THE BATHS.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 822, 8 March 1909, Page 4

THE BATHS.

OFFICIAL OPENING. . ! SPEECH BY THE MAYOR. The municipal swimming baths, constructed by Mr T. Collins and j handed over last week, were officially I opened by his Worship the Mayor, Mr W. J. B. Trewin, on Saturday after- j noon. There were about 200 men, ' women, and children present, the day was bright and the water warm, and much enthusiasm was displayed. Members of the Feilding Brass Band were in attendance, and played some pieces during the afternoon. ' The Mayor mounted the high diviug board and made a short speech ( in declaring the baths open. He j said on the 16th April last year, the ; ratepayers had, by vote, sanctioned , the raising of a loan of £1600 for the building of the baths. Seeing it was I so long ago that the poll was taken, j some people thought the Council had not pushed the work on as they should have done; but there had been some trouble in negotiating with the Government for the loan. The money had been received on December 7, and on December 10 the Council opened the tenders. These tenders were considered to be too high, and were sent back to the contractors. On December 17 the amended tender of Mr T. Collins, for £1192, was accepted. Mr Collins had finished the work three weeks ahead of the contract time. (Applause.) The land cost £300. and with the extras tho total cost of the baths would reach about £1500. At the poll the ratepayers had supported the baths by 216 votes to 64. I It now devolved upon them to patronise the baths as they should be, and help the Council to make them pay for themselves. The Mayor went on to ', say that he believed in giving credit whore credit was duo. and though he, with the other members of the Council, had received criticism at tliv hands of the local press, he wished to say that the successful issue of the proposal for the baths was due to the support given it by the paper. Tho baths were a credit to Feilding. He also wished to say that though he had sometimes criticised the Engineer, Mr W. J. Roche, he had to congratulate him on the design and successful carrying out of the work. Mr Roche was entitled to that credit. He also thanked the contractor and the subcontractors for the expeditious way in which they had carried out their work. In conclusion, Mr Trewin hoped the baths would be successful, and that the Council would be able to make them pay. He then declared the baths open. The Mayor took the official "header" by proxy, sending Mr Gar. Barry off the high diving board. .Simultaneously a crowd of youngsters sprang like frogs from all sides of the bath, and the splashing commenced, the water soon being alive with swimmers. * The Mayor, with Mr Chas. Carr arranged a race for boys under 14, which was won by Tom Dickeon, with A. Cleland second and Eric West third.