SWIMMING BATHS.

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1926, Page 2

SWIMMING BATHS.

TO BE STARTED THIS Y r EAR.. For some time past the residents of Greymonth have been agitating for the j erection of a swimming bath in the | town area. As readers are aware, a committee was set up and the position [ was fully discussed. Three engineers gave their services, plans were drawn , up, and the sum of £2OOU was collect- , ed in the course of ten months. Critics I then began to ask why nothing fur-| ther was done in the matter, and also 1 what had been done with the money, j Some harmful and misleading rumours gained ’ currency, and yesterday an i “Argus” representative called upon Dr. McKay, the Chairman of the ( Swimming Baths Committee, in order that the true position might bo [ | brought to light regarding the mat- [ ter. | Dr. McKay said that the committee [ had had many difficulties to overcome.! He was aware that some adverse crit- . icisnis had been made, but these state- ■ ments had apparently emanated from [ people who were the least acquainted | with the position. Some had suggest- , cd that tepid h«th< might be erected : with the money in hand. This was j sheer absurdity as a conservative estimate for the erection of such baths would exceed £6000., As it was, the! funds in hand were yet scanty. The ' proposed/bath would ho constructed of concrete, and would be of standard i width and length, i.e., 100 feet by 33 1 feet. The of the tank alone | would approximate £l6OO, to say noth- j ling of iho erection of cubicles, and! ’ other necessary equipment. The late I Air Gillies had lent invaluable yid, and! JI he passing of that gentleman, would certainly be felt "in connection with' ! the matter, and, owing to unforeseen , I circumstances arising, it. had been found advisable to postpone further nr-[ tivit.y for the present time, at least. [This was ah undertaking which it was; inadvisable to hurry, as the members! pin’d gained much information in the I ] direction of economising by waiting until iho present, than if the work had I been gone on with right at the coin-. [ mencoment. Estimates had come out I at greater expense than was originally expected, and the committee had drawn • up fresh plans with a view to conform[ing the expenses of erection with thq money in hand, However, continued the speaker, much valuable work had already been done. A site selection committee had been elected, consisting of three engineers and five laymen. After an inspection nf the North Town Belt, and various Borough reserves, the engineers had finally selected a site, and the Government Analyst, Dr. McLaurin. Imd analysed water from the tide-way | in the vicinity of Preston Rond des- | scribing it as free from impurities and satisfactorily saline. In his opinion it was in every way suitable for swimming purposes. Another meeting was to be called very shortly, and, although there was I little possibility* of ‘he laths being completed this season, the public could | rest assured that the committee and engineers had gone into the matter and j would assist in the early erection of i ; the baths. The committee believes ■ that they would make a drastic error I : in hurrying the matter ahead at the ! expense of forethought, and he (Dr. ; McKay ) entertained every hope and as-j snrance that the Greymouth Swimming I Baths would be open to the public early in the next summer.