THE BOWLING SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 248, 19 October 1893, Page 5

THE BOWLING SEASON.

OPENING ON SATURDAY,

"Yk Oldo English Game of Bowls " is evidently as favourite a pastime in Auckland in tho present year of graco aa it was in tho tnerry England of several hundred years ago, judging by tho increased vitality that hiiH taken place in the game as compared with last year. The prospects of the forthcoming soaaon are of a vory rosoate buo indeed, and an unusual amount of interest is being displayed in tho sport. Bowling of last year was confined in Auckland to one club only, but since the closo of the poason two now combinations have been formed with good memberships, and their formation has nob weakened tho strength of the parent society to any appreciable oxtonb. The chief interest in the coming season will be centred in tho doings of the Auckland Bowling Club, as the grounds of the two new societies will nob be in a fit condition for club or inter-club matches. Howevor, by next year it is anticipated that everything will bo in excellent order for active operations and an interesting series of may bo looked for. Tho Auckland Bowling Club, the paronfc institution, has now a membership of close upon 100, and it opens the season on Saturday ufternoon—considerably earlier than was the case lasb yoar. Tho fine grounds iof the Club are in perfocb ordor and condij tion for the opening: ceremony, and the i Committee havo dono everything possible to make the affair a success. During the winter the greens have been top dressed and ro-soeded, and the work of tho recess includes the completion of four new grounds. The Club has now twelve green?, and ib is expected that its members will all be tully occupied during the season. The opening on Saturday will be of tho usual social character, and afternoon tea will bo provided for tho lady visitors who always attend the function in largo numbers. The auuual bowling tournament takes place in tha South this year, and an Auckland team will tako part in ib. \ The Ponsonby Bowling Club, which was only formed this year, is very nearly as strong in numbers as tho older club, and bids fair to equal it in sizo and importanco. Its ground is situated at the corner of Jervois and Hamilton Roads, and is vory centrally placed for the residents of the West End, many of whom found tho Auckland Club's ground inconvonienb and too far removed. Unfortunately the affair was nob taken in hand till Bpring—too late for the ground to be properly prepared for real work. The inconvenience will not be so greab as' might bo imagined, as the majority of the members havo yet bo bo initiated into the mysteries of the game, and the ground will bo in good enough order for coaching purpose?. By nest season the ground will be ready for the ordinary club matches, in which all members will then bo able to participate. The Club ia starting on a very solid foundation, and in a few years will probably be equal in importance to any of the institutions in the colony. Ab Nowmarkob a new bowling_ club has also been formed in connection with the Lawn Tennis Club. Its grounds, however, will nob bo fit for any play whatever this season, and tho members will visit the Auckland Bowling Club's greens for the timo being. They are making thorough preparations for nexb year, when ib is oxpected the ground will be equal to any in tho city. The site for the green has been cub out and covered with a layer of scoria between two and threo foeb deep and this will receive a top dressing of earth. The ground will be carefully attended tn during the ensuing Boason und next winter, bo that it may be ready for use in the 1894-5 season.