ST. KILDA BOWLING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 59

ST. KILDA BOWLING CLUB.

CONCERT AND PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The wind up of the bowling season was celebrated by St. Kilda Club holding a smoke 'ocial in the Town Hall on Friday e^emng. when about 75 bowlers, Lncludinz

You will see that Skip 2 lo=,t his first game, yet he won the third prize, showing that this system is much better than the sudden death one.

Xo«f. as to the 48 skips who won two and lost one game, any oae of these can drop out ro.v if they «o wish, but if they wish to play in the Otago match, each rink to contribute IDs towards a prize, the association to subsidise that amount. The 48 rinks to be ballotted into 8 sections of 6. The six rinks in each section to play five games.

Good keen games should result, as rinks are equally matched, each having yon two and lost one of the three games in the first

The winners of the 8 sections to play off for the first, second 1 , and third prizes, as in the Association match.

Did I adopt in. this match the same system as in the Association match, each rink playing 3 games, the leasers in first match would have no interest in continuing, whereas as now played their interest will continue right through.

Now as to the 48 skips who won 1 and lost 2 games, and the 16 skips who lost 3 games. These to bo balloted into sections of 10, each r.nk playing 5 games, each paying 10s for prize fund. This match to be played in same manner as the Otago match, and to be called the Wellington match.

Please note that no rink can enter for tha Otego and Wellington matches if they have • not played in the Canterbury match. 220 games will require to h& played in tho Canterbury match. 133 games* will require to be played in t&flh Otago match. 175 games will require to be played in tH4 Wellington match. 528 games as against 477 as proposed by, Executive. My programme entails 51 more games. I take it that there will be 56 rinks available in Christchurch, so the 51 games would onljj nnriiD\ three hour 3 more u'.ay

invited guests, attended. The first hour was whiled away in card-playing, sides being chosen for the president and vice-president respectively, the game resulting in a win for the president.

Amongst those present from sister clubs by invitation were the following: — Messrs C. J. Payne (president N.Z.8.A.), T. K. Sidey, M*H.R. (Caversham). L. Pope, J. H. Hancock (St. Clair), M. W. Green. A. C Alcock. C. E. Jones, A. M'Dougalf, F. Wilkinson, A. W. Crawford (Roslyn), J. Aitchison (Green Island), T. G. Young, J. A. Hopcraft, W. Alloo (Dunedin), C. E. Keast and J. Dee (Caledonian).

The Chairman (Mr J. M. Gallaway, vicepresident of St. Kilda Club) read "several apologies for non-attendance, prominent amongst which were those from Mr J. Wedderspoon and Mr R. Sandilands, after which he proposed the toast of '"The N.Z. Bowling Association.'' The executive of th& association had given a great deal of attention to the game, and Mr Payne, who was present that evening, was a gentleman they were all indebted to for the manner in which the affairs of the association were carried out. Mr Gallaway. amongst other things, made eulogistic reference to the well-worked-out systems under which the various tournaments had been conducted, paying particular praise -to the. Kaituna" Club for its successful tournaments periodically held on the Kaituna Green. He called on the company to join with him in heartily wishing success to the N.Z.B.A. and its executive. The toast was enthusiastically received.

Mr Payne, in responding, said his term of office was about to expire. He had so often responded to this toast that there was nothing new left for him to say. Speaking of bowling, he had learnt a lesson from a couple of St. Kilda colts at Oamaru. He was pleased to notice a club like St. Kilda petting on. The president of th© association had his troubles and trials, but he (Mr Payne) had gradually found that a few explanations usually put on good terms those who fancied they had a grievance. In reference to the Exhibition tournament programme, although many had prophesied trouble, everything had turned out as the executive had planned. It was anticipated that when the conference came off at Christchurch last week there would have been trouble, but when the position was put before the Christchurch bowlers and everything explained the. original programme was carried in toto. Mr Payne mentioned rjhat outsiders really did not thoroughly recognise the hard work put in by the executive. He was confident that these who now had the handling of bowling would carry out their duties with

credit, and that bowling would continue to be a leading pastime. — (Cheers.)

