on a strictly humane basis, and working solely for the interests of 'the generail public. It has been the means directly and indirectly of. saving many lives, and has, therefore, a strong claim on public suiport.