SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 107, 13 August 1910, Page 3

SWIMMING.

SURF-SHOOTING AS A SJK)RT. Mr. A. Dixon, secretary of the New Plymouth Swimming Club, has received a communication from Mr. A. F. Bignell, secretary of the Wanganui brancn of the Royal Life-Saving Society, in connection with the proposed visit ol a team from the Manly Surf Bathing Club, New South Wales. A member of the Wanganui branch in May last, witnessed a demonstration by the club at Sydney, and was very struck with the efficiency of the members and the i usefulness of the club upon an open bench. As a result of his report, the I Wangaiui branch communicated with I the club to find out whether they could bring a team to this Dominion, eitner at the end of this ,year or early m next, io give demonstrations and initiate us, into the pleasures pf surf-bathing, with a view to .establishing similar clubs. A reply has been received to uhe effect that the club can send a team to Wanganui consisting of ten men and including the surf boat and a crew! of five. The team would probably in-1 dude such swimming champions asj Cecil Healy, champion of Australia and captain of the club, Nick Healy, champion surf-shoo ter of New South Wales; T. Cunning, L. Jones, A Bye, W. A. Kellam A. Wright, and S. Wright; and the club secretary considers they would prove a 'big draw. Stan Jones and his crew gave an exhibition of surf-shooting at Newcastle last February in the presence of 20,000 people. Then comes the crux of the position: "My committee would like to hear from you as to •wiiat expenses you could allow us for the trip," and it is this portion of the negotiations which Mr. Bignell has mentioned to the local club. It is thought that the trip would cost about £3OO, and of this he would like to be able to Teport that clubs in the Dominion would contribute £2OO, the writer adding that Wanganui are "prepared to take *ur fair share of the guarantee and to do all in our power to make the visit profitable to ourselves and to our visitors." Mr. Dixon has written for further particulars, and especially with regard to the possibility of arranging for the Manly boys to pay New Plymouth a visit. Christmas time is suggested as the date of the visit, and doubtless the Seaside Improvement Committee »nd the local swimming club could arrange a big beach display at that time. We will hardly touch .the 30,000 attendance at the Manly C|ub's last carnival, put Taranaki would largely attend such a display.