SALTWATER BATHS SWIMMING MATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 610, 30 January 1872, Page 2

SALTWATER BATHS SWIMMING MATCHES.

To the Editor of the Evenino Stab. Sir, —By advertisement in the morning papers I perceive there will bo another edition of the saltwater baths swimming and diving matches on Saturday nexT. And as the last did not give entire satisfaction, I would suggest to the manager (through the medium of your columns) the propriety of making a slight alteration in the programme, i.e., give prizes for plain, ornamental, and swift swimming, instead of giving one for " all ages," and all methods; By giving separate prizes the excellencies of the different modes would be clearly shown. Another thing I would remark upon is the small amount of the prizes given (quite unworthy of a place so be-praised as this is for acquatics) for which, according to the Cross of January 22nd, " A large number of citizens had subscribed to make up the requisite funds!" The pockets of said citizens must have felt very light after such a large amount of cash had been

abstracted therefrom ; the prizes inmoney altogether amounting to £5 1/s. 6d. It the public subscribed for the different prizes what becomes of the entrance fees charged to the baths, and those charged for entrance to the matches? Trusting you will find space for the above in your extensively read paper, I am, Sir, A SWTMMEB.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sie —In our " constellation " of this morning I find a Mr " Progress " very wrathful because a clerk has levanted with £500, and he seizes hold ot the opportunity to declaim against sharebrokers, speculators, et hoc genus omne. He appears to anticipate quite a Utopia from the new Share Brokers Bill which comes into operation the day atter to-morrow. Well, the public will see by-and-bye how it will act. A celebrated English Judge once said he could drive a coach and four through any Act of Parliament. I think he might drive a railway train, passengers and all, through this one, without fear of accident. But apropos of " Progress," who professes to be an advanced Liberal, who says, " the possessor of £1000 per annum may speculate with impunity, but the possessor of £150 may not," I say if the £1000 per annum man spends £1000, and the £150 per annum man spends £150, neither has any right to speculate, or the one just as much right as the other. My friend appears not to know the difference between speculation and investment. I would advise him to study Mills or De Toequeville. As for employing the expensive machinery of half a dozen Governments to prevent elopements, if employers would treat their employees better, and not trust large sums of money in the hands of men to whom they scarcely give labourer's wages, the ■ public would hear less about " levanting clerks," &c.

Yours, &c,

CLERICU3.