25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 10

25 YEARS AGO

Speaker in Bathing Costume (From “The Dominion,’’ Nov. 30, 1911.) vTlie swimming season, which has been unofficially open for some weeks, received official sanction on Saturday, when the Wellington Centre of the N«"' laud Amateur Swimming Association formally opened the season at the Te Aro Baths. The duly Ml to Mr. T. Rouayne, president of the centre. The opening ceremony was of a truly orthodox oharacier. The president, arrayed in a bathing costume, strode out on to one of the diving boards. After consulting a few rough notes which he carried, -he proceeded to open the season. He shivered somewhat in his light costume, but informed his hearers that it gave him great pleasure to perform the opening ceremony Refewing to the question of providing salt water baths, Mr. Ronayne said the Wellington City Council had millions of gallons of hot water running to waste from the destructor, the powerhouse, etc.', which might lie utilised for providing warm water baths. This was a matter the city council might seriously consider Standing on the outer edge of rhe springboard, Mr. Ronayne said: “When 1 hit the water, gentlemen, the sea Non will be open.” Thereupon the president faced his audience, and turning a neat back somersault, “hit the water” with it minimum of splash, and the season was opened amid the cheers of the onlookers.

A proposal is to be submitted to the Eastbourne Borough Council this week to secure a 16-aere block of bush land at Rona Bay for the purpose of a public park.