OPENING OF THE BATHS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 485, 17 November 1877, Page 2

OPENING OF THE BATHS.

The formal oneniu ,' of the Oamaru public baths took plac J this afternoon in the piv-isencj of a large number of spectators. Tio chairman <>£ directors (.Mr. Gibbs) briefly explained the stcps_ woic'.i had been taken during the pa-?t eig it or nine years to establish public Wadis in the town, and spoke of the didiculties wl.ieh had had to be overc mie. Tiie bates bad now been completed so far, but it was intended shortly to make several additions thereto. Nearly the whole of the SOO shares had been applied for, and in a few days the list would be closed and the shares allotted.

His Worship the Mayor th-n formally declared the Baths op-n, and spike in terms of praise of the en erg v displayed by the promoters, faying a wtll-dis pal compliment to Mr. Gibbs for his untiring efforts to estaU sh the Bat is. Tnive cheers were then given for the T>.ths Company, his Worship the Mayor, and Mr. Gibbs.

The swimming inarches ns advertised were then c:.iumeiic 'd. The iirst was ohm • f 13") wards, to priz s dveti b iug— 1-.. L2 2;.; 2nd, LI Is.; 3-<l,lo<. Gl. For this s. veil entered, and the event was swam in heats. In the li-st heat, tin competitors w. re E B >"t'\ who won e >inpa.rat.iv ly > a<ily : iu J. II n.-.vsl-y. 2: U. Mantel!, 3 ; and D. Broun. who e,ive up before swiiiiini'l4 the distant! >. Tee line • ".■etip'ted by E. Booth v. as 3 nir.. ;;s. c. T e second hear, was a g ; fr. to G 80,, th, win) wo.i as ee liked m 2.uin. oysec. t.'i.mr-, had he di-s-ii, lie mi-dit i:av. doll: the distill-e in cons'derab'y le.-s lime. T : e other c enoetitors in this heat were J. Wud and J. Fosrer. G. and E Booth having decided to divide the lirst and second priz s between them. K.nows-h-y and Ward swam oil' for the t.drd pnz.', which was won by the former.

The- Dors' Match, Go ya.rds, for two prizes of LI Is., and liK 0 1., wis svam in heats, the winners beiui —A. Pi ink. 1; T. L-wis, 2. Five ent.-tvd for the priz; of LI Is., viz., E. B'oth, G. Booth, A. F.imilton.Millan, and Mttaesm. The only competitors who sure ed;.d in brill-dug up any of the uirgs were G. Booth, "who was under water 41 sjcs., arid brought up seven eggs, and E. Booth, who was mi ler water 1G sees., an 1 brought up font- egg". George Booth was," therefore, d. chired the wiuuer.

Some other scratch matches afterwards took plac '. The Caledonian Band as in attendance, and assisted in making the aiiair successful.