GRAND BEACH GALA.

Otaki Mail, 22 February 1922, Page 2

GRAND BEACH GALA.

BEING ARRANGED IN OTAKI. At the conclusion of the Mardi Gras meeting- on Monday evening a further meeting >vas held to consider the proposed life saving and swimming carnival to be held at the beach. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Brandon), who presided over a good attendance of citizens, explained that a little while back there was almost a fatality on the bench, and tlic Borough. Council instructed the Town Clerk to make enquiries with the object of procuring a life-saving reel for Otaki. One result was a free offer from Mr D. J. Reardon, of "Wanganui, of a life-saving reel and gear. Not only that out Mr Reardon proposed bringing down a life-saving team from Oastlecliff to give a demonstration on the Otaki beach. Mr Byron Brown had now taken the matter up with the idea of making a gala day by holding a series of competitions between various life-saving clubs, as well as. promoting other aquatic events, and in an incredibly short time had collected over £3u for prizes. A big demonstration of this kind would create interest in a life-saving club here ami induce the young men of the district to join such a useful institution. The Mayor then called on Mr Byron Brown to address the meeting. Mr Brown said he was convinced that Mr Reardon's offer to bring a life-sav-ing team to Otaki could be made into something very much bigger by getting the life-saving clubs between "Wellington and Wanganui to come along and take part in a demonstration and aquatic sports. ft would be made a gala day for the whole district, and itwell organised would attract a big i crowd and earn a considerable amount | of money. As showing the interest 1 there was in the gala proposal. Mr I Brown said be did not moot with one refusal in the short time ho was collecting the £3O. He was certain of collecting a few more pounds in Wellington. but he considered the money in hand ample- for their purpose. A £lO prize could be given for the best lifesaving team and £3 10s second. He thought that prize-money sutHcient to bring teams here. He was returning to Wellington the following day, and would interview the clubs there, trom which he thought entries were assured. All they had to consider that night was a programme, and .there was no reason * why. if properly organised and boosted, the gala day demonstration should i lie a big success and go a long way to wards advertising llie town and the beach. The Mayor thought the meeting should form a committee right away to arrange the preliminaries for the carnival. It was unanimously decided to go on with the proposal, and on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Brown. Mr E. M. Mosley was unanimously appointed secretary of the movement. All present were constituted a. cotsmi t toe. In reply to th«- Mayor, Mr Brown stated that Saturday, March J Ith, would be a favourable time for the carnival, as it would be low water betewcen 3 and 1 m the afternoon. He thought this state* of the tide wouVi suit such events as the greasy pol" ? -u imming races, etc. The Mayor suggested that an exc-oa* five bo formed to attend to detail aci call the committee together as occasion required. He moved that Messrs A H. Wills. <:. K. Gotten*!!, A. J Podevti.. R. Carkeck and Byron Brown with ■he mover, be the executive. "Ihe motion was carried In reply to Mr Brown, the Mayor i stated that the object of the carnival | might be decided later, j Mr Cot tere.li considered that a del* 1 niff object should be stated now. j Mr Wilis f-aid that nothing had. b*«! said that evening about the life-savin? club, and what expense was involved or what was expected of members. The Mayor said that Mr Brown w collecting information from the dubs in Wellington, and would i epor in due coarse. Mr A>tmore suggested that from UaF of three-quarter till.; would be betts. for the proposed carnival, but the qtw lion was left to the executive to firu; 1v settle. Befoie the meeting dispersed. Mayor said ’lie largo attendance *t»‘ evening was very gratifying. augured well for the success of the & monst ration. “As regards such c* ters os the weather and the tide 1 will be arranged satisfactorily if ? C 'S will let the Borough Council know ’Laughter). Support From Wellington. In a letter to Mr Mosley this -nC-tt ing. Mr Byron Brown states that was in touch with the life savers *■ Wellington all yesterday and Mr Healey, an ex-champion ! mer, was bringing a number oi" to Mr Brown’s office to talk, this? over. “The officials of the i Centre are very enthusiastic over “ I proposed gathering,” Mr Brown Ft--' 1 “and they are sure that lot* of ‘*",l | mars and tile saver* will be delight to eome to Otak:. Everything po~' , to a real gain, day on llarci; ii- I *, • 1 will be able to give you all infers* tioii about Thursday. In the “tv-C * rime look up ne more ot tr.e ui l * ! .ports ana raise a few more pounds *•' I prize money. Let us see that Of'-* makes up ior its littleness by the • pess of its generosity, ’'