THE ST. CLAIR BATHS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 8

THE ST. CLAIR BATHS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l read with much interest the letter appearing in your valuable paper from a member of the swimming elub established at St. Clair. Being a constant bather, I am in a position to notice the great improvement that lias taken place in the conduct and appearance of tho baths, the clean mannor in which the sheds are now kept, and tho absence of moss round the sides of tho baths; all of which dates from the formation of the swimming club and the working bee which cleaned and deepened tho bath last year. It is a great pity the club is not better supported, as it has a great mission to carry out—tho promotion of tho knowledge of swimming and lifesaving. A report appeared in your paper somo little time back of a public lecture on " Life-saving," by Mr G. J. C. Smart, Royal Life-saving Society's medallist, and as a result I understand he has formed a class for instruction, to which tho public is invited. Swimmers and others should avail themselves of this opportunity of obtaining knowledge that, may bo the means of saving their own or other people's lives. It appears to mo a very strange fact that swimming is not taught at the St. Clair baths, and I hojie that the powers that be will investigate tho matter, as your correspondent suggests, and erect- suitable apparatus, similar to that in use in most modorn baths.

I shotlld like to ask those who are learning to swim in tepid water how they expect to get on when called upon to swim a distance in a rough sea or a cold lake or running' river. Every swimmer should accustom himself to bathing in cold water, and he would not only find that it gave him greater powers of endurance, but that it would build up his physique, and after a bath he would feel fresh and vigorous.—l am, etc., An Old Swiuuer.