SWIMMING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1678, 27 April 1904, Page 56

SWIMMING.

4By “Nat a tor.”) A short time age it was stated that Gailey (Queensland) and Read (New South Wales) had not yet received the medads won by them at the Championship Meeting at Wanganui three years age. lb seems that the Australian swimmers were not really entitled to medals as with their consent and approval other trophies were substituted, one receiving a bracelet and the other an open order for £4. The swimmers from the Commonwealth got full value .and should therefore not have subsequently made application for medals. The worts of endeavouring to find out about the Government grant to swimming and the claims of Wellington to a share of it is Still being carried on and some development may be looked for this week. The Napier S.C. came out of its shell recently and held a carnival. The 1 sport is said to have been very good. The bath, however, is very small and probably the Club will now retire into its shell again to reappear in a yeans’ time. This State of affairs could not exist in a town with a large enclosed bath—say lOQyds by 25yds. Sooner or later Wellington will have to be supplied with small a bath if swimming racing is to be encouraged at all for the accommodation for spectators at the two city baths is so small that it is becoming more and more difficult for swimming clubs to hol’d carnivals without suffering a financial loss. _Tho Swifts Club finished the season with a smoke concert in Godber’s rooms on fhe..22md inst, when, the prizes won during the past season were distributed. In replying to the toast “Kindred Sports” Mr J. H. Price spoke on behalf of rowing and Mr G. A. Wilkes for football. They were unanimous on one point—each said lie would like to'see more swimmers in the ranks of rowing clubs on the one hand and football clubs on the other. It is generally accepted ais a truth that “its a bad bargain that won’t work both ways.” In the present ease it applies particularly. In effect Mr Wilkes said he would like to see a large number of swimmer-f ootbaf lens. Would he not be equallly well 1 satisfied if a large number of footballer —Swknr 1110113 came into being ? The Star and Welllington Rowing Clubs do as much swimming as could be expected from them. As much cannot be said of football clubs. , Were Mr Wilkets to set to work during, the off-season and organise swimming clubs in connection with all city football clubs there is no doubt his name would become inscribed indelibly in luminous paint on the swimmers roll of honour.

In replying to the toast 1 Kindred Sports” at the Swift’s smoke, concert Mr J. H. Price asked that consideration be given to his suggestion that events should be put on the programmes of swimming clubs for the benefit of members of rowing dlubs.