THE ATKINSON RELIEF FUND

Press, Issue LXVIII, 31 December 1912, Page 4

THE ATKINSON RELIEF FUND

We have to acknowledge receipt of tho following subscriptions to the fund in aid of the widow and family of Mr Georgo Atkinson :—E. G. Milncs 10s, A Friend 10s.

:< The Nobodies," a clever company of local amateurs, will give an entertainment In the Simmer Town Hall on Thursday night, in aid of the widow and family of Mr George Atkinson, who was drowned on Saturday.

Th*> sum of £5 3s Id was collected at the Municipal Baths last night in aid of the Atkinson family relief fund.

A subscription list in aid of Mr Atkinson's widow and family is now open at the Teuid Baths

The search for the bodies of Atkinsou and Bat hurst had not been successful ut> till 9.30 last night.

TO TJIK EDITOR OF '''THE TRESS." Sir,— Referring to the recent sad drowning fatalities in Sumner on Saturday last, tho Canterbury Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society strongly endorses the application of its SnmneV Branch for financial assistance from the public of Christchurch and suburbs, to provide efficient facilities to guard against accidents from drowuing at the seaside. At the same time tho Head Centre hopes to also equip the New Brighton Branch, which is at present endeavouring to safe-guard the -very wide expanse of bench, and will be glad to receive funds to help in this direction. This Head Centre feels certain that the time has now come when the authorities controlling the foreshore, and other public bodies interested, should have life say ing experts permanently on duty, as has l>eon found neoessaiy at Lyell Bay, Wellington, and tho beaches of Manly and Coogee, near Sydney. Although members of the Society will gladly give their services to undertake patrol work, yet it is impossible to have this done in ordinary business hours, but on Sundays, gala days and holidays, the Society would relieve those guardians and provide a large staff of experts. Wo desire to point out that had the reels at Sumner been accommodated in convenient positions, insteao of in a motor garnge some distance from, the beach, both fatalities no doubt could havo been prevented. For months past both the Centre and the Sunine l - Branch have been endeavouring to get suoh accommodation provided, but through lack of funds this has not yet been acc.vi..plished. Tho Canterbury Head Centre desires to thank the Press for the publicity and assistance given to their work in tho past, and trust that the same support will be. given them in tho future. The Executive exceedingly regret that the Christchurch City Council,when approached recently for a small grant, were unable to help the Society, and the urgency of their need has recently been demonstrated. The Sumner Borough Council and tho residents of Sumner have contributed generously, but experience in the past lias shown that it is tho visitors from Christchurch, through their inexperienco of the tides and currents, -who lose their lives, and tho Society consider that they aro justified in appealing once again to the authorities for financial assistance. In addition to this the responsibility rests with the citizens of Chnsichurch to loyally do their share. Donations forwarded to the undersigned will be expended for tho safeguarding of the bathers at both Sumner and Now Brighton, and it is hoped shortly to establish branches at the other seaside resorts under tho Head Centres jurisdiction, including Kaiapoi, Lyttelton. Akaroa and Timaru. On behalf of tho'Canterbury Head Centre. B." J. ACER, ' 'k Hon. Secretary. ;-.- BdxtoGl,-. ...-.-'. ■■■■■■

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sfir, —"For direct self-praservation, or the maintenance of lifo and health, the all-important knowledge is Science." I have for somo time been associated with Brighton and have discussed with residents tho question which again and again forces itself on public atention, viz., tho insecurity of lifo while bathing in tho sea on the east side of our city. The opinions of Mr Billson and the generous purse oT Mr Nordon are of little avail while conditions of sea and wind currents are not locally understood or discarded. The primary source of danger to bathers on tho sea beach is the river Waimakariri. The great current of this river, acted upon by strong winds from the northerly quarter is directed on a course parallel to the beach, and sweeps the estuary Mid .Sumner shore, as well as Lyttelton harbour. In its southerly passage it has formed a gullet to a depth of three to four fathoms, and only a few yards beyond the New Brighton pier l thus forming an ocean current of fresh water, the speed of which, on an ebb tide becomes accelerated, and wherein the most powerful swimmer, unaided by a boat's crew, has a poor chance of saving a fellow creature, who ignorautly becomes engulfed in it. At times when the southerly winds prevail and the tide is on the flood, or rising, the Waimakariri assumes an eastern course along the Kaikouras, thus to seabathers becomes _ harmless. Bathing limits may bo enjoined, but who will keep them on a 12-mile strand 1 Boards with sensational inscriptions would cause the maternal or parental chargo on a visit to the beach to curse their stars that they selected tbo seaside for a day's outing, and unhinge them for the whole period. It is tbo duty of the authorities to acquaint would-be bathers that danger begins when the tide commences to ebb. that the danger increases as the tide recedes, but that bathing is as safe as in. any other part when the tide is on tho flood, and the wind out of tbe north quarter. A diagram of the beach and channel before-mentioned, issxied by authority,, and suspended in ten-roms, etc., would enable the public to realisethe immensity of the dangers existing and how to avoid them. —Yours, etc., WILLIAM CUMING.