THE CAMBRIDGE BATHING PLACE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2591, 19 February 1889, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE BATHING PLACE.

TO niE KMTOR. Slit, —In the juint mimes of humanity and c-.mimon-sen.se, I ask to enter my pretest against the retention of the riverside bathing pkee us a public bath. How many more victims is the Waikato to claim ? I know the river from Ta\i|ir> to Tuakau, and strong swimmer though I am, I don't bulieve in taking any libeities with any portion of the stream between Taupo and the Narrows. Especially is t.ho river most dangerous when low. With plenty of water comparative safety may bn had ; but when at its lowest the river is most dangerous. Thn swift stream rushing over its rocky bed, mile after mile of bank which overhangs the water, the under-currents, the icy coldness of the lower depths ; what swimmer, even, could hope to pave himself if , anything went wrong? Turnbnll was a fine athletic fellow ; strong, and could swim well ; Selby could swim a little. Of course if everybody kept inside the fence of the bath no danger would be incurred, but who cares to bathe in two feet of water ? What is the alternative? We must teach our youngsters to swim, or we neglect a most important part of their education. So far as Cambridge is concerned, 1 say build a couple of dressing rooms near the old bath ing place at the lake. Away with the restrictions as to hours imposed by the Domain Uoard, insisting only on proper bathing costumes being worn. Cut down an acre or so of the reeds, for what are a few ducks in comparison with human lives ? There i: , a sloping bond, no current, lots of water, safety as noarly perfect as possible, and because a few prudes have said that it is indecent to allow bathing in the lako it is prohibited. Indecent—faugh !—T am, &c, Natatok. Cambridge, February ISth, 1889.