EAST END BATHING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 336, 11 March 1910, Page 4

EAST END BATHING

VKS'IEKOAI'S i'llXlC. That the efforts of the East-End iiatiung tieserves Committee to provide improved laeilities at this popular spot are appreciated was evidenccU by the large crowd mat attended yesterday's picnic lieul for raising funds to complete the improvements. During t';e afternoon ihere must have been iuily 2000 people present, and in the evening ■nearly uoulHe thai number. i\o cluuge was made for admission, but collection, boxes, presided over by young ladies ill the afternoon and by members of the committee in the evening, were in vidence and brought .€2l 12s 4d. ijic committee worked hard, and from two o'clock in the afternoon until 10 at night there was hardly u moment that passed slowly. Large numbers' indulged in surf-bathing, the slight sea that was running tending to make the bathing more exhilarating. During the afternoon children's races were run, and kept going at intervals of about two minutes. At about 3.30 p.m. the members of the committee stepped upon tne n«w]y erected band platform, and Mr L. F. Web»ter (chairman), in a few words, called on Mr G. Tisch, Mayor of New Plymouth, to open the new building. He asked the public not to be too critical at present, as they had not had sufficient time or funds to do all they had intended to, but with the pr#ceeas of this entertainment they hop&i to do more. ,

Mr Tisch said that during his term as Mayor he had been called upon to do many pleasant functions, but none had given him greater pleasure than opening these new additions. For maay years he had advocated popularising the sea beach, which, <he considered, was a valuable asset to the town. The committee had done great work. Eight years: ago the loan had been obtained for the Municipal Baths, and part had been utilised in purchasing the picoia grounds mid erecting the East-End bathing shed. It was, however, only, recently that the public had taken sucn an interest in the beach. Very few towns.' had an esplanade of lour miles, from Te Henui to the breakwater, such as New Plymouth had, and he hoped they would have a carriage drive. Witfc a popular sea beach, our climate, recreation grounds, historic spots and Ml. Egmont in the background, New Plymouth should be an ideal residential town, as well as a tourist resort. They must, however, go in for tramways, and he intimated that after the Easter holidays he would actively move in this matter. He thanked all wtho had assisted the committee in erecting such a fine buildings, and was pleased mixed bathing had become so popular, us nothing was so 'healthful as sea bathing. At the conclusion cheers were accorded th» May«r and Mayoress. Races wer* then continued. The principal result# were:—

Married Ladies.—Mrs Cooper (Mangorei), 1; Mrs T. Hardgreaves, 2. Single Ladies'.—Miss Dairy Taylor, ); Antridge, 2. Football on the Sand.—After an amusing game ill - Hardgreave's team won. Tug of 'War.—The world beat the committee afrer two solid pulls. In the evening about 250 took part in the grand parade of bathers, and a crowd of about .">1)0 enjoyed a dip in ths briny. Laler on the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Anderson, rendered a good programme of music, whilst a nigger minstrel entertainment, given by a local troupe under Mr H. Moon, kept the crowd merry, the programme submitted comparing more than favourably with those of many professional companies. The lighting arrangements were first-class.

The alterations made by the committea were greatly "praised during the (]:iy. The men now have a dressing shed of 45ft x 20ft, with seating accommodation for 150, whilst there are clothes hooks for about 500. The ladies' shed adjoins; it is 45ft x 14ft, and divided into ten separate dressing boxes. Both lrave shower l>aths and other conveniences. The electric light ,is» installed throughout. Two bricked-in copper* have been fitted up for the supply of hot water for tea, etc., and water is laid on to them. A platform has been fitted wp for the use of the band n»r! entertainments, etc. All the work was done gratuitously by the committee, of which Mr S. F. Webster is cliairm#* and Mr Fletcher secretary. Mr J. W Thomson had charge of the refreshment tent, and did fair business.