Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1947 LEARN-TO-SWIM POOL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 38, 9 June 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1947

LEARN-TO-SWIM POOL

OHOPE PROJECT PLANS FOR COMING SEASON With a view to getting the children’s “learn-to-swim pool” at Ohope Beach in order for next season and also to getting the services of a qualified, attendant, a proposal has been made to apply for a grant or subsidy under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. For so.me years Mr F. Mahy, senr., of Ohope has been an enthusiastic worker in the cause of building and maintaining a pool in the stream at Ohope for the benefit of children learning to swim. The extent of Mr Mahy’s good work is known to and appreciated by many residents of the Whakatane district and also to visitors from distant parts of New Zealand.

Last season this pool was unfortunately out of use owing to the destruction of the dam supplying the water and also for want of money to rebuild the dam. This is the third time that the •dam has been washed away through the flooding of the stream. Experience has shown that the site of the dam is unsuitable. It is now proposed to carry the supply pipe to a dam in existence higher up the valley and under the control of the Ohope Domain Board. Mr Mahy states that 500 ft. of 3 inch pipe will be needed to connect the pool with the dam. The pool and surroundings also need a certain amount of work done to put them in order for next season.

At present Mr Mahy in his capacity as promoter and guarantor of the fund has £25 15s 9d in hand towards the cost. Since- November, 1946 Mr Mahy has collected £lB7 5s from visitors to the beach. With this money Mr Mahy has paid off the debt on the pool amounting to £l6l 9s 3d, which had been owing for six years. The cost of the pools, etc. has amounted to over £6OO, all of which has been subscribed by residents and visitors. Widespread Support Over 1300 subscribers have contributed towards the cost of the Ohope pools. They came from all over New Zealand, and several also from India and Australia. This fact goes to show the popularity of Ohope Beach as a holiday resort. It also shows that so many visitors have by their donations expressed their opinion that a learn-to-swim pool is needed even at a seaside resort. Subscribers have also endorsed Mr Mahy’s proposal that money is needed to pay the wages of a qualified attendant while the pool is in use. This will give parents confidence that their children will not come to any harm while playing in the pool.

Mr Mahy is seeking the support of all interested in the progress of Ohope Beach in order to present a strong case to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, for a grant or a subsidy under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. He is bringing the matter before the Whakatane County Council, the Whakatane Borough Council,, the Ohope Domain Board, the Ohope Progress League, the Whakatane School Committee, the Whakatane Swimming Club and the Ohope Surf Club. To put the pool in order for the 1947-48 season money will be need-

ed to pay for 500 ft. of pipe and also for a certain amount of labour. There appears a reasonable prospect of a Government grant or subsidy being obtained if all the organisations mentioned support the request to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Some of the Subscribers

A list of all subscribers of sums of 4s and over to the Ohope children’s pool since November, 1946, has been supplied to the BEACON by Mr Mahy as follows: Camp bottles (G.E.M.), J. Patterson, proceeds of gift of water-colour picture by Mrs Doust, all £5. Camp bottles (F.M.) £4 Os 6d. G. T. Lodge, A. J. Entrican, Sims and Co. (Auckland) each £2 2s. E. G. Brown (Auckland) £1 10s. W. Jarrett and Son £1 Is.

F. Sutton (Ohope), C. L. Hogg (Ohope), lan B. Gow, F. R. Combes, Mr Potter (Ohope) all £l. Mick Mahy (bottles) 17/6. Three Campers 13s. M. J. O’Connor 12/6. Te Puke Toughs 11s. Bones Gang 10/7. L. R. Spring, Whakatane Radios each 10/6. Mrs Batley, F. A. Cawshay (New Plymouth), I. A. Nisboy, Whittakers Shoe Store, S. C. Joe, A. D. Goodwin, P. McDonald (Ohope), H. Grieve, Whakatane Hardware, Sympathiser, K;K.K. Bells, C. S. Armstrong, Willowbank Nurseries, R. H. Price, P. Coutts, Y. Timbs, E. D. Radley, R. T. Watson (Hamilton), Alan Barr, Tip Top, D. Gage, P. A. Kusabs, T. A. McLenen, C. Mahy, M. Stacey (Hamilton), Air Training Corps (Whakatane) all 10s. Visitors 8/6. “ Jensens Bros., Matata Sports each Bs. '

Chums, T. J. Barwick 7/6 each. Marines 7s. Three Crows (Matamata) 6/6. Gift Shop, Speed Kings (Auckland), P. Henderson, Fire Station Boys (Rotorua), E. Linsell each 6s. H. J. Hannal (Wellington), J. S. Stevens, F. Dawson, F.8.C., B. McCombie (Taihape), Mrs O. Roper, L. Latrass, P. G. Hammon, C. Rawson, F. G. Woods, Gordon Shot (Gisborne), Mrs Turnbull, R. Steedman, E. J. Evans, A. H. Smith, J. Ball, “Wanganui”, Whittles, E. M. Grant, W. Smyth, H.E., Nan Smythe (Christchurch), A. H. Mowvie,' Mr Pierot (New Plymouth), L. W. Dwen, E. W. Taylor, B. I. Budden, C. H. Grocott, H. S. Drummond, A. R., J. Homes, L. M. Allan, G. W. Bennet, H. Finlayson (Hamilton), L. A. Haggie, F. Taylor (Kaikoura), K. B. Gilby (Titahi Bay), Roy Revell (New Plymouth), W. T. Coulthard, T.C.8., E.P.S., The Boys, Knight, T. Ramson, Loveridge, L. W. Lovelock, Mrs Coulter, E. Dawson, T.' Wilson, A. Fitzgerald, J. J. Fitzgerald (Petone), F. A. Burr, N. J. Larson, G.G., Anon (Wellington), C. A. Hume, Heane, Mrs D. Allan, Mrs J. C. Richards (Hamilton), A. L. Chappell (Petone), T. Webster (Mt. Maunganui), C. Price, A. H. Lynds, Mrs G. Cutler, L. McDonald, Mr Hawke, W. J. Brown, C. Howard, H. Thomas, D. Hopkirk, P. G. Carr, C. H. Robinson, C. Capper, Auckland Boys, R. Thompson, P. Stockpoole, J. A. Kneebone, Wellwisher, R. Hayter, T. W. Breward, each ss. Apanui (Te Kaha) 4/9. N.~ Dawson, C. Neilson, R. Furry, J. Jones, Marks, J. N. Smith (Te Teko), P. W. Stevens each 4/6. Mrs Newport (Rotorua), M. G. Pepper, Visitor, P. K. Tucker, Nelson Palmer, H. Davidson (Te Awamutu), A. Mcßride, M. Aville, L. C. Henderson, J. Tacham, E. Bloor, J. U. S. Nicol, T. O. Faulkner, A. Ward, Tasker and family, King, all 4s.