TURKISH BATHS.

Evening Star, Issue 2900, 5 June 1872, Page 3

TURKISH BATHS.

To the Editor.

Sir, —It has occurred to me that the present season is a fit and proper time to supply a want much felt by many of the inhabitants of this City : 1 refer to the want of a proper swimming basin, to be tilled with the flux and re-flux of every tide—that is, twice, every twenty-four hours. I believe that were this evident want provided, and hot, cold, and shower (fresh) water baths also erected in a convenient and central portion of the City- say near some of the jetties-it would not only prove a great desideratum , or rather desiderata, to the public, but if taken up by a joint stock company, prove a firstrate paying speculation. I should also like to see a joint stock company started for the erection of a Turkish bath, but this great remedial agent in many complaints might follow suit. It must be well known to you, sir, that the saying of the old English divine (Bishop Horsley), that “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” is a trite and true one; and you must also remember that the frequent use of the bath and gymnastic exercises did much to improve and ennoble the ancient Greeks and Homans. Indeed, I have heard it frequently asserted that the noble developments of their ancient statues (as shewn in the relics left us) were mainly owing awcl attributable to their frequent use of the bath, and praetiee in swimming and other gymnastic exercises Surely the metropolis of this Middle Island (I trust assisted by the Provincial Government) coiild raise enough money to erect a Turkish bath, swimming basin, and all in one. If not, what is to hinder the enterprising citizens of Dunedin taking the matter into their own hands, and inaugurate and launch a joint stock company under “the Limited Liability Act,” for the purpose above indicated. If swimming basin, baths, and Turkish bath and gymnasium combined, will prove too large an undertaking for the capital city of Otago (which I take leave to doubt), let us endeavor to have the swimming basin (salt water) and fresh water baths first, and the Turkish bath question could be allowed to stand over until another winter, I am, however*, a great believer in baths —hot, cold, shower, and Turkish, and would only be too glad to see them, and a suitable gymnasium erected quam primum. We have the salt and fresh water at our doors, and surely it would not be a very difficult matter to get a free grant, pro bono publico, of a suitable area of ground, and raise _ the money necessary for a creditable building ? Trusting that you will ‘find room for these few hurriedly thrown together notes in your evening’s impression, and offering you any assistance in my humble way to forward the proposed undertaking or undertakings, —I remain, &c., John S. Johnson, Barrister, Solicitor, and Notary Public. Dunedin, Juno 2.