TEPID SWIMMING BATH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2624, 20 November 1915, Page 6

TEPID SWIMMING BATH

AT BOYS'INSTITUTE A LUXURY FOR THE PUBLIC After years of suggestion, several discussions, and much letter-writing to t'be papers, tepid swimming baths have at length been established in Wellington, thanks to the enterprise of the Boys' Institute, .backed by the generosity of good citizens concerned in the highly commendnblo work that is being d(po in Wellington by that institution. Last evening the new bath in the institute's splendid building in Tasman Street was inspected by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lulce), Councillors 6. Frost, T. Bush, A. Veitch, R. A. Wright, the' City Engineer and Tramways Manager (Mr. W. HI Morton), the Tramways Engineer (Mr. M. Cable), and the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade (Mr. H. Tait). These gentlemen were welcomed and shown round by Mr. George Troup, the president of the institute, to whose energy and whole-souled enthusiasm the City is largely indebted both for the existence of the bath arid the institute itself. Mr. Troup stated that the bath had been almost filled the day before in order to test the heating apparatus, which had worked quite satisfactorily. Owing, however, to the nonarrival of the filters from England the water had not been as clear as was expected, and had been lot out again. Advice had now been received that the filters were on board the steamer Kia Ora, duo hero on December 6, 60 that by Christmas time, at all events, the new tepid swimming bath should bo available to the publio.

Ho appointments of the bath are something that lias never been contemplated in.Wellington's bathing philosophy before. The wandering glanco is at once attracted to the "hanging garden," suspended from the ceiling. This consists of three lines of beautiful asparagus ferns in hanging baskets, which tire calculated to flourish in the mild atmosphere of the room, as in a hotT.ouse, and will soon shoot out graceful fostoong of delicate greenery. Suddenly taps are turned, and from a series of copper roses in the roof, curving showers of cold water fall in every direction with the prettiest effect.. Pendant along the southern side of tho bath are a series of eleven rings, v/liicli are about 6 or 6 feet above the water Wei. The object of these is at onco athletic and spectacular. The first of the rings is seized from the bank, and by a gentle swing out over the water the second one may be grasped. The word 'may is used advisedly—if a miss is recorded there is a nice cushion of warm water to fall into, so that no harm can be done. .On the other side there are two trapeses, hung close enough' together to permit of double work, and near by, also well over the water, are Roman rings and a stout climbing (knotted) rope. At the deep (custom) end there is a splendid chute, which may' be adjusted to any gradient hv pulley ropes. Alongside is a substantial springboard and a graduated diving stage. On the "banks" there are sis open cold water showers, so that one may harden up before facing the weather outside.

Four wall lifts ascend to tile kitchen overhead. Swimming is conducivo to hunger, and by placing a ticket (purchasable at the office) in tho lift and ringing an electrio bell,' tho order ascends to tho culinary department and light refreshments descend to the hungry bather below. Mr. Troup calculates that lie can scat 1000 people in the galleries that run from end to end of tho building, x along the bank, and on tho platforms at each end of the bathhouse, so that swimming carnivals are well within tho. range of-possibility.