KARORI BATHS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10811, 29 January 1921, Page 4

KARORI BATHS

OPENING NEXT MONTH LOCAL/ RESIDENTS HAVE WORK-ING-BEE. EXCELLENT RESULTS SHOWN. A working-bee of public-spirited residents has been very busily engaged for three Sundays past constructing I .swimming baths, for old and young, at the head of Parkvale road, *Karori, in I' what used to bo Lloyd’s quarry. Mr ( I. Sykes, poultry-farmer, Karori, visited the site rather more than a month ago, and it struck him that swimming baths could very readily be built there. Ho united a number of leading residents to inspect the quarry with him, and they were so pleased that they called a public meeting, elected an executive committee, and organised a working-beo to carry t/ut the suggestion. A four and a half years’ lease of the land was readily from j the oresent owner, ML E. Kilminster, of Otaki, on the understanding that the baths were worked on a proper basis and conducted under strict- supervision. Tlio work which lias been done bv the working-bee during the past three Sundays has surprised even those who expected tlio most. Vile re have been as nia uy as 30 at one time working at the baths. These are to be in two sections —a deep bath 40ft long by 50ft and ranging in depth from four to live feet; and a shallow bath 40ft by 20ft and two feet in depth, for small children. These depths have been fixed in order to make the baths as far as possible “fool proof”—9l “boy proof”—which, Mr _Sykes_ said to a “Times” representative, “is very much the same thing.” The energy and zeal with which the work has been flushed on is shown by the fact that the whole of tho floor of the baths, and the embankment sides are expected to bo ready to be cemented, weather permitting! to-morrow. The working-bee is to meet this afternoon to put in the finishing touches preparatory to the cementing process. CHILDREN FREE. The executive had decided that tihe school children shall have the use of the baith free up to 4 p;m. on four days a. week ; and tihat all children under 14 years of age, resident in Karori. shall have the free use of the bathe for oil t/iipe. A swimming clulb lias been established, and the following officers elected:— President, Mr J. Sykes; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Cooper and B. Bums; secretary, Mr J. Whittier; executive committee: Messrs L. Sutton, M. Spiers, W. H/azlewood, O. Mclntosh and R. Wfildematt. It is expected that the baths will be completed and ready for opening early in February. On laccount of the smallness of the baths, no mixed bathing is to be allowed; separate dressing-sheds are being erected for each sex. Every person wtho has given either cash, material, or labour for the" job has been made an 'hon. - member of the swimming drib for two years. Further, in order to. popularise the bath and show no dog-in-the-manger spirit, the cluib 'has decided that all residents of Karori between th© ages of 14 and 21 years shall be admitted to membership for the fee of 2s 6d a year, and that the subscription for adults shall be 5s a year. It is estimated that the work already done, if carried out by contract, would have cost at least £150; but it is not Anticipated that the total actual money oast of fencing the property and building the dressing-sheds,' etc., will exceed £25. “What has been done,” said Mr Sykes, “Just shows what can be done by pushing and puib-Kc-spirited citizens.” As already stated, School ‘ children are to have the use of the baths four afternoons in the week, while ladies are to have the use of them all day up to 4 p.m. e/very day, and men are to have, the use of the baths from 4 to 8 p.rix. ’ Mr Kilmdnater, the owner of the land, visited the scene of operations on Sunday lost, and was so pleased with the public spirit and energy whiob the Karori popple were putting into the project, that he himself took off his coat and gave them a (hand at the work. The property has a fine fronts £d the road, and it is proposed to this frontage and the ample space *n it and the,/baths with shrubs and trees, thus making A very pleasant park or pionio ground of it. Taking them all in all, it is considered tihat the proposals of the committee, when . fully carried out, will greatly enhance , the amenities and aittraJotione of Karori.