SOUTH TARANAKI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 290, 6 December 1929, Page 3

SOUTH TARANAKI

WAVERLEY ATHLETICS A committee meeting of the Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club was held last Tuesday evening. Those present were Messrs Marriott, McGorrey, Quayle, and Walker. Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of Messrs James and Graham. The programe for the sports meeting to be held on Anniversary Day was then discussed. An event which has not been seen in Waverely for some years is a wood-chopping competition for local axemen, and it is hoped that it will regain its popularity. A novelty event which will cause amusement is the “Varsity Eight Land Race.” It was decided that posters be distributed as soon as the printing was completed. The matter of printing was left to the secretary to arrange. It was also decided that nominations close with the secretary on Monday, January 13, and that they be posted to the handicapper immediately, TENNIS AND CROQUET CLUB The monthly meeting of the committee of the Waverley Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was held on Wednesday evening, Dr. Graves presiding. Other members present were Miss Matthews Messrs Bradmore, Craig, Halliday, Campbell and Cowdell. Arrangements were finalised for a match with St. John’s Club at Wanganui on Saturday, 7th. instant; and the following players were chosen to represent the club; Ladies—Miss Baker, Matthews, Grant, Mrs Grantham, Mrs Campbell, Misses Walkinton, Beer and L. Adlam. Men: Messrs Lance, Campbel! (capt), D. and L. Craig, McMillan, Cathie, A. Dickie and Cowdell. The secretary was instructed to advise the Patea Club that the 14th December woulu be a suitable date for a match with a second team a 1 Waverley. The following placers were selected for the match on that date: Ladies.—Misses Mathieson, M. Alexander, W. Train, Belton, A. Train, McGregor, Palmer and Harvey. Men. —Messrs Bowden, Maguire, Halliday, Farquharson, Mulholland, Dr. Graves (capt.), Messrs Parsons and Blackiston.

Owing to the lack of opportunities for play during the past three weeks the date for completion of the first round of the handicap tournament was extended to December 14, It was resolved that a selection committee of three be appointed for the remainder of the season to the vacancy caused by the death of the sole selector Mr J. P. Wybourne. Miss Matthews and Messrs Campbell and Cowdell were appointed. It was decided to hold a combined doubles tournament over the holiday period from December 21 to January 18 for trophies which have been donated for that purpose. PATEA HARBOUR BOARD The Patea Harbour Board held its monthly meeting last Tuesday. Mr A. T. Christensen presided. The following reports were submitted: The harbour master, Captain Tinney, reported as follows:—“The channel between the walls is fairly straight, but there is a shoal at the end of the walls which was probably caused last week by the fresh which scoured the spit right out to the end of the wall. Likewise a shoal was left outside the walls, but this should soon wash round the eastern wall. There has been no chance of sounding since the last report, but this will be done at the first opportunity. There is about 11 feet 6 inches in the channel at high water spring tides and about 8 feet 6 inches at high water neap tides. There has been very little shipping during the month. 10 arrivals and departures are recorded since last report. Two went out on the lights. The Hawera made 4i trips, and the Kapuni 4J trips. There is nothing new to report on the walls. Everything at the station is in good order.” The dredgemaster, Mr Mercer, submitted the following report:—“During spring tides the dredge has been employed dredging at the wharves and at neap tides the drag plant has been operating at the heads. Besides dredging 1800 cubic yards from the wharves the dredge has handled some troublesome snags picked up from the fairway. The drag plant has shifted 794 cubic yards. Alterations to the drag have made a vast difference to its shifting capacity, but the estimae per haul is still two cubic yards. The dredge was placed on the slip on Tuesday morning for the yearly inspection.’’ Both reports were adopted. The next board meeting is to be held in February, PERSONAL Mrs Edwards, Nelson, is staying with her mother Mrs C. Honeyfield, “Egmont View.” BATHING SHEDS OPENED Although the weather was trying on Wednesday afternoon last, a large number of residents of the town and country gathered at the beach for the official opening of the rmwly erected shelter and bathing-sheds. Mr Finlay-

son, president of the Beach Improvement Society, by -whose efforts the building was‘erected, gave the outline of the work and expenses of the building in a short speech before asking the Mayor (Mr Ramsbottom) to declare the building open. He apologised for the absence of Mr A. Christensen, chairman of the Harbour Board, who was unavoidably prevented from being present. Mr Finlaysop stated that the very hearty thanks of the Society were due the Harbour Board, which had assisted so willingly and without whose co-operation nothing could have been attained. He then introduced Mr J. Gibbs, who made a short speech. He stated that he was very pleased to see the progress the Society had made. It was only by pulling together that a band of progressive citizens could get anything done. The beach with its now easy access and with the town water supply would be visited by people from all the surrounding districts. Speaking as a settler of the Alton district, he stated that for many years the only beach within easy reach of that district was the Manawapou, but they had never dreamt of having such a beautiful beach with all the necessities of water and shelter so near as the Patea Beach.

His Worship stated that he was deeply interested in the work of the society—he had been president of a similar society about ten years ago. He, with the Borough engineer, Mr Priestley, had sunk a well at the top of the hill to furnish a dependable water supply. They had also built a wooden bathing shed near the present site but this had later been removed by Mr Pulley, when constructing the retaining walls. The only part now visible of this bathing shed was the iron roof, the sand having silted right up to the roof. Besides the erection of the new bathing sheds, the present society had laid a water-pipe from the town supply, a matter of 73 chains. Septic tanks and drainage had also been completed, and the new road, surveyed by Mr King, the county engineer, and completed by willing and able helpers of the society, was greatly appreciated by the town and country folk. The ladies also had done their share, and at all the working bees they had always been there with afternoon tea. A surf club had been started, and a demonstration of the use of the life-reel and line would be given later. He then declared the building open. The Surf Club, under the able instruction of Mr H. B. Currie, then gave an interesting demonstration in the surf. In spite of a strong current good work was witnessed, not more than seven minutes covering the whole proceeding, from the moment when the subject left the beach to the time when he fell into line again after resuscitation drill. The team was, as fnll •■ reSubject, Mr G. Fraser; support, Mr P. Bou'rke, junr.; beltman, Mr R. Adams; reelsman, Mr A Gillan, and resuscitator, Mr A. B. Currie. A very welcome afternoon tea was then handed round by the ladies, whose work and support throughout has been whole-hearted and greatly appreciated.