SWIMMING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 15

SWIMMING.

(By “Natator.”) In the course of an interesting article in the “World’s Work,” Montague Holbein, whose recent attempt to swim the English Channel created so much interest, expresses surprise that so few people learn to swim. “It is a. mystery to me,” he says “that we are not more emphatically a nation el swimmers. We are, as a people, fond of the sea; wo indulge extensively in yachting and boating; we make the best sailors; but the gr eat mass of the population, even of the males cannot sustain themselves in water for a few seconds oven, while it is a rare execution to see a woman or child with any knowledge of so useful an art. If 1 could feci the assurance that the publicity given to ray exertions had advanced perceptibly the knowledge of swimming among my countrvmen, I should bo far more proud of that consciousness than if I should finally succeed in my ambition to swim across the Channel.” On Wednesday, December 9th, the Swifts Club will get off a 100yds Handicap at Te Aro Baths. For the fifth annual carnival of the Swifts Club, to be held at Te Are Baths on December 19th, the following programme has boon drawn up:— oOyds Maiden, 100yds Inter-Club Handicap (points to count for the Wnite Horse Collar whisky trophy 1 ! 50yds Lathes’ Bracelet (handicap), 150yds Club Handicap, 25yds Dash Handicap. 50yds Boys’ Handicap, Diving Competition, and Fancy Dress and Comic Diving Competition. While this is a very good programme, it is wanting in novelties interesting to the general public. The Nelson Swimming Club held its first sports meeting in Lunday Hole, Matai River, on tho 14th inst. The ■weather was dull and, chilly, accompanied by a cold drizzling rain. Despite tho adverse weather conditions and a sparse attendance of the public a long and attractive programme was gone through. The 2i - oyds A.S.A. Championship of England was decided under the auspices of the Westminster SwimmingClub at the Aston Baths on September 14th. There were four'starters. The race resulted. J. H. Derbyshire 1, C. E. Forsyth 2, E. Gilbert 3. Won by a yard. Time, 2min 46soc. F. E. V. Lane, tho holder, did not start,. being in Australia. -The winner is a member of tho Manchester Osborne Swimming Club, Forsyth is a member of the Leaf Street Swimming Club, Manchester, and Gilbert belongs to the Walsall Swimming Club. At tho meeting of the Council of the N.Z. A.S.A. held in Christchurch the secretary reported that he had been unable to obtain last year’s swimming grant. Tho Council resolved to write to tho Premier and Sir Joseph ■ Ward on the matter." At a reoent meeting of the Wanganui Borough Council Mr Johns suggested that cards giving particulars of tho baths should bo printed and left at hotels. Tins suggestion was not well re-.

f ceivecl, but nov. hr- Jmve bam to Napier a.a'! lias s:e;i v. bat, tim iooi! Council ha.-: tioue by til; uk.-tiit. 10 ad- | vevtUa local aliraotioas (tr.muuiujr the i barbing facilities poor tlioug'u lbr-y art.) | will ck-tiy that it hau some, merit, 'the j ballw nr tins city cimld do wed with j ho-mo advertisement of this sort, being, i us tliet arc in such remote corners j (>a Nov. Ilih Uic Kart Sydney Swimming (,'lub was •-•> hold a lObyda b'.uuhcup. L'tC'it interest v. as ec-atfed on tin I event !k cv.use Wickham. Uu; young j Soif.it Sea Ivhittdcr, intended to break rhe rcc-oid over the di-rr.r.ce, iic was in good form and hoped to come iu-ride (*.*• vill’** fjnickcst •ante, in Jj.'.-omlier, LS9V, K. C V. itriu- covered H'Oyds m iniiu l.lsce., creiiling an Ansirulian refold. In the Irtsl Sydncj Clubs ruci> Wickham concede® Isec to Lane. The dates of “tho Australasian Swimming Championship-Carnival to lm lield next year at Sydney have btvii altered to Alarch 12. Id and 10. At (ho Auckland Swimming Club's spurts, to br held in the Albert street baths ou the 27th instant, a novel_ vaco will be swam. The distance is 72.\ us, and for a portion of tin'- distance the competitor® will use tiro breast stroke, swim another part on the back and finish up with tire side stroke.