LIFE-SAVING DEMONSTRATION

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1917, Page 8

LIFE-SAVING DEMONSTRATION

COMPETITION FOR TABOR SHIELD.

Tlie life-savins competition for the Tailor Shield, which tool; glace. oil the ;i = t End beach yesterday afternoon, proved interesting. There were about 200 people present. There was a heavy swell oil the beach, and t'he water wii3 somewhat cold. Only two teams entered, East End and Waitara.. ,

Uneli team consisted of seven men. On the word "Go!" the men lined up, numbered, and were instructed as to "their respective duties by the captain,. They took the reel and laid it in a convenient position oil the beach.. Then No. I',. the subject, started off at the run and swam to a buoy, moored about 200 yards out to sea. As soon as Xo. 1 had been given a fair start, No. 2, the support, followed, and a little later 'No. 3, who carried a lifebelt round rtiis armpits, swaan out to the rescue. Nos. 4, 5, and 0 stood by some distance out, and paid out the rope attaqhed to the lifebelt. No. 7 was stationed at the reel. When the subject readied the buoy, lie waited until No. 2 arrived, and then he assumed the role allotted to him. Nfl. 2 supported him until the arrival of the belt-man, who became tliie rescuer, and No. 2 then gave way_ and became signaller. On the latter giving the word, the .pull is commenced. As soon as the rescuers obtained a footing, the subject was carried on to a carpet above the water-line, and a member of the team applied resuscitativc measures. On these being completed, the team stood to attention, and was dismissed. The work was judged oil control, neatness; and speed. Waitara competed first, 'the team being: No. 1, <i. Anderson; No. 2, (J. Bird; No. 3, G. Hollar; No. 1, D. Brcmner (captain); Xo. 5, 11. McGarvy; No. C, R. Teller; Xo. 7, If. McAllister. In its first attempt the team was unfortunate. Anderson, who is a boy, swan: out to the .point arranged, and was closely followed by his support. No. IS had not gone far when his belt became loose, and he. was unable to proceed. The remainder of tiie programme was then abandoned.

East End followed. The members were: No. 1, M. Winter; No. 2, S. Bridger: No. 3,- W. Davis; Xo. 4, N. Winter (captain); No. 5, J. Cartwright; No. C, W. Jarvis; No. 7, B. Bellringer. The team completed the exercise. Waitara was given another opportunity, and, with Telfcr in Anderson's place as support, the team wont through the 'demonstration.

When the judges had computed tilic points, East End was given first place with 72 points, leaving Waitara second with 50 points. East End did the suviin out in 4min. 37 4-sese., and the return swim in (imin. 53 2-ssec. Waitara's times wen. Twin. 50 2-iisec. and 7mi;i. ISscc. respectively. The judges stated that both teams displayed excellent control and neatness. Waitara, u hicb made its first appearance in competition, lacked ski!) in some of the finer points. Waitara also showed lack of judgment l in not allowing sufficiently for the current when swimming out to the buov. Both teams were warmly applauded when they had "onipleted their parts. The judges were Messrs. P A. Schwartz and L. li. Stohr, and the timekeepers, Messrs. E. Whittle and D. J. Hughes. Mr. R. Bennoch, of the East End Reserve Committee, provided the competitors with refreshments.