THE ART OF SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 10

THE ART OF SWIMMING.

THE SIR JOHN HALL CHALLENGE SHIELD. ' (BY TELIGRATtt—SrECIAL COBEESFONKBNT.) , Chrlstchurch, May 6. At Sydenham School this afternoon, Mr. J. D. Hall presented tho Sir John Hall challenge shield for proficiency in tho art of saving life from drowning, which .will bo annually competed for, and which, was won this year by. a team from Sydenham School.' He nls-o ■ presented . each of the four momoers of tho team .with a gold medal.' - • In-tho course of his address lie said that ono thing that had led his father <tb present tho shield was that ho could not swim himself, and tho- first, thing, bis had to learn was to acquire the .art of swimming. • It was a, good thing for boys and girls to be ablo to swim. It enabled them- to . rescue human liveaj and .they should endeavour to attain proficiency in the art. It was also tho most valuable exercise that Miyone could 1 indulgoin. It exercised every musclo and organ, and thero was no timo so appropriate | for such exerciso as in one's youth. In after yeaTs thoy . would bo glad that they, had by this means made themselves- strong and healthy. Mr. Walter Johnson said tho work dolio by the Sydenham team whioh had won tho shield stood as a record, not only for New Zealand, but also for the world. No school mid no body of men under conditions govern-ing-the competition oould have donorbctter. Tho Sydenham team had complied- with tho same conditions as applied to adult oompetitions, and it was highly ercditablo to them that thoy had gained such a superior record of marks. Tho work thoy did Was simply marvellous. . -. . ;