LIFE SAVING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13958, 3 February 1911, Page 8

LIFE SAVING.

NEW BRIGHTON COMPETITIONS

The joys of surf-bathing appeal to thousands of men and women in this Dominion, and New Brighton, with its fine expanse of beach, and its splendid facilities for splashing in the briny is becoming more and more popular. Tho life-saving branch of the natatorial art has received a creat fillip lately in this country, mainly through tho efforts of Mr Henry, and life-saving classes abound everywhere. A life-sav-ing competition was set down for the New Brighton Annual Gala, but owfng to the roughness of tho sea on Gala Day, the competition was postponed till last night, when it was held on the south side of the pier, in tho presence of several thousands of people. 'j/he judges were Messrs H. Wauchop and W. L. Gill. There was a full tide, the sea was quite smooth, and the weather conditions perfect. The competition was as near the real thing as possible, the drowning persons being taken by young men and women, instead of by dummies, as has been the case in the past. The "rescued" swam out to the end of the pier, part of tho rescuers dashing from the beach and bringing their subjects to dry land in approved life-saving style. About a dozen competitors, including two ladies, entered, anil in every case the rescuer safely brought his or lier subject to the shore. The winners proved to be Misses Boulton and Fisher, the only lady competitors. Miss Boulton was the rescuer, and Miss Fisher the rescued. Certainly their work was very neat, but Miss Boulton was a very long time in bringing Miss Fisher to shore. They win the Itoyal Humane Society's medal, and also the prize for neatest work. ( Fitzsimmons Bros, secured second place. Prior to the life-saving competition a high diving competition was held otf the end of the pier, and alter a great tussle between H. Wilson and 11. AVills, whom the judges made dive four times, the first prize was to Wilson, and the second to Wills