Swimming Baths For Foxton ?
SOME SUGGESTIONS BY MR DE RIDDER. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MA.NAWATO HERALD Sir, —The season is now approaching when most of the townspeople vill be very short of water for domestic purposes, and a bath then will become a luxury. I would therefore suggest, that some steps be taken to provide a bathing place on the river bank, as the water during the summer months i? nlear and cool, the river being low and free from.-flood water; therefore, a swim in it on a hot day is very pleasant and refreshing ; but at present only a few youths take advantage ot the very excellent natural swimming bath that we have at our very doors, as the only place on the river bank at present available is too public and too dirty to tempt many to go there and undress. But were a cheap shed built and a diving beard runout into deepwater, the river would he alive with bobbing heads on a hot summers day. I think that if the Government was approached by a petition or a deputation from the townsoeople that they may possibly he induced to give to the town one or both of th ise old punts that are now rotting on the opposite bank of the river, and if then a subscription list were opened, I am sure enough could be raised to moor one near the boat shed, and the other below the Railway Wharf close to the shingle bank. A board fence could be put around three sides and part of the fourth (to protect them from the north-west winds), with a bench around inside and the neces-sary-steps and diving-board; also a door and gangway leading to the shore. What a boon that wauld be to the many men now working around Foxton, and at what a comparatively small expense it could be easily obtained ! In Wellington, the baths at first were old hulks, and they served the purpose well for many years, so whv not a punt or two here? But again, supposing the gravel punts could not be obtained, I am sure there are one or two old flax punts that could be had cheap that would do as well if they were r Highly decked and a pump erected to keep them from filling, as one of the baths in Wellington did once. As this can so easily and cheaply be carried out, I hope some steps will be taken in the matter before the hot weather comes. I think if the Boating. Athletic, Football, and Cricket Clubs were to hold a combined meeting, a swimming club could be formed, and then the baths would soon be an accomplished fact; and not onlv that, but a little co-operation amongst our young men would very soon revive the old boating spirit that has lanquisbed for so many years in Foxton. Thanking you for your valuable space,—l am, etc., F. De Bidder. Foxton, 23rd Sept., 1905.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3578, 28 September 1905, Page 2
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499Swimming Baths For Foxton ? Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3578, 28 September 1905, Page 2
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