TE ARO BATHS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5665, 12 August 1905, Page 9

TE ARO BATHS.

SMASHED BY HEAVY WKATITER. A COSTLY MUNICIPAL ASSET. Tho municipal baths at Clyde quay are likely to prove a considerable burden to the city if the damage done this winter is repeated With anything like frequency. At proem the fencing that encloved the water for bathing purposes is in a complete state of wreck, and the wo:k of repairing the damage that must be accompli.-died before the summer arrives will be a very considerable item—how much it might not be prudent to state. Generally speaking, the whole of tho heavy lotara-feiicmg on tho northern and north-western sides of tho moil’s bath (Tbit by 150 ft) is adrift. The northern fence-appears all right from a distance —the uprights are there—bat in reality it is adrift, and is washing backwards and forwards with the action of tho waves. The long outer fence (150 ft) that runs about parahel with Clyde quay may as well not be the.ro at all, for about 90ft of it has disappeared, and tiio heavy stringer to which the planks wore bolted, which {appealed above water at low tide, has also been carried away by tho force of tho seas. The waters of the harbour have resumed their old freedom over tlie bathing area. Over twenty of the fencing-planks have been torn from the outer fence of tlie women’s baths, and with it 4ft by Sin stringers have been earned away, and there is an air of insecurity about tile fencing that is still left. The custodian (Air Milton) states that tho greater part of he damage was done during the north-westerly gale on tho 2Slh nit., but since then the wash of tho sea from tho same quarter has helped to make tho wreck the baths have been reduced to. He pointed out that at the northern end. of the men’s baths, nearest the quay, the sand was silting up. and making tho water very shallow, and the stony bottom of the women’s bath was being gradually deepened by tlic under-scour to a somewhat serious extent. Pointing to a filthy, black deposit in tho women’s bath that could bo plainly observed through the clear water, lying on the bottom, he said that all manner of stuff had come in at will since the fence had been torn away. Ho had dragged the place until ho had given it up jn despair—the task must bo left until repairs are affected—which would bo done soon as tidos and weather serve. Air Wilton states that a terrific sea smashes against the bailis in a heavy nor’wester, much heavier than most people would imagine. Ho had known about half a ton of water to smash down upon the roof of the outer dressing-rooms, and descend on to the platform inside with enough force to cany a man off his feet. ilo lias succeeded in rescuing the greater part of tho timber torn from the baths, and a great deal of it—stout tota.rupianks—is badly worm-eaten.

Tiie To Aro ilaths were built in 1901 by Messrs McGrath and Burke, at a cost of £5227, and were opened on December 12th of that year. When the bath was being planned and built, some experts advised, that the structure would never stand the beating of tho heavy seas, and urged that, to protect the baths thoroughly, a concrete wall would be necessary. The cost of such a wall would bo over £2OOO,

Councillor ML H. Morrah has given notice of motion that the baths be closed until further notice.