BOWLS IN FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 14

BOWLS IN FIJI.

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITORS RETURNING. Several competitors from New Zealand who had been taking part.,in.the annual bowling tournament at Suva returned by the Aorangi yesterday, accompanied by the Australian rink. When they left riji the final of- the rink championship was being played between two New Zealand teams, but the result was not transmitted by wireless to the Aorangi. Mr. L. S. Gumming, of Sydney, a frequent visitor to Auckland, had a few business engagements yesterday afterhboTi, but he promised to join his friends this afternoon at the Carlton green, to complete a full Australian rink against Auckland officials. The remaining three players, Messrs. Myers and Thomas, of New South Wales, and Mr. Sumpton, of Perth, were taken to Carlton by Messrs. A. E. Whitten (president of the Auckland Bowling Centre) and James Pascoe, a past presi(lent of tile centre and of the New Zealand Bowling Association.

With a few local .substitutes they played a short game, stopping as soon as the sun left the green, with the following score: A. .1. Myers, W. Buckle, A. C. Thomas, W. ,T. Sunipton (Australia) 13, v. S. T. Wicksteed, T. C. Schnackenberg, J. Pascoe, A. E. Whitten (Auckland) 9. During a short adjournment for a cup of tea, Mr. Whitten gave the party an official welcome to Auckland, as president of the centre, and to the Dominion, as a member of the New Zealand Bowling Council. Bowlers were always delighted to meet their Australian friends, even if it was only for a day or two on their way to and from Fiji, and they felt grateful to the bowlers of the Commonwealth for the hospitality always received by New Zealand bowlers visiting their country. Mr. Sumpton, replying as immediate past president of the Australian Bowling Council, expressed his pleasure at again meeting some of those who had entertained him and his team when they returned from the Fiji tournament a year ago. He remarked on the-bond of friendship that united the bowlers of the two countries, and that it was a delightful experience to travel as a bowler, for as soon as he stepped«ashore he. was warmly greeted by hospitable friends merely because he was a bowler. Most likely he would be back in New Zealand again next January, for his present intention was to compete in the Dominion tournament in Wellington. In any case, however, he hoped that any New Zealand players who were going to England via Sura would send word to him at FremaiV*! in advance, for he would like to round his own city and also the' city of Perth. Mr. Myers also expressed his thanks for the kindly welcome given to the team.