SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 24 October 1910, Page 7

SWIMMING.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. The seventh annual meeting of the New Plvmouth Swimming Club was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening and was attended bv l<i members, Mr. H. Stocker occupying the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read and adopted as follows: —■ '■Your committee has to report a successful season as regards sport, and, taking all things into consideration, a very fair financial one. During the season a Large amount was spent in meeting the previous year's liabilities, and that, together with the lack of patronage, ac r counts for the credit balance of sixpence only. Some promising young swimmers have been brought out, mainly through the agency of the sevens-side relay competitions. The points prize for sweep-' ' stake races was won by Mr. S. Hawke, I with Mr. G. J. Hawkins second. These races created a good deal of healthy rivalrv, and we hope to see them continued. The water polo competitions ( provided: the best games and keenest rivalry since the opening of the competitions. East End again successful in retaining their hold on the shield, and have now won it seven years in succession. The Beach team woli the relay competition. Mr. James Smith presented a silver cup to the <ilub for a one-mile championship. Mr. E. Pfankuch won the event and holds the cup for the year. The distance swimming by children attending the West End school was even a greater success than the previous season. The girls again did far better than the boys, distances up to three miles being swum. Life-saving competitions were also held. Your committee has to report that there is a movement on foot to get the Manly Surf Club to visit New Zealand. New Plymouth will be included in the tour if a sufficient guarantee can be obtained."

Speaking briefly to the ma.tion to adopt the balance-sheet, the chairman said the club had: not a big credit balance, but he considered they had done very well, as the year had been stated with a liability of £7 10s. Further, they had not received much support from the public.

OFFICE-BEARERS. Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —President, Mr. W. L. Newman; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Smith, G. Tisch, and A. E. Watkins; club captain, Mr. F. Turnbull; vice-cap-tain, Mr. A. R. Standish; secretary and treasurer, Mr, G. P. Hawkins; hon. auditor, Mr.- K. Webster (re-elected); committee, captain and vice-captain (ex officio), Messrs A. L. Dixon, €. Brown, A. V. Stohr, C. Fairbrother and W. Lints; delegate to the centre, Mr. W. E. Atkinson ; handicapper, Mr. W. Lints. Fifteen members were proposed. COMPLIMENTARY.

It was unanimously resolved to elect Mr. H. Stocker a life member of the club in recognition of his services in the past. Mr,- Stocker suitably returned thanks. A vote of thanks to the Press (duly acknowledged by the "News" representative) -closed the meeting. ' VISIT OF MANLY " SURFERS." At the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Amateur Swimming Club on Saturday night, correspondence was read regarding the proposed visit of a team from the Manly Surf Club, N.S.W. It appears that the idea originated with a member of the Wanganui branch of the Life-savin* Society as. the result of witnessing demonstrations by members of the Manly Club, the visitor being much struck with the efficiency of the members, and the usefulness of the club as an open ocean beach. The request to send a team across to New Zealand was received (stated the letter in reply) by the Manly Club with great pleasure, and it was decided to send a team of ten and a manager, the team to include the surf-boat and a crew of five. -The inclusion of such swimmers in the team as Cecil Healy (champion of. Australia and captain of the club) and Nicko Healv (champion surf-sfiooter of New South Wales) would be hound to prove a great attraction. The financial arrangements and also the date of the .visit (Christmas being suggested) were left in the hands of the promoters.

After discussion on the matter of New Plymouth being visited by the team, Mr. Standish moved that a guarantee of £3O be given, subject to that amount being subscribed by the public, and that Messrs Dixon, Fairbrother and'F. K. Turnbull be a sub-committee to attend to the mattor. This was seconded by Mr. Stocker and carried unanimausly. The amount of the guarantee will, we feel sure, be readily forthcoming, for such an interesting and utilitarian branch of recreation as '•'surfing" will appeal strongly to all who give even the slightest consideration to the question of lifesavirg in any shape or form.