BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 189, 12 August 1925, Page 12

BOWLING.

VISITORS FROM ENGLAND.

BOWXING IN AUSTRALIA.

(By TRUNDLER.)

The English bowlers seem to be landing themselves in trouble in regard to their trip to Australia and New Zealand, but it is a little unkind of our friends on the other side to exaggerate the difference itf the time spent in each country by calling it three weeke and nine weeks respectively. As a matter of fact, the exact times are six weeks and three days in Australia, against seven weeks and six days in New Zealand, and this puts quite a different complexion on what is taken a* a grievance on the other side. However, the trip was arranged by Mr. Orchard, who knows New Zealand particularly well, and he would probably reflect that there is more to sec here, for he evidently wants them to see places besides bowling greens, as evidenced by the itinerary laid down. No doubt he has told them that there are no thermal regions in the world equal to Rotorua, no caves equal to Waitomo, no drivee equal to the Buller Gorge, and no mountain scenery equal to the Otira Gorge and Arthur's Pass, for he has included all these in their trip. An Australian paper was complaining a few weeks ago about the glinrt time they were to spend there, but apparently the itinerary fixed is to be adhered to, and it is very doubtful whether any representations will result in any material change being made. They occasionally play a very pretty compliment to New Zealanders in Australia by •inviting them to their business meetings. .Mr.George Redmond, one of the numerous Wellington bowlers who have been over there during the winter, has included West Australia in hie tour this time, and he writes from Perth that he had a chat with the Hon. J. Scadden, president of the West Australian Bowlin:j Association, who invited him to attend their annual meeting, which was to be held last Monday. He would there have an opportunity to meet all the W.A. delegates, and, of course, he recognises this as a compliment to New Zealand. It transpired from the reports that were issued during the great bowling carnival in Perth last year that bowling is comparatively new in .West Australia, but they now have over 1500 players in the city of Perth, divided amongst 19 clubs- in the metropolitan area. Their pavilions are small, except those of the Perth and the Mount Lawley Clubs, while what struck a Wellington player was the fact that not a solitary one has a billiard table, a contrast to Wellington, where at least nine clubs have one. the parent club having three. Mr. Redmond mentions that while at Fremantle he walked to the bowling green "across the old bridge built by convict labour. He was cordially welcomed, and had a pleasant, game, one of his playing partners being Captain Rivers, the chief pilot of Fremantle, who piloted H.M.s. Hood to the wharf. The Australian singles champion. Mr. Gustaffsen, is a member of that club, and he has a, wonderful record as a champion player. It is interesting to know that he uses an old set of wooden bowls, which is rather a surprise, in view of the preference in Australian for rubber bowle. The many schoolmasters who play bowls at Remuera, Rocky Nook, and Onehunga will be interested to learn that Mr. Gustaffsen is a schoolmaster. Bowling at the islands. j Bowling is- conducted on original lines in Samoa, the singlee championI ship being apparently held subject to challenge. Mr. J. Colville Cook, late of the Onehunjja Club, who went to Apia a few months ago, writes to a friend in Auckland that the winner holds it for a month, and then has to accept a. chal- ■ lenge. Last month he entered, and defeated the champion by 20 to 18, after being 9 down on the eleventh head. So ■ now he is the singles champion of Samoa, and on the green he wears an, inscribed gold brooch. The green he describes as very heavy, although some of them call it keen. It is fortunate that there is such an enthusiastic Auckland bowler in Samoa now, for if ever the Pacific Championship is arranged he is the very man to see that Samoa puts in an entry. Miscellaneous Notes. The City Central are taking three rinks to Edeiidale on Saturday, and next week they propose to go to Devonport. The usual match for the Edwin Stars did not take place last Saturday, the challengers receiving a message early in the forenoon that the Devonport green was too wet for play .Carlton will therefore have to take their team over next Saturday, if they can navigate their way through the American Fleet. The presence of the American Fleet during the coming fortnight is not likely to result in any assistance from them on the many greens where they would oe made welcome guests, for the game 16 practically unknown in America. In any case, navy nien are mostly too younw for bowls, and even when the Special Service Squadron was here last year it was found that there were no bowlers aboard, although they came from the home of bowls.