KARORI BATHS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 11

KARORI BATHS

BATHING SHELTER

MORE ACCOMMODATION

A decision, which will be welcomed by Karori residents, has been made to increase the bathing shelter accommodation at the Karori baths to almost double that provided for in the original plans. The shelter, which is at. the south-western corner of the baths, has an "L" plan, and by extending the two arms, at no great cost, provision can be made for shelters for boys* and girls divided . from the compartments for adults. Timber for the extensions is on the site and for the small additional cost a considerable improvement will be obtained. The longer arm on the southern side, also, will act as a screen against the wind from that direction.

The heavy work in the bath' construction, in the concreting of the walls and floor, is practically completed, the supply and outlet and filtration circuit pipes are laid and the contractors, Messrs. Christiani and Nielsen, are working now mainly upon the bathing shelter and the deep chamber in which the filtration plant will be placed. The work is generally well up to contract time, for the weather has been uniformly favourable and the ground is such that the deep cuts necessary for the placing of piping and for the filtration chamber have stood solidly.

An interesting feature of the construction is that the bath slab, 100 ft by 40ft, is quite separate from the walls, for there is a space of about three inches all round. This has been done to get over any risk of fracture of the walls by expansion or contraction of the floor slab. Walls and floor will be sealed "together by a bitumen joint. ' ' :

There is, of course, still a good deal to be done, in the fine,, plastering of the bath, which will have the usual racing line tiles laid in the floor, the shaping of the scum channel round the four walls, the connecting up of the filtration system, the erection of diving boards and platforms, and the flagging of the surround of the bath. However, the contractors hope to be through with their, sections of the work well before summer starts in earliest.

Besides the actual bath construction, a good deal has also to be done in finishing and turfing the terraces on the eastern side of the bath, where accommodation will be given for a considerable number of spectators;

Karori has waited many years for its swimming, bath and v at this long last has a real satisfaction in knowing that when the job is completed the. bath and its appointments and its accommodationfforr r spectators will compare very well indeed with swimming baths of open air design. anywhere in New Zealand.

Tenders for the erection of the new pavilion at, Oriental Bay are to be called shortly and though the building may not be ready for the commencement of the Bathing season, it will be available by mid-season if all things run along smoothly.