SWIMMING TOURNAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4114, 4 May 1876, Page 2

SWIMMING TOURNAMENT.

To the Editor.

Sib, —Please insert this letter. The total amount received by subscriptions and at the gates on the occasion of the swimming tournament was insufficient to cover expenses. Although there were a large number of persons present, many of thorn, owing to a mistake (and to other causes too numerous to mention here), did not pay anything. Much as I may regret it, I am compelled to keep the winners of the prizes waiting until I can afford to purchase them myself, which, I hope, will not be much longer. Some of the prizes which arc on the printed programme have not been received (here, again, I must not trespass on your space), and have therefore to be provided by myself. Others having cost nearly double what it was expected, they would also have to wait until I am able to pay for them. I found, contrary to my expectation, the cost of the concert which was to have taken place, together with the purchase of the remaining prizes, was altogether beyond my means (owing to a variety of causes too numerous too mention here). There are some prizes ready for distribution which I long ago informed the winners they could have, but if they preferred receiving them in public they would have to wait untu I could arrange for the same. It is an error to suppose that I in any way enriched myself on the occasion, although it was originally intended to assist my promising school, which many know well did not pay me. I could say very much more on the subject, in f act, to explain it thoroughly I am afraid it

would take some columns of your paper, and for that reason I invited “ Aquatic" to a personal interview, in order that he might look into things for himself. The difficulty of finding me might be removed by his signing his name, when my time not being fully occupied, as he supposes, I could have waited on him, but not seeing his letter until after noon, I had only time for a short reply, which even then was so late as only to be inserted by your courtesy.—! am, &c., Alfred R. Sims, R.N. Dunedin, May 4.

N.B.—As this letter is also written in haste, any information I may have omitted I shall be glad to afford.