TEMUKA SWIMMING

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23320, 2 October 1945, Page 3

TEMUKA SWIMMING

Successful Season Unfavourable Weather A Handicap

Although unfavourable weather throughout the season proved a handicap to swimming, useful instruction was given by the Temuka Swimming Club and the season proved successful, stated the report for the 1944-45 season presented by the president (Mr L. F. N. Ward) and the secretary (Miss E. Chapman) at the annual meeting held last evening. Membership of the club is now 30 juniors, 16 intermediate and seven senior swimmers, continued the report, the increase showing that the club is fulfilling a useful purpose in training young people in a healthy activity, which is now recognised as an important part of the educational curriculum. Club nights were well attended, but the carnival for country schools had to be abandoned owing to bad weather. A successful carnival evening was held last February, a large number of Timaru swimmers taking part. There was a good attendance of the public and the visiting swimmers were entertained at supper, the committee being indebted to Mesdames Chapman and Goodman for their assistance with this function and other social activities of the club. An end-of-season carnival was held in March, when 13 South Canterbury championships were decided. What promised to be a record attendance was spoilt by a severe storm, the handicap portion of the programme having to be abandoned. The need for seating at the baths has not been lost sight of by the committee, and it was decided to set aside as much money as possible during the season in order to carry out this work when timber is available. During the year the Baths Improvements Committee and the Temuka Domain Board affected some very excellent improvements at the baths, but the extension of the baths has not yet proved possible. The club has supported all these efforts at improving the baths. Club members performed creditably at the inter-club carnival held in Timaru and the committee offers congratulations to Miss L. Shepherd, who won the girls’ Intermediate breaststroke championshio of South Canterbury. The following were the winners of the club trophies:—Men’s championship (Buzan Trophy), Leo Palmer; intermediate boys’ championship (Don Reid Cup), James Chapman; junior A championship (Searle Cup), Denis Smart; junior B cup, Robert Cornwell; intermediate girls’ championship, Ethel Chapman; junior girls’ "hampionship, Ngaire Chapman. This year a new competition for junior B boys was introduced and an anonymous donor presented a cup for competition. A cup for the women’s breaststroke events has been promised for next season. In conclusion, the report expresses the appreciation of the committee for the support received from the local schools, and states its willingness to assist wherever possible the work of teachers in fostering swimming amongst the children. Thanks are expressed to all who assisted the club in its efforts to improve the standard of swimming in the district. Welcome Home In spite of the early hour yesterday at which the train arrived, there was a large crowd of relatives and friends at the Temuka railway station to welcome home 15 men who arrived home in the Strathmore from the Middle East and Italy. The men w’ere met at the station and officially welcomed by the Mayor (Mr G. A. Harris), Mr J. L. Menzies, representing the Temuka R.S.A.. Mr F. M. Martin, representing the Temuka Soldiers’ Farewell and Welcome Home Committee, and Mr R. I. McGregor, representing the Temuka Patriotic Commitee. Transport to their homes was arranged for those men who required it. Record Sales Sales of health stamps made yesterday, the opening day of the 1945-46 health stamp campaign, constituted a record for Temuka. A total of £2O/5/worth was disposed of at the sales table in the Post Office lobby, conducted by Mesdames W. L. Harrison and J. P. Young, and a further £5 worth was sold at the Post Office counter. Consignments of stamps were sent to various district schools, £6 worth being sold at the Temuka District High School and £5/15/- worth at Winchester. There was a big demand for official souvenir covers and these helped the sales considerably. Mesdames Harrison and Young disposed of a further £7/10/- worth to businessmen last evening, making the total for the day £44/10/-. Rainfall Mounting A total of 2.75 inches of rain fell at Temuka during September, making the rainfall for the year to date 31.35 inches as compared with 21.76 inches for the corresponding period last year. Rain fell on 10 days during last month, the recordings being as follows:—September 1 ,47in, 2nd .2in, 16th .31in, 17th ,23in, 18th ,02in, 19th ,10in, 20th .06in, 23rd .04in, 24th 1.34 in, 25th .16in. During September. 1944, rain fell on eight days for a total of 2.22 inches. Increase In Births Vital statistics for the month of September at Temuka show’ an increase in births. Figures supnlied by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Mr A. F. Wells) are as follows, figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses:— Births 13 (10), deaths 4 (4). marriages 3 (3). Figures for the quarter ending September 30 are: —Births 27 (24), deaths 14 (18), marriages 6 (11). New Lodge Formed A branch of the Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes was formed at a meeting held in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Representatives of the Grand Lodge from Christchurch attended and outlined the scope and activities of the Order. Visitors from brother Lodges in Ashburton and Timaru also attended. Mr H. Harrison was appointed secretary of the Temuka Lodge. After the function, an enjoyable social evening was spent, the visitors being the guests of the newly-formed Lodge. Service Honours Service honours were presented to two members of the Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade by Superintendent R. L. Stokes at the monthly meeting of the Brigade. The recipients were DenutySunerintendent T. N. Scott, who received a two-year bar. making his service with the Brigade 17 years, and Fireman D. J. Waters, a two-year bar, making his service 13 years.