ISLAND BAY CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 147, 11 March 1918, Page 6

ISLAND BAY CARNIVAL

FOR THE RED TRIANGLE

SPORT IN THE WATER AND FUN ON THE BEACH

On Satin day afternoon the Island Bay Surf and Life-saving Club "did its bit" towards the Red Triangle, appeal for war funds. It is extremely doubtful if the little beach at the hay over knew such a crowd as peopled it between 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The trams carried over 10,600 passengers, and it was not the club's fault if visitors did not enjoy themselves, for every member wearing a badge worked like a Trojan to make tho carnival the success ic was. There was only one fly in the amber, and that was the eoldj southerly wind which blew consistently throughout theafternoon. Wellington's light southerlies in the golden summer time are as welcome as the flowers in spring, but a stiff blow from the same quarter in March is quite another proposition, and it certainly had its effect on Saturday's outing. Fortunately the sun shono out bravely,' making the bay an extremely pretty sight. The dressingsheds were aflame with bunting, the new diving pier was also gay with Hags, and even the fleet of fishing vessels moored' in the lee of the island sported the enlivening red. white, and green of beloved Italia. The air was made merry with the music of the Featherstoii Camp drum and trumpet, band, and popular music from the Patriotic Society's band, under Bandmaster Jupp. In tho lee of tho big dressing-shed tho ladies of Island Bay'conducted an afternoon tea kiosk, which did wonderful business from 3 to 5 p.m., giving all patrons their full money's worth and a little over. The carnival officials were as follow: President, Mr. C. 0. Odlin; club captain, Mr. J. Rowe; vice-captain, Mr. S. Heal; hon. secretary, Mr. K. A. Evans; lion.' treasurer, Mr. B. A. judge and handicappers, Messrs. F. Wilton, C. Bullivant, and A. A. Somerville; starters, Messrs. A. Jacobs and R. Anderson; check starters, Messrs. J. Rowe and W. C. Collier; stewards, Messrs. H. E. 11. Bird and J. Bruce; costume stewards, Messrs. H. Miller, C. Mayall, and H. Johnson; judges (diving), Messrs. F. Wilton, C. Bullivant, and G. S. Hill. The ladies who helped were:—Refreshment Committee: Mesdames Wilkinson, M'Donald, Clarke, Boocock, Huggins, Hicks, Moss, Barnes, Gibson, Bruce, Beckett, Hamilton, Stevens, Rowe, Graham, Misses Bryant, Bayliss, Chinchin. Assistants: Mesdames Cornier, Lord, Allen, Misses kitchens and Healey. Sweets and ice cream stall: Mesdames Bullivant (in charge), Griffiths, Evans, and Staining. Lady superintendent, Mrs. Florence Heal.

Mr. C. C. Odlin (president), in calling upon the Mayor (Mi. J. P. Luke) to open tho _ carnival, welcomed him to Island Bay, mentioning tlio encouragcnig growth of the district and its increasing popularity as a seaside resort, lie relerred to the new diving pior which the City Corporation' has provided as a facility to swimmers and divers as a feature which would tend to popularise the beach. Their chief aim, however, was to aid the Y.M.C.A.'s war funds to their utmost, and he hoped that all present would cordially co-operate to that end. The Mayor said that he was pleased to note the great development which had taken place in tiiat part of the city, a growth that was apparent from the large nttsUier of people who had taken up their permanent residence in that district, Mid the ever-increasing number of people who. snatched every opportunity if Hock to the seaside. On behalf of the City Council and citizena he congratulated the people of Island iiay on the possession of such a strong, active, and useful body as the Island Bay Surf and Life-saving Club, which he was sure was doing good work in teaching swimming and inculcating the correct methods cf life-saving, i The council had proved its interest by erecting the new diving pier, which he was certain would Prove an attraction to the beach and helpful to the club. Ho commended strongly the object of the gathering, saying that no words of his could adequately express what ho thought of the noble work that .was being done by the Y.ILO.A. amongst our boys at the front and in the training camps. At the samo time he did not wish to detract from the excellent, work that was being done by other institutions which were working for one common object. He had much pleasure in declaring the carnival open. (Applause.) , Mrs. Luke was then presented by Councillor J. 0. Shorland with a pair of scissors with which to cut the ribbon extending from the new pier to the shore, by which action the Mayoress formally opened the new pier. Councillor Shorland referred to Mrs. Luke s faithful and energetic work among the soldiers, whiph would never be forgotten by the citizens of Wellington. Mrs. Luke then formally declared the new pier opened, accompanying her remarks with congratulations to the residents for the substantial help they wore according to the Red Triangle appeal. ii" K. A. Wright, M.P., as member for the district, also added his congratulations, and said that Island Bay's wants would not bo neglected ow'in" to slackness on the part of the council, but would bo attended to as time served and opportunity ottered. Councillor M. F. Luclde, as a member of the Baths and Beaches Committee of the council, stated that the work done at Island Bay had been justified, and wished the club and district all prosperity. Among those present were MajorGeneral Sir Alfred Robin SurgeonGeneral Henderson, Colonel Gibbon, and tho City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton).

