SWIMMING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18618, 24 October 1922, Page 6

SWIMMING.

WANGANUI EAST BATHS.

OFFICIAL OPENING.

YESTERDAY'S CEREMONY.

The official opening of the new baths at Wanganui East took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of about 1000 people—the full seating capacity. There was a grey sky and an unpleasant wind, but the success of the occasijn was not marred in any way. Everything went through splendidly, and it is quite evident there are a lot of natatorial enthusiasts in Wanganui East. The eastern suburb can well be congratulated on possessing such energetic citizens who have made it possible for Wanganui East to boast of having the best swimming facilities in Greater Wanganui. Apart from a grand swimming area of 75ft by 45ft, a smaller bath for children has also been provided wherein the depth ranges from a foot to about 3ft. It is an ideal piece of water, wherein the tiniest children can disport themselves.

This baby pool is somewhat of the area of the miniature swimming bath which has done such useful work at the school since it was officially opened by Mr John Jones, when Mayor of the borough of Wanganui East. Mr Jones on j that occasion jumped in. clothes and I all. to the complete surprise of a number of men in swimming togs, who each wanted to be first in. At yesterday's function the water was not too inviting for staid grown-ups. The ceremony was entirely formal as a swimming carnival was already in progress. The sunless sky made the artesian, peaty looking water, appear blacker than it really was, and the chilly day was not calculated to induce old-timere to put off their comfortable clothes. Mr John (Joull tried hard to get up a competition for which no prizes were offered, but there was no bidding, or biting. So the opening function was performed vith all the decorum that speeches and sports could bestow.

A full description of the baths - has already been published, but credit should be given to the architect, Mr Hodge, to the builder, Mr W. A. Wilkie, for the excellent workmanship, and to Mr H. E. Lobb, the overseer. The School Committee which originated the scheme and bore the brunt of the organising work in the raising of money, is Messrs Laws (chairman), Hedges (secretary), Anderson, Scott, Smith, Rountree, Bennett, Horsley, and Goh ns. The speech making for the occasion was entrusted to Messrs E. V. Laws (chairman of committee), Mr T. B. Williams (Mayor of Wanganui), and: Mr W. S. Glenn, M.P. for the district, and al] the gentlemen expressed themselves very happily and briefly to befit the occasion.

Mr Laws, the first speaker, said the baths were to be vested in the Government, but would always be the property of Wanganui East. The occasion was a proud one to the committee for they had gone through trying times. His sepecial duty on this occasion was to return thanks to a number of people, without whose assistance the work oould not have been accomplished. He would first mention the children arid the school staff. He did not need to say much about the children, who bad been so-in-sistant. Behind them were the staff, then the people < f Wanganui and Wanganui East. They were a long suffering folk. They gave, and gave, and gave again cheerfully, for they knew they were helping the children and that without their assistance the baths could not be at all. Mr Laws went on to criticise the Education Department which had' granted £l7OO for the whole of New Zealand for encouraging swimming, and which had, in the name of economy, found it necessary to withdraw that amount. The proposal to erect the baths had been criticised, but in that very first month ten New Zealand children had loet their lives because they could not swim. The Borough Council had done a great deal to help the baths project, and the architect, Mr Hodge, who had designed the work and given the plans and his time free, should be specially mentioned. Mt Laws said there were a lot of people he would like to mention for their willing labours. It now only remained for the committee to hand this splendid swimming baths over to the Education Board. The greatest of all things, he said, was the cause of education. Mr T. B. Williams, when called upon for a speech, said he was not aware he would have to say anything. It gave him great pleasure to be present. They had heard from Mr Laws what the community had done, and they had heard what the Education Department had not done. It was because the people wanted the baths and had been told the money was not available, that they had put their hands in their pockets and so realised their aim. Adversity and difficulties were good for people. Wanganui East was going to be a great place, went on Mr Williams. The progress in the future was going to bo even greater than that in the past. The pleasure in the realisation of an object was always greater when one had worked for it. The ones who worked to succeed got on best at school and in later life. Mr Williams concluded by saying he was greatly impressed by the paddling pool and by the filter. Mr W. Glenn, M.P., said he need hardly ‘say that it gave him pleasure to be present to declare the baths open. Before doing go he would say a word or two of congratulation to the people of Wanganui East. The whole community had entered into the spirit of the thing. He need not say how the money was raised. They had personal knowledge, for their own pockets had been toucned. There had been working bees, dances, etc., all of which had helped towards the baths which were now completed. The baths had cost over £2OOO, and would be opened free of debt. The Education Department would be the trustees for the baths. Mr Glenn said he did not approve of the Education Department economising on swimming. If he had his way he would make swimming compulsory in the As member for the district he bould bo relied on to get all the assistance possible for the maintenance of the new baths. As Mr Laws had remarked, it was significant that ten lives had been lost in the month when the baths were first proposed. The supposed economic value of a human life was £-500, but if one life were saved through a child having learned to swim at tlie baths the expenditure would have been more than justified. Mr Glenn then formally declared the baths open, and the swimming programme was proceeded with.

