BEACH SENTINELS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 110, 5 November 1926, Page 9

BEACH SENTINELS

ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY

PAST SEASON'S ACTIVITIES

The annual report of the Boyal LifeSaving Society (Wellington Centre) states that the financial position of the society at the end of the 1925-26 season was fair. The society is already in receipt of the Macarthy grant. The trustees have stipulated that this amount be expended on schools, nnd it is hoped that past supporters of the society will again give their, assistance to help carry on the humane work of life-saving. It is reported that the Wellington Centre formed a deputation to wait on the Minister of Internal Affairs with a view to having the Government grant to life-saving increased. As the Minister made a statement in the House that this would be done the deputation was abandoned. The society gratefully acknowledges donations from the following:—Messrs. M. Myers, K.C., C. P. Skcrrett (Chief Justice), T. Forsyth, C. B. Norwood, J. Bigg, and the Macarthy trustees. The efficiency of the life-saving clubs was convincingly demonstrated at the New Year, when no less than twelve persons were rescued in the course of three days. The rescues were made by the Maranui and Lyall Bay Lifesaving Clubs under difficult conditions, and several certain fatalities were averted by the gallantry of the club members. VABIOUS OOMPETITioWS. The Dewar Shield was won by the Wellesley College for the third time in succession. They therefore won the shield outright. Whilst the committee regretted that competition for the valuable trophy was not more keen amongst the secondary schools, the display given by the students of Wellesley College under Captain J. A. Duffy was excellent. The interclub competitions were run off successfully, with the exception of the bcltmans1 trophy, which was not competed for. The entries were satisfactory, and good and keen competitions resulted. Tho Island Bay Club were is. be especially congratulated on their brilliant showing. The annual trip to Paekakariki proved a delightful outing, the local club sparing no pains to make the visit most enjoyable. The Primary Schools' Challenge Shield was won by tho Wellesley College Boys, who gave an excellent display. It was hoped that more primary schools would be induced to present teams during the coming season. The Maranui and Lyall Bay Lifesaving Clubs represented Wellington in the New Zealand Life-saving Championships, and were to be congratulated on their splendid performance of winning the Nelson Shield. Th,e Maranui Club came first and tho Lyall Bay Club second. The Wellington team was second in the Wigram Shield contest. j The conditions for that trophy had been competed for on the lines of the King's Cup in England. The centre gaining the most number of awards during the season " would be entitled to hold the shield for one year. The Lyall Bay Club defeated the Maranui Club in a challenge for the silver reel. The Lyall Bay Club was entitled to hold the reel and fly.the championship pennant. A large supply of stock had been i ordered from London, and .the grant of |£5O generously donated by the trustees of the Macarthy Estate would be used to reduce the cost of the awards to pupils at schools .and colleges. Every inducement would be given for the schools to take up the work actively. The Wellington Training College and the Girls' College had achieved splendid results during the past season. The awards from the life-saving clubs had dropped off slightly, and an extra effort would need to be made in that direction during the next season.