The Sports Events. The following wore the results- of the sports events:— 50 yards men's swimming race—L. Turner, 1; 11. Evans, 2. -10 yards ladies' race—Mrs. Baxter, 1; Mrs. Johnson, 2. 75 vards single ladies'-i ace—Miss Donnelly, 1; Miss Migg, 2; Miss Allan,

3. Ladies' diving competition—Miss Maude Allan, 1; Miss Jessie Aiken, 2.

200 yards men's free swimming racePatterson, 1; Prince, 2; Eaves, 3. Running dive (men)— Ernngton, 1; Patterson. 2. 100 yards men's breast-stroke race— Vanqn' I; Turner, 2; Dealy, 3. Girls' swimming race (ages 12 to 16)— E. Masters, 1; M. Sellers, 2; It. Fulford, 3. ■ Boys' race (ages from 12 to to)— Claridgc. I; Bull, 2; Pcarso, 3. All children's swimming race—Aliss Wilkie, 1; Miss Brodie, 2; Miss Leslie. 3. Bovs' swimming race (under 16)— Georlie. 1; Cahill,'2 j Collins, 3. Girls' swimming race (under 16, back stroke)-Miss Wilkie, 1; Miss Prince, Boys' swimming race (under 16)— Geori'o, 1; Collins, 2; Tailored, 3. Giils' diving—Miss Prince, 1; Miss J. Wilkie, 2; Miss Tailored, 3. Bovs' diving (under 16)—Ulilll, 1; Tancred. 2; George, 3. Tug-of-war—lsland Bay fishermen beat both the Lyall and Evans Bay fishermen. Fishermen's boat race—Wor. by A. Bangiomo and S. Santo (Island Bay). Greasy pole—Gordon, 1; Stevens, 2; R. Anderson, 3. Messrs. Leslie Ernngton and J. u. Foster (returned soldiers) gave a fine

exhibition of high diving. The latter dived with his hands tied, and swam ashore without releasing his hands.

During the afternoon there was a grand treasure hunt'in a strip of sandy beach about a hundred yards long. Twelve hundred spades were disposed of in quick time to treasure-hunters (who included the Mayor), and a merry and exciting time was spent in displacing tons (it sand. Plenty of cards were found entitling the finders to prizes, and the staff in the prizo tent were kept busy throughout the afternoon redeeming the tickets. Of the 160 prizes "planted" 140 were recovered. The £5 prize was not -unearthed, and this will be disposed of at the Jack Waller entertainment this evening. The» cause was also substantially helped by the disiwsal of Y.M.C.A. immunity buttons among the crowd, and also by the sale of tickets for the special entertainment to be given by the "Look Who's Here" Company at the Grand Opera House this evening. The tramway sorvico to the hay was severely taxed for a couple of hours, and considering that there is only a single track over long sections of the lino the management was excellent.

The prize attaching to the victory in the fishermen's boat race was handed back to the committee by the winners, who asked that it should bo sold for the good of the cause. The prizo will he offered for sale at the Grand Opera House this'evening. v The Island Bay committee which arranged the carnival intends to continue working until the end of Triangle Week, and so give the full value, of the organisation already in being. A canvass of the 'district is to bo made, and later in the week it is possible that the committee will give some assistance to the Commercial Travellers' Club.