ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1615, 5 December 1912, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

— . SWIMMINQ. THE MANLY TEAM ARRIVE HERE, BY S.S. MATJNGANUI. < EECEPTIOK; AT THE TOWN HALL. The Manly Club swimmers—"Tod* Solomons, H. if. Hay, and S. Riddington —arrived here by the Alaunganui yesterday, and were met; at the wharf by membtM and officials of the Wellington Swimming Centre. " During the course of the afternoon the visitors proceeded to the Tβ Aro Baths, and tried their prowess there. All' three thought the water very cold, and hoped that by Saturday a change in temperature - would ho'noticeable. Solomons, who has l>ecn in Wellington before, is still the eamo big-built man, although he statea that ho has lost 2st. sinco he last visited Wellington, some ten months ago. The . three Australians are- noticeably strong and healthy in appearance. Shortly after 5 o'clock the 'visitors (including.A. 11. Tartakover,,ex-member of the ManJy Club) were accorded a 1 public welcome in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. A large number of swimming \ enthusiasts were present, these including , tho officials of the Wellington Swimming Centre. The Hon. J. Eigg, M.L.C., was '. also present. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) ~ presided. In tho course of a 6hort speech, the Mayor stated that it afforded him great pleasure to welcome the Manly swimmers. They had come to Wellington to teach tho local swimmers a few points, : and ho thought it likely that, before they - returned, they would show local swims mers something new. He thought that , hardly any athletic exercise could be . more necessary than swimming. In . touching on the mixed bathing question, r the Mayor rather jocularly remarked that . he hoped that the visitors "would give i him a hint or two regarding mixed I bathing on Manly beach. TheTe had. ; been a good deal of talk about the council making a by-law restricting mixed bathi ing on the Lyall Bay beach, but nothing ; of the sort had been done. He believed ; that he was correct in stating that a ; similar by-law existed on the Manly . beach, and, as far as he know, mixed : bathing was still kept up there. In conclusioD the Mayor stated that he hoped 1 to eee that the fullest opportunity ,was . given to children to cultivate the art of ; swimming. His Worship then called for • three cheers for the visitors, and these - '. were heartily given. Those present then. ' San? "For They are Jolly' Good Fellows." The Hob. W. Rigg spoke next,.and incidentally remarked that it would be dim- = I cult to over-estimate the value to be derived from the present visit.: i' Mr. Atkins extended a hearty welcome ' to the visitors on behalf, of the Welling- • i ton Centre. ~ ' ■ ■ The visitors, Messrs. Solomons, Hay, Tartakover, and Riddington, returned thanks, and the function concluded. On' Friday evening tie visitors will be ,' the guests of Mrs. Henrys at. an "at home," and on Saturday afternoon, they « will compete in the Wellington Centre's .. carnival. On Saturday evening they will ■ r be entertained at an "at home".by Mr. Levy, and they will spend Sunday at ' Lyall Bay, where they will be the guests '•■ of the Lyall Bay Surf Club. On. Monday ' morning at 9 o'clock they will leave for . '.' Napier, returning to Wellington on the I following Saturday. I AUSTEALIAN EECOEDS. By TeieeraDh—Press Association—CoDiricKi Sydney, December 4. '• The International Swimming Federation. . ' has formally recognised Miss Duracks • record of lmih. Bsec. for 100 yds. at Bondi '• in March last. This is the first Aus- '• tralian fecord recognised by the. federal tion. '