The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888. Public Baths.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3033, 20 October 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888. Public Baths.

Now that the weather ia sufficiently warm for that most healthy and exhilarating pastime, out door bathing, we are reminded that iu the public interests it is very desirable that certain arrangements should be made to provide the young people of this town with suitable bathing facilities. Io is the duty of a Borough Council to supply the people with baths, but in a town of the dimensions of Masterton we can hardly expect the Council to incut'other than a nominal expenditure upon such a project, It is, however, within its power to give a certain amount of aid in the direction of affording bathers facilities, and assistance of such a character no doubt will bo cheerfully rendered. The people of Mastertoi; possess in the Waipoua, an admirable and convenient river for bathing, but unfortunately (ho Council lias permitted wool scouring works to bo established on the banks of this stream in tho centre of the town and east of Queen street, the watar is. too impuro to answer the purpose of bathers, It follows therefore that oithertho water should bo protected from wool scouring' operations, or a bathing site fixed upon above the wool works. From all wo can learn it would be easy with a very modovato outlay to establish a good swimming ground at the back of Villa street, which would be easily accessible, In order to do thisitwouldbe necessary to obtain permission from'both the County and Borough Councils to establish a bathing shed at such a spot, aud to be able' to exercise a reasonable aniount of control over the part of the stream set apart for bathing. We would suggest that a public batlnng olnb should bo at once organised with this object, A body of this kind, if it included on its roll the young men of this town who are iu tho habit of frequenting the river wpuld necessarily command considerable weight with both the County and Borough Councils and be ablo to. obtain concessions which would prevent the river beingpoisoned for man and fjsli above Masterton in jthp sail)? way (hat it jias ])eg|j corrupted below.the town. portion of a beautiful and health-giving stream has already been converted into a foul-pelling unwholesome current through tho apathy pf those who have been wont to use the river for recreation and ablution. Tho old swimming ground, whero aquatic sports wore oji.co held, is now defiled, and we would ask the qf JUiistfivton who lake an interest in (iwinnnjngpd Ashing to organise to protect the upper p0 ef the stream < from ,a similar pollution. If onpea Strong bathing club be fQriuqd and ! Councils, upppr parjt'flf jfe i stream will be safe, 'lt if! Bflpje i disgrace to Masterton that with suolj ■

a line river running- through tlio town tliero is at the. present time no convenient ! -anil' . suitable' bathing accommodation, v