The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1886. AQUATICS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2415, 2 October 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1886. AQUATICS.

Afbw yoars ago a general interest was taken in Masterton in aquatic prowess. Largo numbers of young persona trained in tbo Waipoua for swimming tournaments, and bathing was universal, For the last two suinuiera there has been a marked fulling off ia public interest in aquatic exercises, but we are gratified to notice that there ia now boiuo chance of a rovival of them. Tho present genial weather has brought out a troop of bathers, and some' of them are anxious to resuscitate the aquatic sports which formerly wore eelobrated in our local stream, A clear flow of river water through a town is an immense boon to the health of the community, and every effort should be madj to take full advantage of it. We (ear that our municipal authorities have not been sufficiently careful to prevent the Waipoua from being fouled, and that the defilement of the stream has been one cause of the falling off in the attendance of bathers at the river. The people of Masterton have a legal as well as a moral right to pure water in the Waipoua, and it rests with those who disire this privilege to assert their claim to havo it conceded. The Borough Council is empowered by law to establish if necessary public baths for tha benefit of the community, and the time will no doubt arrivo when it will be called upon to provide suitable bathing accommodation on the Waipoua, In the meantime it is essential that the stream should be kept pure,

and as soon us financial considerations will allow, bathing places should be constructed which will enable the female as well the male population to enjoy the luxury of bathing. The Waiponu may be made a treasure of health to Masterton if a right use be made of the stream, and we hope to hear soon of some organisation being attempted to improve the state of the river and its facilities for bathing.