SURF CLUB'S GALA AT ISLAND BAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2367, 25 January 1915, Page 7

SURF CLUB'S GALA AT ISLAND BAY

NEW CLUB-HOUSE OPENED SPEECHES AND SPORTS Island Bay had the appearance of a model Manley or Coogee on Saturday afternoon, wiien the isiauid Bay Surf and Life Saying Club officially opened its npw olub-house. Favoured with ideal weather, a large attendance of the public, and an attractive programme of events, the club and. Island Bay residents had every reason to feel proud of their beach, with its. new slu.briiou.se and bathing sheds. , It is just about twelve months .ago that the Island Bay Club was inaugurated. Its members Boon got. t.o' work' and approached the City .Council, with £40, which, they tsked, should be subr siuisetj. to build a club-house. The CSty Council scented a good investment," and added £160 to' tlie £4U.' With this, oncourageme.nt. the cluii got. to work in real earnest,"'and so successful ha?, it. been 'that to-day it has a tine little, building of its own, a life-saving reel, a membership of 140, is affiliated to the Royal Liie Saving Society, aiid last, but not least, has s, substantial little balance to its credit in tlia bank. The. latter, however, is not sufficient to add necessary club accessories and, an uptto-date reel, and the club has.hopes that some generous residents- of Islaiid. Pay, realising what the club has done for the beach, will ccme.to the rescue to aid them in procuring the necessqxy articles.

Sis, Worship the. Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) performed .the opening ceremony in a felicitous speech, ancf remarked 'that there, was no finef pastime in New Zealand than swimming. Tho people of Wellington had much to assist them ill indulging to the full in this pastime. They had some splendid beaohes, and a. City Co.uncil' which was ready to assist, as. -was. evidenced by the facilities for reaching these beaohes and the sheds, etc;, provided on themi The council had spent a large amount ,of money in improving the foreshores of Wellington, especially that stretching from Island Bay to. Lyall Bay. Mr. Luke wished, the club every success in the future, and formally declared the, club-rooms open. Mr. It. A. Wright, M.P., also spoke, 'and commented on .the growth of the club and the good it had done, and would do, for swimming. The people of Wellington, he'said, realised the valuo of such a club, in .training .the physical as well as the mental development of its youug citizens. Mr.. Wright also commented on the assistance- given by the Government in helping the clubs.' ■ ; Mr.. G. S. Hill (president of the Royal Life'.,Saying Society), in a short speech .appealed to the residents of the bayi for co-operation in the work 'of' tho society. ' ■" , Subsequently an- interesting .programme of. events was got off. There was a massed land parade, and land drill given creditably' by members of the. club, reel exhibitions, and numbers of races. Great' amusement, and' not a little excitement, among , the children, present, was the sudden appearance in tiie, water of a'huge gaily-coloured fish', which opened a cavernous. moAith. wag-* gled a rudder-like ■ fin on its -back, but made no attempt-to satisfy its interior: wants. The mystery was-, unravelled when the marine monster, .approached' the shore, developed two sturdy human' legs' in shallow"' water, andr -then was. slowly . elevated to. disolose the countenance of Sir .T. Shields. . . TJie . various'swimming eyents resulted as follow 75yds. Club -Handicap.—First hea/t,:; ft, Collins (9sec.), 1; 'purry (2sec.), 2. Second heat: J; Stick (lOsec.),, I; Wilcox (sar.), 2. Pinal: Stiok, 1; Collins, j B. 75, yds. Visitors' Race.—Allan, 1; Woon, 2: Silver, 8. Boys' Race (35yds.)—A. Bcanlon,. I s A. Kennedy, 2. Girls. Race (35yds.)—M. Kemp,. 1; V. Ross, 2. The Tramway Band gendered musical selections during the afternoon.