GOOD NEWS FOR SWIMMERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 10 January 1917, Page 7

GOOD NEWS FOR SWIMMERS

TE ARO BATHS NOW QUITE UP TO DATE. "Our baths aro now as good as any in Australasia,", says Mr. Thomas Shields, swimming export and instruc-tor-in-chief to the young of tho city of "Wellington. . For somo time the city baths at Te Aro were under a cloud owing to tho reports of silt at the bottom of the men's baths. This was said to consist of decaying vegetation from the shipping and the shore, which had driven across the harbour and found a quiet lodgement on the floor of the baths. There was a substratum of truth in the report, but all trouble has long since been removed by a strong pump. Anothor. defect was the depth of water at tho lowest end of the ladies' bath, which was deemed to bo too deep for the perfect safety of tho miniature swimmer and the non-swimming bather. This has now been remedied by emptying upwards of 200 loads of sand and gravel into the baths just outside the children's concreto bath, and a perfect foothold at a reasonable depth has been created. Honco the abovo remark of Mr. Shields, who this afternoon will resumo giving instruction in swimming at tho baths to all who would loarn. Mr. Shields will bo in attendance at the boys bath from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and in the girls' bath from 4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. His ivork is made all the more important this year by reason of tho fact that a New Zealand championship swimming meeting for school boys and girls is to be held at the To Aro Baths on February 24 next. Before that date all the other districts will havo found their champions, who will assemble in Wellington on tho date mentioned, to prove their natatorial prowess. Mr. Shields is anxious Hint Wellington should make a good showing, and wishes to see all aspirants for New Zealand championship honours at the baths each coming AVctlnosday afternoon.