There was a good crowd at the railway station to give them a welcome, and they were met by members of the executive of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, headed by Mr J. A. Park (president), and motored to the Grand Hotel, where they were accorded a reception.
A noteworthy incident at the station was the advent of a Hawaiian resident here, who, in his pride of his countryman's prowess, appeared on the scene with the Hawaiian flag and a couple of garlands, these explaining the figure the two men made when proceeding up Lower High Street.
Mr Park extended a welcome in some brief appropriate words, and Mr Evans, in replying, said that they highly appreciated the handsome welcome they had received.
It had not been exceeded even in Australia.
Duke Kahanamoku also spoke of the kindness of the reception, and said that although he had had a heavy time, he would do his best at the tournament in the evening.
Mr Williams, in the course of a few remarks, said that there was a tendency to handicap Duke Kahanamoku out of events, forgetting the strenuous competitions he had gone through.
In the evening, under the auspices of the centre, a swimming tournament was held at the municipal baths.
The attendance was very large and the enthusiasm was intense.
The Hawaiians were, of course, the feature of the display, but all the events were well contested, and the whole meeting was an excellent one.
Kohanamoku and Cunha were set down on the programme to appear in the heats of the Interclub Handicap Race of 100yds and the Interclub Dash Handicap of 33 1-3yds.
It was explained, however, that they would give better exhibitions if they only appeared in the finals.
Both appeared in the final of the 100 yards, when Kahanamoku established a fresh record for New Zealand, beating his Christchurch and Timaru times (57sec) by 2sec.
Kahanamoku, however, did not appear in the dash at all, reserving himself for a display which he gave immediately after.
Much has been said of his style, and to see how he forges his way through the water is certainly a treat - marvellous, was the verdict of the swimming fraternity round the bath's edge.
• Though a great deal of agitation was necessary on the part of motorists before the Taieri County Council agreed to open the Brighton road for that class of traffic instances have already occurred of breaches of the speed regulations on this road by a few irresponsible individuals.
At the meeting of the Taieri County Council yesterday the chairman (Cr Freeman) reported that a sub-committee has waited on the Motor Club in regard to the control of traffic on this road, and it had promised the council all the assistance in its power in regard to that matter.
It had under consideration the question of sending out officials during holiday periods in order to bring offenders to book, and that course should have the desired effect.
• The gradual decline in the use of sailing vessels for overseas commerce is clearly illustrated in the monthly abstract of statistics issued by the Government.
Whereas 229 sailors entered New Zealand ports from foreign countries in 1904, only 8 did in 1913.
The decline has been gradual each year. - ODT, 27.2.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