Mr J. H. Hancock had the toast of " St. Kilda Green " placed in his hands. The time was rapidly approaching, he said, when St. Kilda Club would have to be recognised as one of the leading clubs in the district. They had the green, they had the men, and they had the money. In regard to th© progress made by St. Kilda bowlers, it was plain that there was the material in St. Kilda of which first-class bowlers were made. He sDoke from experience; they had met St. Clair and beaten them. At, Oamaru he had taken a keen delight in watchinsr the good play of St. Kilda bowlers, and they must all recognise that this club would soon make irs mark. — (Cheers.)

Mr J. E. Allen then sang an original composition, which met with hearty appreciation, the concluding four lines of which paid a well-deserved tribute to the absent president (Mr T. S. Culling).

Mr Ga'.lawav. on behalf of St. Kilda, thanked Mr Hancock for the kindly manner in which ho had spoken of the St. Kilda Club. He regretted that their worthy president (Mr Culling) was not amongst "them. The members, he -knew, intended to follow the advice given them by experienced bowlers from other clubs. The c!ub had been a boon to St. Kilda, and, further, he might say that in bowling the good and bad qualities were brought .out. As regarded their green, he paid a compliment to their caretaker (Mr Mitchell). They had got hold of a good man, and from the work he had put in he (Mr Gallaway) was satisfied that it was only a matter of time when the St. Kilda Club would do itself credit. He expected a fair increase in the membership next season, and that the club would keep on improving he had not the slightest doubt.

Mr J. J. Marlow was deputed to present the prizes. He mentioned that there had been only three contests on the green during- the season. It was, he was convinced, an incentive to bowlers to play for trophies. He instanced the fact that not only had the younger members of the club been successful in winning trophies, but the oldest members of the club had their share. He then handed over the prizes as follows: —Champion of St. Kilda Club, Mr. W. Taylor (who made an elaborate speech, piving advice, to young bowlers, telling that he intended to strive and win again, said he coveted the honour of being champion, spoke in kindly words of the press, and intimated that next season he would offv a gold medal for competition) : president's prize, Mr W. T. Brundell; club doubles,

Messrs W. Taylor and W. T. Brundell. M* Marlow also presented the prizes won ai the St. Kilda Easter tournament, the recipients being W. Blackwood (Kaitn- • H Howes, A. W. Crawford, lcinson (doubles) and T (sin pries).

" The Prize-winners'' was then ».»._ .. toasted.

Mr J. Fothergill spoke of Mr J. E; Allen's interest in connection with the Musselburgh Musical Society. He had been detv^ri to oresent Mr Allen with a walking" token of "the esteem in -whiclt

'. Mr Gallaway, also, in a .oh. spoke of Mr departure lov Greymouth. and trusted that in his' new sphere on the West Coast every success would attend him. He concluded- by wishing Mr Allen every success, and trusted that he would some day return tb his old club and renew acquaintance. Mr Gallaway then handed Mr Allen a set of bowls, the

recipient suitably responding.

" The Visitors" was entrusted to Mr J". D. Stoneham, who spoke of the "ploughed fields." bowlers had to occasionally play oft.St. Kilda was determined that the --green was to be one that visitors would want to come backf to play on\ ~ Mr T. G. Young responded on behalf of the Dunedin Club. He congratulated the' St. Kilda Club on its progress. Mr L^ Pope. Mr' M". W. Green (president Roslyn), Mr T % .K. Sidey. (president" Cavershata), Mr, J. Aatchisoi> (Green- Island) also responded.' The following contributed to the musical' portion of the programme: — Song, Mr • Downinsr; song. Mr Hopcraftr clarionet solo,- Mr Brundell; sonp. Mr Eagar; recitation. Mr Allen; sone. Mr Newman ; songr, Mr Jacobsen;"son£f. Mr Downing : songs, Messrs Cameron, J. Jago, and Ewing. The proceedings terminated shortly after 11 o'clock.

The Waihi Grand Junction Cio\d Mining Company at Waihi has expended £160,000 upon its property, and has not yet received any return.

Coming events cast their shadows before (•says the Orepuki Advocate). A repair of the shale work 3 tramway has been, commenced. It is intended to replace all decayed sleepers by fresh -ones of white pine. Dr Roth, Protector of Aborigines, has rereived a letter from Thursday Island stating that some of the Gear tribe had foundon the Barrier Reef, at Dallar Island, near Murray Island, an ancient piece of cannonof brass or bronze about 3ft long and. weighing about 701b. Two other larger cannon were elese by. but could not- be removed because of their size.