LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 3

LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

The second annual report of the Wellington Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society stales that the interest created in tiie movement among the community by the visit of Mr. W. Henry has been maintained. Tho committee have the assurance that an early start will be made to have classes formed for the instruction of candidates well before the actual commencement of next summer. Several secondary and primary schools have signified their desire to co-operate. While tuese> facts aro very gratifying, disappointment has been felt at the dearth of candidates from among the local affiliated clubs and classes at tho lime of .Air. Henry's visit and immediately after. One hundred and twenty-eight awards Were granted, all of thorn to candidates representative of the various swimming clubs affiliated. During the last season only 35 awards were granted. The decreaso is mainly attributed to tho coldness of the water. Wellington is very unfortunate in not being provided with tepid baths, such as exist at Christchurch and Napier. Thoss candidates who were successful in gaining awards underwent a very severe test, and' it is to their credit tluv, the reports of the examiner were in evcrv case satisfactory. Tho first conference o'f delegates from tho various head centres in the Dominion was held at Christchurch, the Wellington Centre being represented by Messrs. A. A. Somervillc and W. 11. KUis. Tho ultimate result of the conference was the formation of the Dominion Executive of tho Royal Life Saving Society in j Xew Zealand. The functions of this body, which consists of six members (one representative of each head centre), will be to act as a distributing medium for all goods supplied from headquarters, and for all moneys received for tho furtherance of humane work. At the close of last season ?., • , a ! l<?n G° shield, known as the Wigram Shield, was presented by the Hon. H. F. W lgrani, M.L.C., to the Canterbury Head Centre (of which ho is president), and by them m turn to the Royal Life Saving Socicfy's Head Centres in New Zealand tor competition by teams of four men each, who hold tho societv's bronze medallion. The first competition attracted five teams, and resulted in Canterbury A team securing first place and gold medal each man, Canterbury B team second plaeo and silver medal each man, and Wellington third place and bronze medal each man. Messrs. A. A. Somerville, E. D. Etissoll, L. M. Avery, and W. 11. Ellis represented Wellington in the competition. The committeo regret to bo in the position of having to accept the resignation of Mr. It. Hea y, holder of the award of merit, and Wellingtons-best swimmer. During the year tho funds (amounting to £il) of tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association for humane purposes, were handed over to the centre. Tho balance-sheet shows that the centro is in a sound pecuniary position. Five clubs have been granted affiliation since the Inst annual meeting. Awards totalling 35 were granted during tho year. The total number of awards granted since the inauguration of the centre in Wellington is 16". The committee regret to record the death of two of the centre's members, Messrs. C. Aston and E. Dobson.

v^rlS 6 ? ¥ Ivas held last at the 1.i1.C.A. for tho purpose of considering and revising' tho report prior to its being presented at the annual meeting.