Auspicious Opening.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13581, 21 December 1916, Page 3

Auspicious Opening.

SWIMMING CLUB FUNCTION,

' A vciy live and persistent body is the newly inaugurated Palmerston N. Swimming Club. The High School has a fine swimming baths, and-as the school's anual vacation has just begun the Club approached the governing body of the school for permission to use them. This permission was readily granted, and the Club had a formal opening at the baths yesterday afternoon. The baths were declared open by the Mayor, who congratulated the club upon being such a live body and on having such a large membership. He regretted very much that the municipal baths could not contain two tanks, and also took the opportunity of pointing out the number of bathing fatalities that had occurred in New Zealand and the need for everybody to learn the natatorial art. This Was a duty devolvent upon those dn whose care was the rising generation, and ho was glad to sec an active interest evinced in this direction fey Palmerston swimmers. Mr H. Young, president <©£ the Ciut), thanked the ladies and gentlemen present for their attendance, and regretted that at the short time at their disposal the club had not been able to put on a more extensive programme. He agreed with the Mayor that t&e rising generation should learn to swim and pointed out that the. committee • had appointed ituselS ;as a- board of instructors, so that parents should not be afraid to send their youngsters along, as they would be in capable hands. '* A small programme was then gone through.' Mr McPherson gave an exhibition of the. correct method of breast-stroke swimming; ,- Messrs. Bowen and J. Devine gave an exhibition of life-saving, and members of the elub gave an exhibition of fancy diving. A ladies' race was won Dy Miss Waters, Miss Utandell being second. There were also two boys races, won by Masters McSweeney and Nicholls respectively. This part of the programme over, members of the club then indulged in a welcome dip. The baths will be open every morning from 6 o'clock, and from 4,30 in the afternoon. Parents are urged to make their children members of the club (a small fee o± Is 6d being charged) and thus gain them tuition in making them at-home in the water. The club acknowledges trophies from Messrs. Blackmore, T. H. Hodgson, H. L. Young, and Manson and Burr.