LIFE-SAVING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 121, 19 November 1934, Page 4

LIFE-SAVING

OPENING OF SEASON

WORSER BAY CLUB

Conditions were excellent on Saturday afternoon for the opening for the season of the Worser Bay Swimming and Lifesaving Club. A large number of members was present, as well as representatives of the Wellington Centre of the Xew Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Association, and of the Lyall Bay and Maranui Clubs.

After having been introduced by the club president, Mr. W. H. Gerrie, Mr. R. Semple, M.P., performed the opening ceremony. He referred briefly to the good work done by , life-saving clubs throughout the Dominion, and emphasised the tact that the foremost clubs had a very high reputation in the community. The preservation' of the city's bathing facilities was becoming an increasingly difficult problem as tho city expanded, and was well worth fighting for. At present the Harbour Boaid was taking soundings with, a view to reclaiming a portion of Evans Bay for use as the tite of the exhibition to celebrate Wellington's centenary. If the cost of reclamation were not proved to be too expensive, there was every indication that that would be the site.

It was most desirable that the cricket and athletic grounds should be extended, but it was also most necessary to preserve the rights of the swimmers, and to provide more facilities for that sport. To ensure success, it was .necessary that the aquatic sports clubs of the city should band together and present a solid front. The interests of the country members of the Harbour Board were con- | fined almost entirely to the commercial value of Wellington, as a port. Mr. Semple congratulated the club on its showing in the past season. Success in the world of physical contest, he advised, could only come as the'result of hard and conscientious training. He wished the club every success in the coming season. The display of land-drill and water-work that followed showed that even ao early" in the season the club members are. in excellent training. Tho team was as follows:—T. Rowell (captain), A. Norton Taylor, G. Richards, G. Turney, L. Minifie, A. Gerrie, and J. Bennett. , Fourteen lined up for the start of an open-water handicap swimming race. It resulted in a very close finish, J. Newport (Osec) being first, W. Bell (ssec) second, and J. Hepburn (sor) third. A dainty afternoon tea was afterwards served in the Worser Bay Yacht Club's clubhouse by lady supporters.