THE CARNIVAL. The officials responsible for the conduct of the carnival were :—Directors of sports, Messrs E. V. Laws and J. H. Menzies. Judges, Messrs W. J. Andrew.

T. E. Thomas, and J Reid. Referee, Mr H. Levestam. Starters, Messrs H. W. Cooper and J. H. Menzies. Check starter, Mr G. Broadhead. Result steward, Mr G. Scott. Time-keepers, Messi’s T. Cook and A. Muller. Call stewards. Messrs S. Rountree and H. Bennett. Seating stewards, Messrs E. W. F. Gohns and G. Soott. Ticket stewards, Messrs T. Andersen and W. W. Hedges. Door stewards, Messrs R. Smith and R. B. Horsley. Secretary, Mr W T . W. Hedges. /The results were : 25yds School Boys’ Handicap Race.— R. Wakeling (Queen’s Park) 1, P. Green (Wanganui East) 2. Time, 22 3-5 secs. 50yds School Girls’ Handicap (senior) —J. Whyman (Gonville) 1, D. Reid (Gonville) 2. Time, 48 3-ssec. 75yds School Boys’ Handicap (senior) —S. Maidens (Wanganui East) 1, W. Maidens (Wanganui East) 2. Time, 1 min. 9secs. 25yds School Girls’ Handicap (junior) —E. Anderson (Gonville) 1, I. James (Wanganui East) 2. Time, 22 l-ssecs. Neat Diving (boys) —Hodson (Wanganui East) 1, Green (Wanganui East) 2. 25yds Novice Handicap (men). —L. Williams (Central) 1, R. Outelli (Central) 2. Time, 15 l-ssecs. 25yds Ladies’ Handicap.—A. Potaka (Gonville) 1, S. Potaka (Gonville) 2. Time, 18«ecs. Ribbon Dive.—Bolton (Central) 1, Piper (Central) 2. 50yds School Boys* Handicap (senior) —R. Pull (Victoria Avenue) 1, Wakely (Queen’s Park) 2, Robson (Queen’s Park) 3. Time, 38secs. Diving (girls).—Whyman (Gonville) 1. Reid (Gonville) 2. 100yds Handicap (open).—Dowsett (Gonville) 1, Trott (Gonville) 2, Cotterill (Central) 3. Time, 68secs. 25yds School Girls’ Handicap (senior) —Reid (Gonville) and Whyman (Gonville) dead heat, 1; Tippens 3. Time, 20secs. Diving (men). —Bolton (Central) 1, Hodson (Wanganui East) 2, Robson 3. 50yds Handicap (open).—First heat: E. Crotty (Central) 1, N. White (Gonville) 2. Time, 32secs. Second heat: Cutelli (Central) 1, C. Reid (Central) and Brown (W.) Time, 36 2-sseca. Final: Brown 1. White 2, Crotty 3. Time, 32secs. Won esasily by a couple of yards. 50yds Dual Relay Race (open)—Miss M. Ansley and V. Trott (Gonville) 1, Miss A. Potaka and Dowsett (Gonville) 2. Time, 32 l-ssec. 60yds School Girls’ Relay.—Gonville 1, Queen's Park 2. Time, 3&secs. Inter-club Relay, 100 yards.—Gonville (Dowsett, Dudley, Wild and White) 1, Central 2. Time. 50 3-5. Diving for Plates—Linssen 1. He recovered throe plates.