WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1919, Page 3

WAITARA.

OPENING OF SWIMMING BATHS. - (3Vom Our Own Correspondent). Waitara, March 1. The school committee had an ideal day for their carnival at the official open- | ing of the school baths. The competitors and a large number of children who were not competitors enjoyed the facilities for bathing. Mr. Ford, after explaining what led up to the idea of building baths, thanked the Education Board, the public and the Waitara Racing Club for the financial assistance given in the matter, and complimented Mr Lucas on the good workmanship he had put into the bath. Mr. Masters, chairman of the Board, said the bath was undoubtedly a great acquisition to tho town, and the town, was fortunate in having a committee with progressive ideas. He thought that swimming should be taught in all schools and form a part of the national system of education. An idea existed outside of Waitara that it was a slow, easy going place, and he thought this was due to the fact that tfie place was not advertised enough. However, they had now placed a man on the Education Board who would help, and, if the school did not get all it wanted it would not be Mr. Buchanan's fault. He hoped that as a result of the carnival the debt on the baths would be liquidated. Mr. Jennings, M.P., next speaker, said that on the continent every school had its baths and he would like to see that example followed here. He hoped the public would help the lommittee to get out of debt and that the Waitara children would hold their own in the contests that afternoon. Mr. R. Morgan (mayor) raid the batlis were an example of what could be accomplished by a body of men pulling together. All children should be encouraged to make use of the grand asset the school now possessed. Mr| S. G. Smith, M.P., congratulated the committee on having built such up-to-date baths. Mr. Masters then formally opened tlu baths. The events were:—Swimming—Boys from 11 to IS years, iirst heat Cyril Tate 1, Lw Cole 2; 3econd htat, R. Towler 1, W. Ogier 2; final, C. Tate 1. Boys under H: R Carmichael and Rov Clare dead heat. R. Carmichael won "in the swim off. 50 yards race open to all school boys: First heat. H. Skelton 1, Cvril Tate 2: 2nd heat C. Fairley 1. The final is to be got olf at school. Gir.s' novice race: Jean Graham 1, E. Goddurd 2. G'rte' open race, 25 yards: Doris Ellis 1, Jean Mann and Mavis Jones dead heat 2 100 yards open .race: W. Rees (Inglewooli 1, G. Bayley 2. Cork race: First heat C. Fairley 1, H. Skelton 2; second heat, R. Carmichael 1, R. O. Sullivan 2. In the diving competitions C. Tate was first ii nd C. Grayling 2 for the neatest header In diving for plates T. Seott, was easily first fetching 8 plates out of' nine thrown in. A tub raec was won by L'io. Cole. An exhibition of fancy diving and a relay race wa? given bv inglewood visitors. Riding a barrel" and a greasy boom caused a lot of fun. The SToss takings for the afternoon amounted to £53 16s 2d. Afternoon tea—Mesdames H. Spunlle, W. T. .Toll, A. J. Arms, F. Clare, J. Brough, R. Miiselmmp, and \\\ Nosworthy £5 10s; produce— Mesdanic Wyllie and Eraser £ll 5s 2d. including £3 donated by Mrs. T. Elliot. Sweets ice creams, soft drinks—Mesdames A Young, G. >.orwortliy, T. R. Ford £l3 13s lid, bran tub, Miss Evans £1 S? lOd, admission inonev £5 14s 3d, a guessing competition for"a cake, presented by Mrs R.Musehamp and canvassed for by Miss W. Tate realised £6 6s. J. wo donations of 10s were also received The dance in the Clifton Hall in the evening realised £8 lis. The committes have reason ,-.<> congratulate themselves on the financial success of the function

The Mayor welcomed Private Gordon Trim, who arrived from the front < Wednesday night.