MARTINBOROUGH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 7

MARTINBOROUGH

CENTENNIAL BATHS OPENING ON KING'S BIRTHDAY. ("Times-Age" Special.) The King's Birthday was a red letter day in the history of Martinborough, in that the opening of the Centennial memorials marked another step in the progress of the town. Favoured with a beautiful day everything passed off without a hitch, in the presence of a large assemblage of townspeople and visitors from Wellington and elsewhere. Several caravan owners took advantage of the facilities of the new camping ground, and expressed their satisfaction of the provision made for their comfort. Punctually at 2 p.m. the proceedings opened with the singing of the National and New Zealand anthems which were played by the Municipal Band, after which the Mayor (Mr C. W. Skill) addressed those present and detailed the history of the Centennial projects. He said the fine baths provided were the culmination of a cooperative effort by residents of the town and district, to whom he expressed sincere thanks.

Mr A. B. Martin, chairman of the Featherston County Council, congratulated the town on its choice of a useful memorial, and expressed satisfaction at what this county had done it help the proposal. Mr H. Lawson, president of the Wairarapa Automobile Association, expressed his pleasure at the fine camping ground and the thoughtful care for the needs of campers. His association had been pleased to assist. He formally declared the ground open. Mr A. Keir, president of the Caravan Club, referred to the ever-increas-ing number of caravans, and expressed satisfaction at the layout and facilities provided in the new ground. As one who used many of the camping grounds of the North and South Islands, he considered the Martinborough ground one of the best he had seen and predicted that members of his association would be very constant visitors to it.

Mr F. Gray, on behalf of the many helpers associated with the project, presented the Mayor with a framed plan of the ground, for which the Mayor returned thanks and said it would be placed in the Council office. The Mayoress, amid cheers, unlocked the baths door and declared them open, after which the Carnival Queens (Misses Joyce Grant and K. Smith) plunged into the water and cut the ribbon stretched over the pool. A programme of races followed.

MAN DROWNED FATALITY IN NEW BATHS. A sad fatality took place at the new baths shortly after noon yesterday, when a young man named John Findlay, aged 19 years, lost his life by drowning. The caretaker said he saw the unfortunate man standing on the steps at the deep end of the baths, but could not say whether he slipped or jumped into the water. Mr Findlay was an indifferent swimmer, and a companion named Russell McCardle, seeing him in difficulties threw off his coat and plunged into the water after throwing a lifebuoy which Mr Findlay failed to secure. Mr Findlay grappled with Mr McCardle and drew him under, and it was with difficulty that the latter reached the side of the bath to be pulled out of the water exhausted. Mr Findlay in the meanwhile had disappeared and the caretaker immediately went for help and medical aid. Mr C. W. Skill hurried to the scene and aided by a young man named Craig, who had come to the baths for a swim, managed to bring Mr Findlay ashore. Efforts at resuscitation were immediately applied and continued for some three hours without success. Deceased was very popular in the town, and his untimely death is deeply deplored.