SWIMMING CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 22773, 7 October 1937, Page 15

SWIMMING CENTRE

THE YEARS ACTIVITIES PMBDEBS WELL MAINTAINED The thirty-fifth annual report of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association to be presented at the meeting on Monday states that the progress made by the sport in recent years has been well maintained. Swimming in New Zealand, states the report, suffered a great loss through, the death of Mr W. E. D. Bishop, president of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, who had devoted almost a lifetime of service to the sport. A suggestion had been made that to commemorate his worli a trophy should be awarded. In common with other centres, Otago staged a number of Empire Games’ time trials, and on March 18 Miss Islay Purdie (Kiwi) won the 110yds ladies' free style trial in linin 14 3-ssec. P. E. Mathieson (Kiwi) won the 110yds men’s back stroke trial in Imin 13 3-ssec, and D. H. Symes (University) the 110yds men’s free style trial in Imin 5 l-ssec. Two Otago swimmers succeeded in establishing New Zealand records during the season. These were P. E. Mathieson and Miss I. Purdie, of the Kiwi Club. It is with pride that the centre records that for the second time within a period of two years it was able to bring to culmination a tour of Aus--11)10 the

visit, which was organised by the Otago Centre, embraced the Southland Centre, Balclutha, Toko., Alexandra, and Oamaru Clubs, the Otago Centre, Temuka Club, Ashburton Centre Canterbury Centre, Westport Club, Nelson Centre, Blenheim Club, and Wellington Centre. On the Dominion organisation of the tour, ■ a very slight profit was shown, but, largely owing to the unfavourable weather experienced, several of the carnivals at which the visitors appeared showed a loss. Nevertheless, the tour proved one of the most enjoyable udertakings the centre has yet sponsored, and the results should be apparent for some years to come. During the year a number of leading swimmers left Dunedin, the most prominent among them being P. E. Mathieson, who has gone to Wellington, and R. O. Johnson and W. J. Jarvis, to Auckland, Miss M. Boulton was married to Mr A. W. Raper in February, and went to Auckland to reside. Mrs Raper did great work as a coach in Dunedin, and the centre has already voiced its appreciation of her efforts. The epidemic restrictions cut short the water polo competitions, which promised to be more than usually interesting. For the A grade competition entries were received from Kiwi A, Dunedin A, and St. Clair A, and after some good matches the Donald Stuart Banner was won by Kiwi A. The B grade competitibn was contested by Dunedin B, Kiwi B, St. Clair B, St. Kilda, and Kaikorai, and this competition produced a good standard of play, showing that there is any amount of promising material in the game in Otago. Dunedin B won the King George Y. Memorial Cup, 'presented by Mr G. H. Harrison.

The total receipts for the past season amounted to £489 3s 2d, and the expenditure to £4lO 6s Id, leaving a credit balance of £7B 17s Id. The sum of £SO was deposited in the Dunedin Savings Bank, and earned 19s 4d interest, and the balance in the current account at the Bank of New Zealand is £27 17s 9d. It is with regret that the centre has to report that it is not much further ahead in its efforts to obtain new baths for Dunedin. The City Council was approached on several occasions, but no definite reply was given to our representations concerning a pool. .Particulars of pools in other parts of tho world were obtained, but there the matter appears to rest at the moment.