The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1887. WANTED A SWIMMING BATH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1465, 25 January 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1887. WANTED A SWIMMING BATH.

The exceedingly hot weather which we have recently been experiencing has enabled us to enter into the feelings of the facetious party who expressed a desire to be able to " take ok his flesh and go about m his bones " for with the thermometer m the nineties m the shade — once indeed over the century — it has been undeniably a trying time. It must have been a glorious seasontor the herbal beer factories for which Ashburton is so famous, but Messrs Hoult, Davis and a few others of that ilk excepted, nobody we fancy has found cause for much rejoicing m the abnormally high temperature. Those enterprising exploiters of local industries, however, are really public benefactors, for they alone have enabled us to endure the torrid nor'westers, the fierce breath of an almost tropical summer. For they have at least afforded the means of cooling ourselves from within, but alas 1 as to cooling ourselves from without by a plunge m a good swimming bath there has been and is no opportunity for the Ashburtonite without taking a long walk to the river. The heat of the weather has indeed brought into prominence the great necessity there is for some lacility for bathing, and is a strong argument m support of Councillor Thomas, who recently strove m vain to induce the Borough Council to take up the project of establishing public baths. Judging from the experience of Oamaru, a much larger place — that is to say, a place having a much larger population — the Council was right m deciding that to undertake the work would mean a considerable annual charge m addition to the first cost, as m Oamaru the baths, although excellent ones, have never paid expenses, and under these circumstances it cannot be wondered at that the municipal authorities are unable to see their way to throw an increased burden upon the ratepayers. But the fact remains that a swimming bath is a great public want, and it is not surprising, therefore, that those who are inclined for a plunge or a swim have not only looked with longing eyes at the fine sheet of water m so conveniently accessible a position which the reservoir m the Domain presents, but that they should have taken French leave to lave and disport themselves therein. That this should have been done, however, does not meet with the approval of " A Burgess," who wrote to us on Friday enquiring what the authorities can be about to permit it, while " New Chum " and " One of the Boys," taking up the parable on the other side of the question, replied on Saturday, defending the proceeding as a perfectly harmless, nay more as a most health-giving and desirable one. Now, although from a letter published yesterday it appears that "A Burgess " objects m toto to the reservoir being used as a swimming bath under any circumstances we scarcely think that the burgesses generally would object if bathing were carried on under proper regulations, and although " One of the Boys " asserts that " all the bathing has been done early m the morning, and that the baths have all been decently dressed," he will, no doubt, see that if a general permission were given for bathingin the reservoir it inighteasilwhappen, and probably would, that some persons deficient of regard for the feelings of others would dispense with all regard j for decency, and argue that it was the business of those who did not wish to be annoyed by seeing them to keep out of the way. That, however, would not do, as the park is a place . of public resort — almost the only recreation ground we have, and the convenience of all parties must be consulted. It seems to us that this might be done by framing regulations under which the reservoir might be used as a public bath. Say, for instance, bathing to be permitted up to half-past six a.m, without restriction, and after that hour the wearing of bathing-drawers m the case of boys, and of complete bathingsuits by men to be insisted upon. To enable this to be conveniently carried out, a dressing-room or shed should be erected, and a supply of the necessary garments kept m charge of some Corporation servant, who should himself be a good swimmer, so as to be a safeguard against accidents, and at least a portion of whose pay would be recouped by the charge made for the use of the bathing-suits. The balance, for the few weeks or months of the hot weather, would amount to s.o small a sum that Cr Thomas should surely be able to induce the Council to vote it. A plan of this kind would, we think, meet all the requirements of fte. case, and would pleasq a}l parties. The water which flows from the reservoir through the street channels is not used for drinking purposes, and there need therefore be no objection on that score, and not even the moat delicately

minded of either sex would bj offended by the spectacle of persons swimming if decently clad. Indeed, at marine watering-places thousands of persons watch with great interest the natatory manoeuvres of those who disport themselves m the briny, and what is harmless m salt water is surely harmless m fresh. All things considered, we think the wisest thing for the Council or the Domain Board, or both, would be to accept the situation, and provide for the matter m the way we have proposed.