MUNICIPAL BATHS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5347, 5 November 1928, Page 2

MUNICIPAL BATHS.

OFFICIAL OPENING AT PAEROA. UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES. Paeroa’s new swimming bath, acknowledged to be epe of- the finest in the Pominion, was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, o-n Saturday afternoon, in the presence, of a large number of swimmers and burgesses of Paeroa. Glorious weather prevailed for the occasion.

Speaking frqm the diving-board Mr •Marshall said that the; excellence of the weather could be. taken as a good omen for the success of the baths. They had been talked of for many years, and that day saw the goal of their desire and the consummation) of the effort. Citizens qf Paeroa were indebted to Cr. Silcock, who could be looked upon as t|he father of the bath proposal. He had gone to a great deal of trouble to collect information and check the small details which ensured the, best results, so fully deserved to be publicly thanked. The thanks qf the public, were also due to .his colleagues on the committee, particularly Cr. Pinder, whotee expert afivico had been of great assistance. The cquncil was indebted to Mr Burmester, of Te Arolia, who ! ia d • icparedi the plans and specifications free; of c.hu g.c. Mr. Parry Edwards also deserved the thinks of the public, for on ; a recent visit to Paeji’qa he had handed his brother, .the deputyMayor, a. cheque for. £5O to be used as thought best for thq baths. Finally there wag a debt to be acknowledged to the ratepayers'qf the borough, who had shouldered the burden of a £2OOO loa.n. Even the most sanguine could oifl.v hope that the baths would pay working expenses, so it was pr.qbable that those who owned land in the 'trough would be called upon to find £l5O a yegr. Those whq would use the baths ought to appreciate the fact that this burden was being borne cheerfully. The manner in which the baths loan had been carried and tliel largeness of the attendance at th© opening showed thatj the advantages of the baths were aporeciated. Continuing, The Mayor sajd that the Bqrough Council, in preparing the by-laws, had made arrangements for schoolchildren to havq the free usq of the baths when in the charge of a teacher. Thus every' child in Paeroa would have facilities to learn toswim, a fact which every par.en(t! should appreciate. He also referred to the formation of a swimming c lub, and to the enthusiasm with which it was going ahead. Already over 60 members had been enrolled, and arrangements had) been made for the holding of the South Auckland! Swimming Association’s 4.4oyds championship evqnt at the club’s first carnjival. It had oijly been possible to complete the woik within the £2oo’o’ loan by adopting day labour, and in that connection a debt of gra.titude was due to Mr W. Chamberlain, .who, although a contractor, had given his work and the benefit of his experience for ordinary wages. Referring to the bath itself, Mr Marshall pointejd out .that i,t was desirable to have an elevated site, so that gravity drainage could be obtained. It w ; a.s also desirable to have tlie site near a, large water-main. The council had been (fortunate in being able to acquire a site which met those requirements, and which was also convejiilieptly situated, and it had been very generously trea.ted by the trustees of the estate, who had sold the section for £2OO. It was proposed to plant a few trees and to provide a lawn where bathers could) lie in the sun after a swim.

The bath was 100 ft long and 40ft wide, so was of full regulation size aqd complied with all the; requirements for the holding of any swimming competitions. It was as large as aniy in New Zealand. The depth was Bft 6in at the deep end and 3ft at the shallow end, but there were two outlets, so the wia,ter leyel qould be lowered for children. There were only t.wo other baflhs in New’ Zealand which had so great a depth, most of them being about a foot shallower. This'extra depth would be; of great advantage in swimming sports. In all, the Paeroa baths could be said to be up to the standard of t;he best municipal baths in New Zealand.

Mr Marshall referred to the fact that there was only one qntrancc — from Princes Street. There was no right-df-way from the main street, and it was hoped that the pqople would respect the rights of the pro-perty-owners adjoining the; baths. The bath was the property of the Corporatiqn of Paeroa, that was, the Mayor, council, and burgesses of Paeroa. Thus the property was owned) by the people, and should be cared fqr. and protected as their very own. .-As a compliment to Cr. Silcock the Mayor then calldd upon his younger, son to dive off the springboard and open the baths. ■A neat header was taken by Master Jack Silcock, and he was quickly ifolt towed by dozens af others, who pronounced the water fine.