MUNICIPAL SWIMMING BATHS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13855, 19 March 1907, Page 4

MUNICIPAL SWIMMING BATHS.

The question raised by Dr Colquhoun, in the letter we published yesterday morning, in connection with the proposed establishment of municipal swimming baths in Dunetlin is one concerning which a discussion is certainly desirable at this stage, Respecting tho principle that swimming baths are 'an essential part of the equipment of any city with pretensions to be regarded as modern there is not likely to be any conflict of opinion. Happily the provision which the City Council has already made for the establishment of municipal baths shows that it is within tho scheme of the governing authority that this city shall sooner or later— sooner, we hope—be freed from the reproach that it lias failed to supply facilities for the enjoyment of swimming exercise by its residents. But the Corporation has set aside one site only whereas in course of time several sites should be necessary, and this site is in the heart of the city. Dr Colquhoun points ont that there are various grounds upon which the choice of the site in Moray place is open to criticism. The objections he expresses to it are, it will be admitted, exceedingly weighty. The plea that tho site is central is certainly, as he says, illusory. In order that baths may be used by people in largo numbers,', it is clearly desirable that they shall be established as far as possible in residential quarters, and not in a portion of the town which is largely, and will as time goes oil be more largely, given up to business premises. But' the fact that the site acquired by the Corporation is in the centre of the city renders it so valuable that, as Dr Colquhoun observes, it might be made to yield a rental that would form a substantial endowment for baths erected elsewhere. Dr Colquhoun urges that there are other disadvantages in the Moray place site, but if those we have mentioned are conceded to exist—and it is difficult to hold that the objection that is raised upon. tho score of them is not well taken—it is unnecessary to discuss any other grounds in respect of which tile suitability of the central site may be called in question. When, however, possible sites in residential portions of the town are suggested, it is to be feared that a bono of serious contention is thrown down. Of the sites which appeal to the judgment of Dr Colquhoun as among tho most suitable the majority aro public reserves/, We are not sure whether the opposition of a number ol persons in the community to the devotion of any portion of public reserves to purposes of public utility will extend to a .proposal that municipal swimming baths shall bo constructed in corners of reserves. If so, it should he sufficient to point out in general terms, as is done by Dr Colquhoun, that " .swimmers are entitled to the same consideration as cricketers and footballers, and the amount of space needed on the most liberal' scale will not interfere with the other users of these reserves." Assuredly, the Oval is sufficiently extensive to provide ample accommodation for all the reasonable requirements of outdoor sports and yet to leave roonf and to spare for the erection of swimming baths such as will be required. We are, however, not disposed to agree with l)i' Colquhoun in tho view he has taken that "an excellent site" can be.found near the Troopers' Sl'ofliorial. It will, we think, be felt that the erection of baths near that monument would be unfortunate, since it would inevitably detract to same extent from the general effect of the memorial.. But in other portions of the Oral—preferably, perhaps, at tho opposite end of the reserve—a site could doubtless be secured which would be in every way snitablo for baths for the southern portion of the city. The lyhole question of sites and of the character oi tlip buildings will demand careful consideration before the project is adI vancec! much further.

