SWIMMING.

Evening Star, Issue 12028, 28 October 1903, Page 3

SWIMMING.

[By Splash.] The D.A.S. Chib are to be congratulated upon ihe success of the opening of the season on Wednesday evening. The smaller bath was crowded with spectators, and the programme was both interesting and amusing. The whole proceedings went off without a single hitch, and the secretary is to be congratulated npon the splendid arrangements made for the accommodation of visitors. A word of praise should also be .sissModha rEodhJ>maedjn:Ba^S^*i lts

kindly offering their services, which were greatly appreciated. As a result of the splendid advertisement given to the ballis on Wednesday evening the place has been crowded with swimmers. On Sunday morning I counted no less than 105 swimmers in the water at once, and the caretaker informs me that over 600 people availed themselves of the baths during Saturday and Sunday. The idea of excluding the juniors from the smaller bath on Sundays Is a good idea, and will tend to increase its popularity among the adults. The 40yds Handicap at Wednesday’s carnival proves that Matheson and Butterfield are the makings of really good swimmers, and with a little consistent training should prove particularly fast men. At a special general meeting of members held on Friday evening the new rules and by-laws as adopted by the Committee were passed with slight alteration. At the same meeting Mr W. L. Hooper was elected vice-president to the N.Z. Amateur Swimming Association.

The water polo team will visit Christchurch at New Year instead of Christmas. They will thus have an opportunity of witnessing some of .the championship events on New Year's Day at Lyttelton, Messrs Bolton and Butler, selectors of the team, inform me that they intend putting two teams into practice at once. I was glad to see His Worship the Mayor at Wednesday’s carnival, also Crs Braith-wolt-e, Barnes, and London and the Town Clerk.

The Melbourne ‘ Leader ’ reports a case of drowning, which goes to prove the dangers of diving except by people of experience. It appears that on Sunday, October 11, a young man named Fletcher, aged nineteen, went for a swim in a creek about loft deep. He had with him a companion named Vincent. They both swam across the creek several times, and then Fletcher dived repeatedly. When he came to the surface after the last dive he was seen to be drowning, and Vincent went to his assistance. The drowning man, however, caught hold of Vincent, who sank with him before he extricated himself. A man named Edward Scbolz responded to the cries for help, and at once stripped and went to the assistance of Vincent, who by this time was greatly exhausted. Scbolz managed to bring Vincent to the bank, tat he was not aware that Fletcher was in the water. Vincent was too exhausted to speak, but pointed to the water. Schoiz then dived and recovered the body in 15ft of water, and every means were used to restore animation, but without success, deceased having been in the water for nearly half an Lour.