Band Rotunda and Swimming Baths.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 5 December 1903, Page 2

Band Rotunda and Swimming Baths.

The band rotunda erected to commemorate the coronation of King Edward the Seventh was officially opened on. Thursday afternoon., by His Worship the Mayor, in the presrate of a large gathering of the public. The Garrison Band opened the p"occedii»gs with a .selection. There ivere on the plastform : Mr K.; Cock. Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., Mrs Smith. Mr Dockrill (ex-Mayor), Mrs Dockrill, Mi- King- (Mayor of Stratford), Mr J. S. oreig (Stratford), Obappell (chairman of the Wuitara Town Hoard), several Councillors and the Town Clerk (Mr F. T. Bellringer), His Worship reach apologies from the Mayors of Inglewood and Hawera, and then proceeded to open the rotunda. He paid a tribute to the late Mayor, Mr E. Dockrill, for his efforts in securing the site,which he thought could lie* made ;as attractive as tire Recreat ion Grounds. He then declared the rotunda open, ami christened the icserve "Kawaroa," a Maori name for the long reef near by. The Garrison Band played the National Arit'heiii.

Jli E. Dockrill next addressed the gathering, detailing the steps taken by him in endeavouring to obtain the freehold of tin; Ivawaroa reserve for the borough from the School Commissioners. Mr E. M. Smith, ihad helped him, but they had to be content with a lease of vlie land. He still hoped, however, that the freehold would be obtained. At any rate, the reserve would never lie lost to the borough. He congratulated the burgesses on the erection of the rotunda and swimming baths, and referred to the fact that t'he present Mayor and Councillors had successfully carried out the projects of their predecessors. Ihese improvements would tend to make New Plymouth one of the most attractive towns in the colonv. An adjournment wus made to the new municipal saltwater baths, where the Town Band opened the proceedings. The Mayor addressed the assemblage, pointing out that the baths were t\?ice the size originally intended, costing about £3OOO. He •did not think that the ratepayers would object to' the extra taxation caused by the erection of the baths, since by their means the town would •be made more attractive to country visitors, and there were material benefits for townspeople as, well. He paid a tribute to t'he contractors, Messrs Boon Bros., and to Mr Tisch, 'ami tlren formally declared the b-aths open. Mr Tisch nai'd this was a red-let-ter day for New Plymouth. For years ho a:ml others had worked with the end of securing baths for the town, so that residents and visitors alike might enjoy sea-flmthing without danger from waves or fear of sharks. They had confined Neptune here, there were hot and cold shower baths, and the Borough Council was erecting baths at Te Henui, so New Plymouth had been relieved of the stigma which had attached itself to the town that in hpite of the proximity of the sea, it was impossible to obtain sea-baths except in I'avouralble conditions of tide and weather. He said the baths Mere for the public, not entirely for Swimming and Polo Club 6, aind he hoped to see school children of this and inland towns using them. Mr King, Mayor of Stratford, made some happy remarks ahout the prosperity of New Plymouth, which, lie said, was plainly evident. He prophesied a great future for the town when the ironaumd and- harbour proposals were mode accomplished facts. Mr Tisch then took a header into the bath, amid much surprise and iaughter. THE SPORTS.

The sports then commenced. The most energetic officials were Messrs ' ' , 'W ,j y. H. M. Bauchope (secretary) , p. li. Hoss> F . stohp ' (a^n _ er). K. Hadlield and Bellringer (judges), P. Moore, M. J, Jon«s Uioomo J h. and W. Parker (timekeepers) In S pi te o[ consM<jrable TODd T.iT' th ° an ' at> ff e "'ents were good, but some improvement was 'l'h'n S ' ,a ' U l ' lu "Hit/hod of starting, rhe racing and diving were excellent, and the large crowd of spectaoulh" ft " d ° f tbe tnjojed the progiramme more especially the polo co t ™ ' 25 Vaixls Handicap.— Ist heat • Ihbiniwon, 2 S ec, 1 ; Tansey, Bsec •>' 7 i , 3ld ' h<mt : Parley. 2see i • Black■ 2sec, 2. B , uce was first in starttoT' i'T Wa T <iiS(tualifl « l for slai tmg before his time. Final • 1 hompson 1, Bossett 2. A £no inn J'"" 1 - 16 heat: a'd V ; 2. R,w) ,V 1 hompson, lOsec, l • Hodge, Usee, a. Final : Basskt Y jrvpsz**' •• **•

ll,™ J. Over £2O was taken at the door. Egmont Licensing Committee. The ordinary quarterly mueting of tlio Kgmont, Licensing Committee was held on Thursday .at Waiinra. All tile member wore present except Mr McDonald. Mr Stanford, S.M., presided. A transfer of the Wuitara .Hotel l'rom P. E. Dover to T. Dooley was conlirmod, Mr Wright, of fiovett and Quilliam, ap[>eared for the traiisferep.

A packet license was granted to the Northern S. S. Co. /or the s.s. Kiora, trading' 'li-tween Waitara, Raglan, Kawhia, and Onehunga. lie the .Mount Egmont Hotel, Midhirst, Constable Kyan reported that this hotel was in neod of sanitary improvements and wanted gravel in the stable-yard.—The clerk was directed to notify the licensee to effect the required improvements Mention was made by Mr Thomson of the 1 ng,lewood Hotel mutter which had previously boon befkre the Committee. Constable Davey reported that the plans of the new building were now in hand, and he would be able to report more fully by next meeting. The meeting then adjourned.