SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 99, 23 October 1924, Page 15

SWIMMING

CENTRE'S ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the Wellington Swimming Centre includes the following:— ;

The following clubs have held successful carnivals during the past season: Wellington (two, and one in conjunction .with Olympic), Worser Bay, Evans Bay (two), Carterton, Grey town, and Wairarapa. The country carnivals proved very enjoyable outings to the city swimmers who participated, in them. The Wairarapa Club intend holding a carnival on Boxing Day, and doubtlees a large number will make J.he journey from . town. Besides the carnivals moss of the clubs provide club races throughout the season. Advantage was taken of the visit of the South Island swimmers on their return from the :totional championships, and the Norden Cup competition was decided at one of the most successful carnivals ever held here. For the first time for many years,' Wellington won this competition. Noteworthy, also, was the carnival held on 29th September, as the Australian Olympic swimmers were passing through Wellington. The Tepid Baths proved all too small to hold the crowd that desired to see "Boy" Charlton,,Dick Eve, and .the others. During the Welcome Week festi•vities, a two-mile harbour race was swum, and drew a field of twenty starters, including two ladies. The centre was represented by a small team at the national championships, but no national honours came this way, though several places were gained. It was .evident that lack of serious training the winners, and five clubs contesttors, and in future years the centre should see that its representatives are more in earnest: Three clubs contested the senior polo banner, Wellington being the winers, and five clubs contested the junior banner, Evans Bay winning. The number of teams was decidedly encouraging, and if the best representative team had been sent to Wanganui the polo championship would easily have come to us. Mr. J. Duffy has again made a great success of educational work, and an increased number of certificates were gained. The final figures are not yet available. Thanks to the two successful carnivals, held by the centre, the finance shows a healthy increase. The result of the touring fund levy was not great, and in view of the levy of Is per member which the New Zealand Council is making, there is a notice of motion- on the agenda for the annual meeting to abolish the centre's levy of 6d per mem■ber. / ' The Thorndon baths are now an accomplished fact, although the opening is delayed for a few weeks owing to some small trouble. They should help towards an advance in swimming in that part of the city, and there is every prospect of a Thorndon CluH being reestablished. The tepid baths project seems no nearer realisation, and pressure should be brought to bear on the City Council to make a move in the matter. _ It has been-amply demonstrated during the past season that swimming is most popular with the public, and if the proposed baths were built in Mercer street there seems to be no reason why they should not be a paying proposition from the start. The Evans Bay Club are striving hard to get decent accommodation at'Evans Bay, and already have raised £500 for that end. They have'been treated with but scant consideration by the City Council, which is spending £1000 oh a 6hed at Day's Bay, which nobody asked for, and which will boost up the Eastbourne Borough's ferry traffic, while no money can be found for the nearer bays and beaches, where th"c city's own tram system extends. Brooklyn is a suburb which could well do with baths. A committee, which has collected money for a children's playground there, has a large surplus fund, and the centre has suggested that it be utilised for a swimming pool.