Saltwater Baths and Band Rotunda.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12428, 4 December 1903, Page 3

Saltwater Baths and Band Rotunda.

Tlie Saltwater Baths and Band Rotunda were formally opened on Thursday afternoon, in tge presence of a good crowd. The weather was dull, but rain kept oft and the proceedings were very successful. Shortly after two o'clock, the Garrison Band took up position on the rotunda and played a selection, after which the Mayor (Mr R. Cock) accompanied by Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., Mrs Smith, Mr Dockrill (ex-Mayor), Mrs Dockrill, ,Mr King (Mayor of Stratford), Mr J. S.' Groig (Stratford), Mr Chappell (chairman of the Waitara Town Board), several Councillors and the Town Clerk (Mr F. T. Bellriuger), and others also went on to the rotunda, where they.were photographed. The Mayor read apologies from the Mayor of Hawera (Mr Robbins) and the Mayor of Inglewood (Mr Nicholas), and then proceeded to formally open the rotunda, which, he said, had been erected as a rnernjorial of the Coronation, the Council having taken advantage of the Government's offer then made for £ for £ up t© £'2oo for the purpose. Since the stone had been laid near the Terminus Hotel on Coronation Day, Mr Dockrill, the then Mayor, had, assisted by the Council, succeeded in securing 'the present beautiful spot for the rotunda —a spot that in course of time would prove no less attractive than the Recreation Ground. His Worship after giving much praise to Mr Dockrill, referred flatteringly to the contractor (Mr Pikett), who had made a good job and carried out work without friction. The Council, ho said, had decided to name the reserve "Kawaroa," that being the ancient Maori name for the Long Reef, and on behalf of the town, he uow formally named it.

The National Anthem was then played by the Garrison Band. ! Mr Dockrill expressed the pleasure it afforded him to be present. He said in the first place a certain gentleman, to whom he gave every credit, had urged him, as Mayor of the town, to move in the matter of getting the reserve for recreation purposes, and he had done so, but he

did not then expect that so much ■ would be accomplished »s was ap- J parent that day; His negotiations with the School Commissioners had been very, successful ; they gave him all the support they could, and he then had to try and win the " fair face " of the Minister. Through the aid of Mr Smith he had, when in Wellington, interviewed the Minister, but the 'result was not successful. He then- decided to get the better of the Minister if he could, and applied to the Commissioners for a lease with right of renewal. The reserve woild now never pass out of the hands of the Council, and he hoped that in a short time the Government would see the means whereby it could be handed over to the town* Mr Dockrill then referred to the baths, which would be a great advantage to the borough, and remove the long-stand-ing reproach against a seaside town. What had been accomplished was worthy of the town, and an indication of other things to follow which would make the place one of the most attractive in the colony. After another selection hy tfci-. Garrison Band, the crowd proceai.iJ to the baths, where the proceedings were opened by the Town Band. Mr Cock, in the opening address, said the first idea as to baths had not been carried out, but as the outcome of a public wish they had been made double the size of those originally suggested. They would cost about £3OOO, and he did npt think the ratepayers would regrets their erection even though it meant an extra tax. They would be a source of attraction to country people, who would not need to go away to other places. Salt water " was noted for its curative properties, and they would have hero a rival to Kotorua. (Laughter.) In conclusion, J the Mayor said much credit was due j to Mr Tisch (applause), and he then declared the baths open. Mr Tisch said it was a red lo'ttor clay for New Plymouth. He and others had for a long time advocated the establishment of saltwater 'baths. It was found that open baths j would not do, and therefore it had been decided to erect confined baths, where men and the gentler sex cpuld

come in all states of the tide and in all kinds of weather, without fear of being washed out to sea or being eaten 'by sharks. Within a hundred yards of the baths was a good bathing shed, where hot and cold shower baths could be obtained, and arrangements were 'being made for a bathing- shed at Te Henui. A re pvozich had now been removed from New Plymouth. Without desiring to hurt the feelings of swimmers and members of Polo Clubs, he wished to point out that the baths were also intended as a place to which country friends would come for reecoation. He alluded to the funds provided by the Education Department for swimming classes, and expressed the hope that in course of time children from Hawera (which had baths) and Stratford would enter into competition with ;he children here.

Mr King, Mayor of Stratford, considered the baths another step in the right direction. New Plymouth was advancing by leaps and bounds ; the. fact might not be so apparent to local residents as it was to the "cowspankers," who every time they came here saw something newf He congratulated New Plymouth on its baths,' wfhich he was sure Stratford folk would take advantage of. New Plymouth had fine warehouses, beautiful residences, and an air of general prosperity, and when Mr Smith's idea regarding ironsand and the development of other matural resources was carried into effect, as also the harbour extension scheme (which would permit of the direct steamers carrying away produce from New Plymouth), the place would boom ahead. The Mayor then spoke eulogistically of the manner in which Messrs Boon Bros, had carried out their contract, and Mr Tisch took "a header," amid excitement.

The sports then commenced. The several events were well contested, a testimony to the careful way in which Mr Pardy had framed the handicaps. The diving was good on the whole, and the polo matches were decidedly interesting. Results : 25 Yards Handicap. Thompson, 2sec, 1 ; Tansey, 3sec, 2. 2nd heat : Bassett, scr, 1 ; Seabright,•Jsec, 2. 3rd heat>: Earley, 2sec, 1 ; Black, 2sec, 2. Bruce was first in this heat, but was disqualified for starting <before his time. Final : Thompson I, Bassett 2. A fine finish. Time, 16 2~ssec. , !!•' 100 Yards Handicap.—lst heat : Bassett, scr, 1 ; Bennett, 4sec 2. 2nd heat : Thompson, lOsec, 1 ; Hodge, Usee, 2. Final : Bassett 1, Thompson 2, Bennett 3. Another fine go. Time, Imin 2osec. , I l ' 25 Yards, Boys. Stockman 1 Hawke 2. Time, 2G 3-ssec. 50 Yards, Boys.—Ambury 1, • Robbins 2. Time. 51sec. Spring Board Dive —Gilbertson 1, Bassett 2, Stevens 3. The boy (Stevens, of Hawera, a little fellow, dived beautifully). Polo,—Central defeated East by 2 points to 1, and West beat Fitzroy iiy 2 to 0. 50 Yards Handicap.—Thompson, 5 sec, I ; Bassett, scr, 2. Time, 38 4-5 S'CC High Dive.—H. M. B a uchopo 1, Basalt, 2. The sum of £l9 was taken a t_ the door. His Worship announced during the afternoon that refreshments would be served free, and the invitation was accepted on a liberal scale. The officials, prominent among vhom were Messrs W. J.«Tieeby, P. 3. Ross, F. Stohr (starter), H. M. Bauchope (secretary ), i<rank Moore, tfadfield (judge), M. J. Jones, <H. 0. E. Bollringer (judge), Broome, J. H. Parker and W. Parker (time-keep-■ra) worked haed.