SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 217, 19 October 1909, Page 4

SWIMMING.

(By "Splodge.") There is a number of camps springing up on the beach down towards th-i Breakwater, and it seems as though this summer the beach will lie thickly populated. One of these camps, in particular, is composed almost solely oi prominent members of the Swimming Club, who consider that the open-air treatment will make them more fit than usual. J. noticed them the other day indulging' in a game of water polo, and hear it is their intention to have a'team of their own this year, in addition to the East and West End teams. With three teams the competition for the Shield should be more interesting, though from present indications , it seems as if the "beach-combers" will have .the pick of the players; but if this turns out so, the strength of the respective teams would probably be adjusted a little to make them as even as possible. The committee of the Swimming Club met on Saturday night for the purpose:* of appointing a secretary in place of Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. A. L. Dixon consented to take over the duties pertaining to that, position. Mr. Dixon lias ■previously tilled the office very capably, for several seasons, in fact, if 1 remember rightly till last season, and the Cluh is very fortunate to again obtain his services. .Mr. C. Brown was elected to till the place on the committee rendered vacant by Mr. Dixon taking over the secretaryship. The membership of Che club this' year should show a derided increase on last year's numbers, which could be easily doubled bv an energetic committee. The Hawera Club lias for the last few seasons hud a membership of something like ninety, which is, I believe, about three times the number on the local club's hooks. Surely if Kawcra has that meinbers'hip we should lie aide to have it here with our 'population of about double theirs. The subscription here, too, is so small that the eoneessimi allowed .by the. Borough, Comic.l or season tickets at, the baths for r.lnb members covers it.

.1 understand there is a probability of Auckland getting the N T . Z. Champinas'hip meeting this year. If that is the case it is hoped that the club will be represented . A polo team at any rate should be obtainable here which could hold its own with most other clubs, amd even if nbt successful tlilere is nothing like experience to teaoh. The Canterbury Centre is getting in early. They are holding or luve held already this' month a sports meeting to start a fund to send representatives to the X. X. meeting. T might add that they have tepid baths in Christclmrcc.. It was the Canterbury Centre that Vfon the Polo Haulier last year at Timaru, and tlmv evidently mean to retain it this year. I would prefer myself to see a' club team win this banner, but I believe either a club or a centre team can compete. Of course, in Polo even more than in most games, combination means a great deal, so that a club team ih-'rt. is strong is generally as good as a representative centre team.