ST. KILDA SURF CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 11

ST. KILDA SURF CLUB

HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY m IN HAND FDR REVIVED GIUB What became of the property and gear of the Surf and Lite-saving Club which was in existence at St. Kikla some years ago? The question has been asked as the result of the recent decision to revive the club. One who was connected with the club at its inception gave some early history of the club as follows; About the year 1910 a surf club was formed by the residents of St. Kilda. A great deal of enthusiasm was shown, the membership before long reaching a total of nearly 400. It was understood that the late Mr JVC. Marshall gave two sheds to the club, that Mr Arthur Hudson gave another, and that two were erected by the club itself. These sheds were placed on the beach, but owing to their being endangered at high tide they were snifted back to more solid ground among the lupins. His recollection was that a fifth shed was sold to St. Clair, and that it was washed out to sea. A number of enclosures Avero built on the beach, a local resident giving a donation of £lO towards them, but as they interfered Avith the formation of the beach they AA’ore removed. vSeveral life lines and reels Avere procurer), and a life-saving class formed, several members qualifying as efficient life-savers. Altogether there wore four reels. The club, which Avas in existence up til! about ten years ago, Avas registered at the start, and how it eventually Avound up our informant wants to know. The reels, it Avas understood arc still in Dunedin, and he would like to know if they areof any use. Two of the sheds are still on the beach at St. Kilda. and the other, at Eorhnry, is being used as a toolhouse at tiie tip. The property of the club, he avers, was at one time insured for £IOO. The above statement Avas referred to Mr J, W. Dove, Avho was the treasurer of the club when it existed. He states that when the seasons turned, members ceased to take an interest in the club, Avhich, through this cause, became defunct. Later its registration was cancelled by the department in Wellington. There were five sheds belonging to the club at one time—one of these was sent to the St. Clair end for the use of ladies—not sold to St. Clair as stated above. One .died Avas presented by the late Mr J. C. Marshall, another Avas given by Mr Arthur Hudson, and tAvo others Avere built by the club—one by community service, and the other by contract. The shod at St. Clair, which was subsequently washed out to sea, Avas also built by contract. When the sheds were left on the beach with no one claiming them or using them, the Domain Board, on whoso property they wore erected, properly took charge of them. Three of them were now joined together and were being used as the refreshment booth and dressing shed since bathing had recommenced, and the other Avas at the tip at Forhury. The donation of £lO for the enclosures referred to above Avas given by the late Mr Marshall. Mr Dove did not knoAv Avhat had become of the gear of the club, but ho knew that it disappeared in “ dribs and drabs.” He suggested that no doubt some people desired some mementoes of the time when they used the lines and belts in the surf. At any rate, the gear was in a pretty had way after it had been left on the beach. Probably _ our informant was correct in assuming that the property was insured for £IOO at one time. As treasurer he had the Dunedin Savings Bank book showing that about £4O was still standing to the credit of the club. That amount Avould he handed over when the new club was properly registered, but it could not be handed OA-er till registration had actually taken place. The Secretary of the Ocean Beach Domain Board states that the hoard took over control of the sheds_ on its property because they Avere being used for purposes which Avere highly undesirable. The sheds Avere becoming badly out of repair, and the board had to spend some money on them before they were fit for use again.