and depart daily. The Amenities Society, which recently made a strong pronouncement on the matter, has been asked to take further steps to give expression to the publio feeling on the subject, and ono firm of traders has volunteered to contribute, a substantial donation towards the expenses of getting up a public petition. Another suggestion made to the society is that it' should approach the various public bodies in city and .suburbs and ask thoir co-opera-tion in bringing the whole question of advertising'on the .Railway Station under tho notice of the Minister of Railways. Tho suggestions referred to will, we understand, bo brought before a committee meeting of tho society at an early date. The Otago Acclimatisation Society, at its next meeting, will consider what nat ivo and imported game may bo taken and killed during the npproachhig shooting season. It is understood that in accordance with statute provision the season will bo declared a close one for pigeons and similar native game, and an- open season for native ducks other, than paradiso and protected varieties, Mr ,T. .T. Ramsay, who is in Dnnedin, during a conversation with a member of our staff yesterday, supplied some informav tion regarding Central Otago. Ho says that although the condition of things from a farming point of view is not, at all rosy, owing to tho total failure of the grain crops and tho failure of a, large proportion of Uw root crops, still the recent rains liavo made- tho pastoral outlook much better than it was a low weeks ago. On Wednesday night one of ffho heaviest rainfalls ovor experienced in Central Otago visited tho district, and tho result of that and previous rains is that there will be a fair amount of winter [cod on tho bills and rough ground, whilst those turnip crops that survived the early drought will bonofit very materially. At Hydo and Middlomarch in particular there is a marked difference in the pasture, and those plares have quite a 6pring-liko appearance. Speaking in connection with the question of tho .opening of Blackstono Hill, Mr Ramsay said that, despite all that had been said and written, tho rentals fixed wore far too high. Rentals should not bo fixed on a boom basis, but on a. fair and equitablo basis which took into consideration ' the fluctuations of a period of years. Ho had l an intimate knowledge of the whole country, having valned every acre ot the land I from Hyde to Lauder, and therefore ho spoke with somo practical knowledge. The rents woro right enough with tho abnormal prices of tho past few years, but absurdly high, on any other basis, and if bad times came nothing was more certain than an appeal for reduction, A gentleman who had gone info tho matter had just told him that whereas tbo rentals paid by tho pastoral lessees amounted to £900, the aggregate small run rents would total £1700. This, in his opinion, showed that when a man was asked to live on a small place he was forced to pay at least doublo what the big man had to pay. Despite this faot, Mr Ramsay anticipates a big rush far tho land—i.e., Blapkstonp and Lauder. He is not so sanguine of the success of Homo Hills, which, ill his opinion, lias' been wrongly subdivided, and ho says tho fact that the Land Board is prepared to graze sheep thore is, in hjs opinion, an evidence of a feeling on its part that it has not catered for tho settlor in its subdivision. The Telephone Department liad an urgent call made upon it yesterday to mend the wires broken by tho firo in Moray placo East. The flames had -completely, destroyed tho cable box and junction, cutting off 26 subscribers, and in order to restore communication with as littlo delay as possible Mr. J. R. Book and bis staff sot to work shortly after 8 o'clock to effect repairs. Excellent progress was made, notwithstanding tho wet wcat-hor, and by o'clqok 13 of the wires wore in order again. Work was continued until dark, and it is expected that this forenoon will sec the remainder of tho wires connected. A special meeting of the General Committee of tho Dnnedin United Friendly Societies' Dispensary was held at the Palaco Hotel on Friday night. There were 51 delegates from lodges in attendance. Tho business of the meeting was to deal with the question of fitting up a dental institute in connection with the dispensary. At a former-meeting it had been agreed, by a majority—" That in tho opinion of this meeting it is desirable to fit up a dental institute and employ dentists and staff; fixing a scale for all dental work required, to be paid for by tho patients requiring attention." ■ Tho special meeting was ' called to confirm, or otherwise deal with, ' antendments and additions to tho rules in 1 order to provide for the establishment of i tho new branch. After a very full disi oussion of the whole matter, tho proposal , was put to the vote and lost by three votes. ( A two-thirds majority was necessary to cany, and 31 delegates supported tho ' proposal. )

Many theories have been propounded for tils irrigation of Central Otago. Perhaps i the latest suggestion ia that the Government should utiliso the Roaring Meg for the purpose of generating clcotric power, and use the said power to pump the -waters of the Molyneux River on 1o the heights from whenco thoy could Us distributee! over the valleys and plains to inoislon and rejuvenate tho parched lands. There is cortainly a. largo lvastc of valqablo water flowing by the thirsty valleys and terraces, and tho man who could doviso a practical scheme of lifting it on to the heights would confer an everlasting benefit 011 interior Otago. During the last 10 days or so a special effort on behalf of the Early Settlers' Memorial HaU, Museum, and Portrait Gallery Building Fiuid lias been made by Mr Donald Roid, sen. (president of tho Efirly Settlers' Association) and Mv William Barron. So far tho response has been enoouraging, and the effort is therefore being continued. The total fund now stands at about £3000, but another £800 is needed to complete the building free of debt. Tho monthly meeting of tho board of management of tho Y.M.C.A. was held in the rooms last evening: present—The Rev. W. CurzoivSiggers (in the chair), Messrs 11. K. Wilkinson, A. Irvine, W. Hamblctt, N. S. Slyfield, D. Leslie, Captain Strang, and Mr J. MTarlane (secretary). Apologies, iverp rnpeived from Messrs A. J. 0. Brown, 0. C. Armour, H. Webb, G. M. Thomson, N. Paiorson, and Dr Riley. Reports woro received 011 the work of tlic different organisations. ill connection with the association. Tho religious work shows good progress, the different Bible-classes lining well attended. The committee in~eharsro of tjiis work is promoting an aggressive policy, and hopes 1o stimulate greater interest, among tho members. Tho junior department, with Mr J. C. Loan as chair- 1 man, lias reopened its session, with good prospects for solid worlr. The strangers' tea, has had' an average of 44 each Sunday for tlip month. During this month the winter clubs have inaugurated! their sraions, and hid fair to.<|o satisfactory work. Five now members were elected. The report of the hoys' residential department showed a satisfactory stat<s of finance and maiiiigemont. A meeting was held ill the Council Chamber, JvprtJi Hast Valley, oji Friday evening, whei] there was a large atlpndancc of supporters and friends of IJr Isaac Green, who is a candidate for tho mayoralty of the borough. Mr Faniuharson was voted to the chair. M|' Green addrfssed the meeting on municipal matters and other business in connection with the coining election after which Mr Far()\\haf;on moved —"That CJr Ureen was the most fit and proper -perron to represent this bprongh as Mayor for tho «i|.wing year." This motion was carried, and a strong committee vyas formed to carry out- (he eleei ion. One of the "crush" pens which are superseding the old-fashioned open pens for the slaughtering of cattle has now been installed in the Corporation abattoirs atBurnsidc, jijid, sve understand, otjicrp are to he. erected 011 the sites of the present

