WANGANUI NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 54, 27 November 1928, Page 6

WANGANUI NOTES

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR SWIMMING Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, November 26. What would appear to be a record swimming season may be expected in Wanganui during the coming months, if the experience of the eight weeks since the opening of the season may be accepted as a fair indication. The takings at one of the municipal baths have doubled, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, and with the best months of the summer yet to come it is expected that the improvement recorded will be maintained during the remainder of the season. Wanganui, it appears certain, will continue to hold its high place in Dominion swimming circles if the enthusiasm now evident is directed in the right channels. Wanganui deep-sea fishermen report that an abnormal number of sharks infest the fishing grounds off Wanganui. Several launches report having caught as many sharks as schnapper, and some huge ones have been hooked and have provided thrilling tussles before breaking the lines. Bathers would be well advised not to venture too far off shore, as several of the blue variety, which are stated to have a preference for venturesome swimmers, have been numbered among the catches. So far 600 tons of rock from the quarries up-river have been deposited at Taylorville bank for reconstruction purposes. The total amount to be deposited is about 1600 tons. When this is complete rock will be quarried for the continuation of the north mole. A thunderstorm which rolled up ominously from the east yesterday afternoon sent picnickers scurrying back to the shelter of their homes, many being soaked to the skin on the journey. The disturbance was particularly severe, and put all power lines in the Wanganui district out of action when one of the main poles on the Warrengate Road was struck by lightning. The line had to be deadened through to Bunnythorpe while repairs were being effected, but the Wanganui steam plant was brought into commission and supplied power for as many circuits as possible. Numbers of fuses on sub-lines were also blown by the lightning.