ROWING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11167, 30 January 1904, Page 2

ROWING.

By * Slide."

W.R.C.

The thanks of the members of the above Club aa'e due to Mr Frank Harford, who has lately taken over the business cf Mr Hugh Black'f jeweller shop, Victoria Avenue, for hie thoughtful generosity in presenting two handsome gold medals for competition in double sculls. The. following are the drawings of the respective crews: — P. Bailey and C. H. Williams,- J. M. Williams and R. A. Gruminitt, Kirton and Mahouev, Wa*d and Collins, Robson and Marshall, Arinstmug and Purser, . Woonand Jennings, Doagshun and Wild, O'She'a and Buckley. Most of the crews are in active training. Bailey, Kirton and Robson so far are showing the best combination, but as there is a good three weeks to go it is hard io say who will become the possessors of the coveted prizes. Thursday evening was perfect, the water being as smooth as gla.-a; the river in consequence bore quite au animated appearance, all regatta and club crews doing some Bolid work? Last night' saw a contrast, the top course being rather uusafe, a naM»y roll opposite the boatsheds, which necessitated a very careful approach to the staging of crews who worked beloAv the bridge. In one instance some a'musclnent was caubed by a "brace" of pluggers in the person of Kirlon and Maihoney, Wider the guidance of one "Pilot" Prilchard, who had charge of the rudder strings, swamping, when oppoEiile the boatsheds. A couple of- heavy swells came aboard, breaking the ai'tev pa.rl of the boat in so doing, but the pluggcra still tugged manfully despite the warning front *the anxious pilot, who was fully dressed and looked very nice with his gold watch-chain, nice light suit and bootn to match. "There's danger ahead." He no sooner had uttered the words when a gradual siukmg was noticed, then down went the "trio." The pilot, no doubt thinking of tlie watch at the end of his chain. made straight for "Jimmy"' Nixon's launch, quickly followed by Mahoney, whose sole anxiety appeared to .be to wave an old pair of rowing boots, whilst Kirton, to show he was the man fitted for the position of stroke, stuck manfully to his- boat. . After the shrieks of laughter had subsided one of the tubs, manned by the land-lubbers, quickly put off to the rescue. Fortunaiely all three could swim, otherwise the position, instead of being ludicrious, would have given cause for ai more anxious moment, and it only goes to prove, what I have already staled in your columns, that unless a man can Bttim he has no business to venture out in boata of this description, for ho not only jeopardises his own life but that of bis comrades. This should act as a warning to such, ao there is wo excuse now, whatever, for man, woman, boy or girl not learning to swim, our borough fathers, in their wisdom, having given their custodian, who is J a most competent man for the position, in- ■ structions to teach all frequenters of the BathH free. TMp is the only borough iv the colony, to my knowledge, which ho* adopted such a generous live-saving policy. All other attainments, for which large sums of money have to be paid to teachers and instructors, are dwarfed, especially in thi? colony, where there are ao many rivers and, streams, when, one hears "I can't swim" — a saying far too familiar in these enlightened times.