DB. W. H. HOSKING'S GIFT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9554, 29 July 1909, Page 5

DB. W. H. HOSKING'S GIFT.

DISCUSSED BY THE LADIES' SWIMMING CLUB. A meeting of members of the Masterton Ladies' Swimming ulub was held in the Dominion Hail last evening, for the purpose of considering the new conditions under which Dr W. H. Hosking had renewed his offer to to provide funds for the erection of ladies' swimming buths. Tie chair waa occupied by Mrs J. W. Blackman, President of the Ciub. -His Worship the Mayor and Mr T. W. Mansfield attended by invitation. Correspondence that had taken place between the Doctor ard ths Executive of the Club since the original offer was withdrawn, was read. The Doctor, in his letter, clearly stated hi* wishes in regard to the gift of the house, land and car, but did not encumber the gift with any binding conditions. His Worship the Mayor stated that the Council had that evening decided to carry out the work in accordance with the expressed wishes of Dr Hosking. The work would be proceeded with as soon as the Ladies' Swimming Club handed to the Council the sum ot £SOO. If the Council had treated the original offer with the consideration.to which it was entitled, the work could have been proceeded with and the cheque received from the Doctor. It was entirely owh g to the energy of the members of the Ladies' Swimming Club that the situation had been retrieved, and the town as a ■whole waa under a debt of gratitude to the members of that body. The Borough Engineer was prepared to undertake the work, and guaranteed to carry it out for the sum of £SOO. The gift from Dr Hosking would probably realise more than that amount, and if it did he advised the Club to keep any sum in excess for , roviding apparatus that the club may desire at a later date. The members of the Ladies' Swimming Club had shown great tact in handling a subject that had been bungled by the Council, and they were deserving of every commendation for the practical lesults obtained in facj of the very definite statement made by Dr Hosking that his offer vas irrevocably withdrawn.

MrJ W. T. Mansfield clearly explained the construction of the baths as proposed by him. The plans were so drawn that as funds were available it wculd be possible, if desired, by heightening the walls, to roof the structure in to carry unlimited gymnastic appliances. When the baths were so roofed in, and a wooden floor provided, it could be converted into a dancing hall, skating rink, or for any other "similar purpose, when weather conditions made bathing undesirable.

Mrs J. Caselberg moved, and Mrs Perry seconded, that the Executive Committee'of the Mastev„M Ladies' Swimming Club be appointed to deal With Dr Hosking's gift, with power to act.—Carried. The offer made by Mr A. Snowball to instruct a class in connection with the club was accepted. At this Btage someone suggested Dr Hosking should be held to his original gift of £SOO. He had made that offer on conditions that had been complied with, and she thought the Doctor should be approached with the object of getting his cheque for £SOO rather than the section and house and the motor car. If the Doctor could be influenced to give the necessary money the work could be proceeded with at once. The Mayor made suggestions in reference to the manner in which the house, land and motor car should be disposed. He felt sure that if his proposals were adopted more than the £SOO required would be forthcoming. Tenders should be invited for the property and car per medium of the newspapers. On the motion of Mrs J. Caselberg, seconded by Miss Burnett, it was decided to call for public tenders as suggested by the Mayor, Votes of thanks were passed to his Worship the Mayor and Mr Mansfield for infornration supplied, and the meeting adjourned.