SWIMMING TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11714, 23 April 1900, Page 7

SWIMMING TOURNAMENT

The Albany, street School Committee are deserving of the highest commendation for the keen interest (-.they display in encouraging everything that will tend to the well being, amusement, entertainment, and physical training of the young people in their district. Indeed, one can only marvel at the wonders they ncccmplish, and when the smallness of the funds placed at their disposal by the Education Board is considered it becomes: evident they must be well supported by the parents in Ihe district. It is but another proof of the fact that in the minds of the people of the colony the necessity of the rising generation's pemg fully equipped for the battle of life is felt to be of paramount importance—that year Iby year Enoch Arden's wish is «-rowin" stronger in the bosom of the father of the lamuy "to give his child a better bringing up than his had been." Of all the arts which not only promote enjoyment but give the proneient the consciousness that 'his power may [ at the most unforeseen moment afford him the oppoitnnity of exercising the noblest art of all, that of saving life, the art of swimming holds the foremost place, and the swimming tournament on Saturday showed what a little er-c-ouKigemenl can do in cultivating that art: ihe tournament took place in MorsanV baths, under the-direction of Messrs Butler, Morrison, Ivn-m, and Restieaux (members of the committee), assisted by tlie teachers of the school and Air jiorgan, whose name also appears in' the programme as the donor of' three of ihe prizes. The life-saving anil rostorimr compelmor. was - the chief event. i lad, fully dressed, fc-11 into flic water iv the middle of the baths. On, the splash the rescuer h'i'l to divest himself of coat "and laced boot- swim to the lad, support him with his face cut of watei for about 30 yards, then lift him out of the baths—no very easy tuak-and take the various steps for restoring the apparently drewnea. The excitement oi the large body oi onlookers can be better conceived than de^ scribed as each competitor went through the performance The antics of the drowning ad, young Morgan, a perfeci fish in the water, being the occasion of much merriment The winner, 11. Barton, gripped tho lad's clothes with his tosth, and seemed to be in no way urcommeded by ,the dead burden lie was carrying, vividly recalling to mind the picture of the JTewioundlah-a dog saving a child.' The task of restoring, life was well done, thou-h we understand the -judges, Drs Maohcrsuu and Koberts,. did not give full marks "to anyone in this part of the contest. For walkin" on the greasy pole there were 17 entries. The attempts made were laughable in tlie extreme. The timid, the bold, and' the cunning alike found, the reduced friction too little to maintain their stand, and over they went, describ- ! ing all the figures imaginable, but re-emerging, j and, true Biitons all, eager to have another try. Mr RestieauK, as the oldest member of the committee present, in distributing' the prizes, said he regretted that -Mr Ferguson, I through ill-health, was not able- to be present, the more especially because he might b's looked on a3 the originator of the' contests. The following are the results of (he different events :"— 40yds (under 11). Prize, magic lantern.—H. Fogarty 1, W. M'Lernon 2. Time, 2miii 2sec. GOyda (under 13). Prize, silver medal.—B. Stephens 1, M. Shenherd 2. Time, lmin 30sec 60yds (over 13). Prize, leather dressing case. —J. M'Lernon, osec, 1; C. Buclian, ssec, 2. AUo competed: D. Telfer 3seo and.J. Tregear scratch. Time, lmin. ' ' '- Under Water (over 13). Prize, clock.—D. Telfer, 35yds, 1. Also competed: J. M'Lernoii, J. Tregear, B. Stephens, and M. Shepherd. Girls' Race.—Victoria Morgan 1, Annie Walsh 2. ■■'•.' Plate Diving (over 13). Prize, silver cruet— D. Telfer 1. Also competed: W. Crawford, J. M'Lernon, J..Tregear, and M. Shepherd. Corfu Dive (under 16). Prise, photo album. —D. Telfer 1. Also competed: J. Mitchell, J. M'Lernon, and J. Tregear. 40yds on Back (under 13). Prize, silver ..medal.—B. Stephens 1, H. Fogarty %M. Shepherd 3. Time, 2min. 40yds on Back (over 13). Prize, ivory pen and pencil in case.—D. Telfer 1, J. Tvegcar.,2. Also competed: J. M'Lornon and W. Crawford. Time, lmin 39sec. Neat.Header. Prize, silver medal.—D. Telfer. 1. Also competed: L. Ferguson, M. Shepherd, W. M'Lernon, J. Mitchell, and B. Stephens. Boys' 100 yds Handicap (open to all schools). Prize, silver pencil, presented by"Mi Morgan.— B. Morgan 1. W. Campbell 2. ' Also competed: W. Crawford, M. Croft, T. Brown,, and D. Matheson. GOyds Open Race (under 15). Prize, silver pencil, presented by Mr Morgan.—C. Buclinn 1, J. M'Lernon 2. Also competed: W. Campbell, W. Crawford, and R. Nicholson. Ex-Pupils' 100 yds Handicap. Prize, butter cooler, presented by Mr Morgan.—First heat: C. E. Butler, lusec, 1; R. Bolton, scratch, 2. Second heat: B. Knox, 25sec. 1: J. W. Simms, 15sec, 2. Final: Knox 1, Butler 2, Simms 3. Also competed: A. Boyd 15scc, H. M'lntosh 25sec, and D. M'Laren lo3ec. Greasy Pole (open to all). Prize, leather dressing case.—L. Miller 1. P. Williams 2, G. Foote 3. Twenty-five competed. • liife-saving and ... Restoring Competition. Prize, marble clock.—H. Barton, 43 points, 1; E. M'Carter, 39 points, 2; D. M'Laren, 37 points, 3; C. E. Butler, 29 points, 4. Mr O. J. Hodge, who.is at present acting as. headmaster of the school in the absence, through illneas, of Mi Ferguson, and Mr Thomson, late first assistant in th^ school, lent valuable assistance in various ways in the carrying out of the programme. '