pons when possible l . The- crush pen, ns was pointed out in an artielo in the Times some t-imo ago. secures for the animal about to bo killed a surer and hastier despatch Mian in the open pens, whero sometimes lialf-R-iio/tin " cattle were driven in 1o lie slaughtered one after tho other, with remits according to Hie skill of tho operator, and. as was described, occasionally scenes of cruelly were witnessed that were brutal in the extreme. Under the new system, however, the animal enters a pen merely wide enough io contain it without, discomfort, and tho butcher on the platform above is at no disadvantage in driving the. spear home. The animal despatched, a side sliding door is raisvd, and the carcase removed, making* room for (lie incomer without niuoli lass of time. Tho crush pen is obviously a much safer plan, and (lie humanity of the prinoiplo certainly calk for its installation throughout the building with as littlo delay as possible. Despite tho rain, several enthusiastic members of the Duncdiu Field Club journeyed on Saturday to Mihiwaka, via Sawyers' Bay. flu reaching the bush their energies were directed to an afternoon with the ferns, March being (be liesl month for gathering, as they are in' spore then. Tho more common of the ferns were in great, abundance. Of (rco ferns "Jlemitelia Bin.it.hii." our commonest, tree fern, and one with the most tender fronds of any New Zealand tree fern, and : Dieksonia sqiiarrosa-tiie black tree fern—were found in spore. This latter forn was a goo<! deal need by the. Maoris in building huts. Davallin Novae Zoalandia, one of our handsomest ferns, was seen with fronds 18 inches long. Lomaria proccrn, Flnviatilis, Patersoni, Lancclat.i. and Discolor were everywhere carpeting the ground, while tho frees were docked with Asplenium flaecidnm, Polypodium grarmnilidis, Serpens, and Billiardieri, Asplinium lnilfibcrum, with numerous young plants growing on tho upper surface of the fronds was found in abundance. The filmy ferns were not very numerous, Hymouophylliim domiamui being the most common. 'Of shrubs, the supplejack (Rhipignnum scandons), Schefnoni digitate, and Panax simplex were observed in fruit, the latler with the young leaves totally distinct, from tho mature form, a. characteristic of so many New Zealand plants, Tho heavy rain which set in during tho afternoon prevented tho party proceeding very far, and they returned to Dune-din, much earlier than thoy had anticipated, having, however, spent a profitable time. A youth, aged 19, was brought before Mr A. Thomson, J.P., at tho Port Chalmers Police Oourt yesterday, charged with drunkenness. As it was his first offence ho was convicted and discharged. Mr J. London, announces in this issue his candidature for tho mayoralty of thiecity, and briefly sets forth his views on municipal matters in general. Tho rabbit industry in Central Otago is likely to bo a big ono this season. Owing to the dry period experienced there has been practically no death rate amongst the rodonts, and the placo is literally alivo with them, so that rabbit trappers should havo a good harvest this year. Yesterday being observed as St, Patrick's Day, thero was no sitting of tho Magistrate's Court. The Police Court bench was also iinccou-pied, no eases coming up for hearing. 'Wo have to acknowledge the receipt of / £10 10a from liia Honor Mr Justice Williams as a subscription to tho Hoclcen Library Fund.

First grand show of autumn and winter goods now on view at Dallas and Watt's.— Advt. - We beg to direct special .attention to the new rang* of boys' Shamrock suits which wo have opened. They ttro very up-to-date, and tho prices range from 13s Gd to 21s.—Mollisons Lid... Tourists desiring mementos of Xew Zealand will find it to their advantage tu inspect the magnificent se'cclion of Articles in genuino greenstono displayed at 6. and T. Young's, 68 Princes street."Elizabeth," Milliner, 12 Princes street (over Broitlnvaite's).—New motor caps in tweed, serge, and flannel for faster wear; smart autumn models, " Realm" collar, supports, veils, hair nets.—Advt. Tho peculiar basis of the "Lancer" Influenza Cure is latal to microbes and bacteria. "Lancer" consequently destroys cho germs of the disease,, and health is restored. It acts promptly; 2s, at any chemist's.—Advt. Wap is Peteb Dick?—Th» rood reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite' Coffee Palace, Moray plac*, Dunedin. ObaTgw strictly moderate.—Advt,,