PROPOSED SWIMMING BATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1977, 15 May 1919, Page 3

PROPOSED SWIMMING BATHS.

THE QUESTION OE SITE. Yesterday afternoon a deputation from (he Borough Council, consisting of (ho Mayor (Mr J. Chryslalll and Crs. Coley, Bryant and Thump.son, waited on the Harbour Board in connection with the granting of a site on the river foreshore for the proposed swimming baths. The Council some time ago made application for a site between the dead end of the railway line and the Rowing Club’s boa (shod, but (lie Board refused to grant same, on the ground that with the development of (he port the site suggested would eventually he required for the erection of distributing stores. The object of the Council deputation yesterday was to ask the Board to reconsider its decision.

The Mayor, after congratulating the Chairman and members of (he Board on their re-election, and wishing them a successful term oi: office, said that the Council considered that the site applied for was by far the most suitable for the purpose, and would be glad if Hr. Board could see its way to grant panic. In all cities and (owns where there was a water front the swimming baths were constructed 1 hereon. it would be much cheaper for (he Council to construct the baths on the site suggested, and then; would lie no necessity for a pumping plant, as the baths could he filled direct from the artesian wells, and could be emptied at low tide without.any trouble. H the. Board adhered to its previous decision it was the intention of (he Borough Council to apply for an Ordcr-in-Connci! to deviate Barba':." Street and construct the baths on the present roadway. The Trustees of the. McCarthy Eslate, the owners ol*the land fronting Harbour Street at this point, had agreed to give tho Council a. piece of land to deviate Hie street in exchange for the right to pump (iftO gallons of water per day from tho hath wells. He appealed to the Board in the interests of the safely of the public to grant (heir mpiest. By having the children taught to swim there would be less risks of drownjng accidents in the future, and as the baths would be thrown open on stated days for the free use of the school children, under proper supervision, the risinggeneration would be taught to swim. It was in the interest of the health of (lie community that baths should he constructed, and ho hoped tho Board would see its way to grant the site asked for. In answer to a question by the Chairman, the Mayor said lie could not name a river port where the baths were erected on the foreshore, hut in ’Wellington the halhs were on (he water front. Tim Chairman of tho Board said ihere was no doubt swimming baths were necessary, but (here wove oilier sites equally as suitable as the one applied for. There was little doubt Unit with the development of (he pori this site would be required in the future for warehouses or distributing stores, and he was going to do his best, willi the help of other members of the Board, to conserve the waiter front for this piupnse. They already had a number of applications for sites for dislribuling slorcs, and a plan of all (hose available was now in course of preparation. The altitude lie look up was that the waterfront should be conserved for the future requirements of the port. At this stage the Board members and members of the deputation adjourned to the water front to inspect the proposed silo. An inspection was also made of the river opposite the Pound cottage, which Board members considered would be an ideal site for the proposed baths. The Board was unanimously of opinion that it would be unwise to grant the site that the Mayor asked for, but were prepared to give them a site opposite the pound cottage.

The Mayor considered the site now proposed was too far away from the centre of the town, but Mr Nash pointed,out that in Palmerston North many people and school children Jqid to go one and a-half to two miles to tlie baths. The site suggested now for Eoxton, in his opinion, was a very central one.

The Mayor said he thought the Board was taking up a most unreasonable attitude in refusing to grant thesite asked for. Cr. Coley considered the Board’s offer was a very reasonable one, and in his opinion the site offered

was the more suitable of the two. Cr. Thompson said the Council

should consider the Board’s proposal, as also did Cr, Bryant, At the request of the deputation, the Board agreed to put their offer in writing, and the ‘ matter will be considered at the next meeting of the Borough Council.