SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 10 December 1907, Page 3

SWIMMING.

By. -Nat.'' It may perhaps sem unfortunate that, owing to tne weather conditions, the Xew Plymouth Club committee had to defer the opening night until Friday, 13th inst. Jt is hoped, however, that the public taste for this class of entertainment has not yet been satiated, and that the club will receive sufficient support to controvert the old-time superstition regarding the bad luck attaching to the date. The list of events is as varied as could be wished for. In addition to the usual races for girls, boys and adults, there are competitions for graceful swimming (Seniors) and diving. The greasy boom should provide a good bit of fun, and it will be the more interesting from the fact that a prize is offered for the best costume (either comic or ornamental). I learn that a local gentleman, who interests himself in the baths and the welfare of the youth of the town, has contributed the handsome donation of £.3 towards the scheme for fitting up gymnastic apparatus at the baths. Thb, with other subscriptions already received and the proceeds of the recent entertainment, will enable the promoters to make an immediate start with the work. The present intention is to instil a water-chute and parallel bars. and additions will be made if and when funds permit. The press of the Dominion his been quoting largely from an article which appeared in a recent issue of the "Scotsman." referring to the extent to which commercialism permeates modern life—social and even domestic. The remarks regarding sport may he briefly put in one of our schoolday equations, narmely, th.it E varies conversely with the product of £». d.—E representing enthusiasm, and £ s. d. the prize-money or betting odds. How far that condition appertains locally I am not prepared to say, hut it is certainly a ease in which no stigma attaches to being

While walking in the vicinity of the baths lately I was surprised to see, apparently sticking out of the beach, a human head. My imagination completed the picture of a mermaid. But, no! the hair was too close-eropped for that. Was it the essence of a tragedy then? I wondered. Wrong again! The head moved, and showed itself to be attaehad to a body in bathing costume. Another of the same immediately followed. It eventually transpired that two local swimmers had been assisting the caretaker of the baths in the usual cleaning operations,, and, iiaviug completed the swimming pond, they undertook to scrub out the tunnel winch allows of the ingress and egress of the sea-water. Incidentally the action reminds me of the story told of an old Yorkshire lady, whose ideas of scrupulous cleanliness caused her to black-lead and polish the tram-lines in trout of her house every morning. The opening of baths at Stratford, and the iormation of a club there, will enhance the claim that a Centre should be formed in Taranaki, and, 1 have no doubt, the claim will be pressed and conceded in due course. 1 note th.it the Stratford Borough Council has decided to give a free water supply for the baths. That is perhaps an unusual course; but since our neighbours receive a fairly copious sprinkling of the commodity—indeed, well nigh 'too much

of a good thing"—one would naturallv expect the council to deal lavishly. Toe official opening t-ikcs place on the Hub inst.. when a swimming entertainment will be given in the afternoon and a concert in the evening. A copy of the programme for the former can be seen at New Plymouth baths, and entries for the various events will be received there until to-night (10th inst.). A fair contingent of local swimmers have already signified their intention to compete.