ATTENDANCES AT TEPID BATHS

Southland Times, Issue 24138, 29 May 1940, Page 4

ATTENDANCES AT TEPID BATHS

SWIMMING CLASSES FOR SCHOOLS AWARD OF CERTIFICATES FOR SEASON Total admissions to the Invercargill tepid baths for the 1939-40 season were 78,118. This, information was contained in the annual report of the superintendent (Mr H. S. Baker) submitted to the City Council last night. The report stated that although the summer was a poor season for bathing and the baths were closed for. three months last winter the receipts were £825/10/7, £ll higher than the average yearly takings. The total actual admissions of school children for swimming classes were 17,361 including 8393 for secondary schools and 8968 for primary schools. Two hundred and five children gained their 50 yards certificates, while 143 220 or 440 yards certificates and 44 880 yards’ certificates were earned. The following awards of Herbert Smith Trust Cups were made:—Champion boy, I. McKenzie (Technical College); champion girl, L. Gellatiy (Southland Girls’ High School); girls relay, Southland Girls’ High School), boys’ breaststroke, J. Steel (Technical College); girls’ breaststroke, S. Brown (Southland Girls’ High School); primary boy, T. Ramsay (Waihopai); primary girl, M. Gerrard (St: Catherine s In the fourth standard classes 368 children started tuition, the average attendance was 322, and 323 were off their feet or able to swim after tuition, equal to 95.65 per cent. The total of 368 pupils in classes was well up to the average. With the addition of Surrey Park there were seven schools attending these classes. The weather was, on the whole, good throughout the period of lessons, and the attendance of 88.9 per cent, was only .1 per cent, below the record attendance of 1936. The Middle school girls headed the list in this department, closely followed by St. George boys, with Waihopai boys and Surrey Park boys next. By their splendid effort, St. George boys headed the year’s list and it was only their attendance figures that placed them ahead of Surrey Park boys, and Waihopai boys, as their results were all equal. Waihopai girls finished fourth, being slightly better than Surrey Park girls who, like the boys, did very well for a new school. South school, again with the largest teams in both classes, put up a splendid performance, the boys on this occasion just being ahead of the girls. St. George girls, North girls and North boys with big classes finished next in that order, with Middle boys and girls not far behind. . The baths will close after next Friday for three winter months and will reopen at the beginnig of September.