CANTERBURY BOWLING CLUB.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6877, 8 October 1887, Page 5

CANTERBURY BOWLING CLUB.

The*annual general meeting of the above Club was held last night at the Cafe de Paris. There was a large attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr B. Hale, the President of the Club. The President said the season was now rapidly drawing near, and it was time to fill up their tours. They had played two games against the Christehurch Club, and defeated them, bat when they had played on the green of the Christehurch Club they were defeated. The latter, however, did not give them the return match they ought to b&ve done. At Dunedin when they played they were defeated in the medal matches, but they had pulled themselves, together in the tournament. The victory in this was mainly due to the unselfishness of Mr Henry Toomer. It was a great victory, as they were playing against tbe best players in New Zealand. This rink was won by three points, and that of Mr Hobbs by eighteen. The victory seemed to him to settle the question of the number of rinks to play. They had left the preparation of their green last year too late, but this year they had had it re-turfed, lengthened nine feet and widened eight. They could now play live rinks lengthwise and eight across the green. He hoped they would try and keep the green in good order as they would have more good men up here playing. The Committee, he might say, had spent about £40 in the improvements, and they must arrange to have alternate day's play across and lengthwise so as to preserve it as much as possible. He wished to impress on the members the necessity of trying to get their members well up to one hundred. \ l'hey had now about some fifty. He hoped they would during the next season enforce the rules strictly, particularly as regarded the starting of play. The last season had been a most harmonious one, and be trusted the season now coming on would be as much so. He was sorry to have to announce to them the resignation as a member of Mr H. Toomer, who found his time too much taken up. The prizes given last year were a pair of silver-mounted bowls, given by himself, and a cup given by Mr Savage. Strange to say, Mr Savage won his prize, and he (Mr Hale) won Mr Savage's cup. He saw that at the Bowling Association s meeting at Dunedin lately, it was resolved that a tournament should be held at Christehurch, and one at Dunedin. One of the members (Mr Ashby) had promised to give either a cup or a piece of plate, to be played for at the commencement of the season. No doubt others would follow his good example. He now came to the receipts and disbursements. The receipts had been £274 7h sd, and the expenditure £260 7s Id, leaving a balance to credit of £3 0s 4d. He hoped to see the Club increased to one hundred members, which would enable them to give prizes for the new members, &c. Their liabilities were now but small, and he believed that they would soon get a number of new members round them. He would now read the report of the New Zealand Bowling Association, which had been held at Dunedin recently. [Read.] He had a letter from Mr Yates, their delegate, in which he stated that he had tried to get the medal match played here, but had been unsuccessful. Mc would suggest that a resolution should be passed asking the Association to have the match played here instead of Oamaru. The players would be here, and all the matches could be played here. He would now express the hope that whoever were appointed as officers of the Club they would all work together for the benefit of the Club as a whole. " ' ' ' Mr Partridge moved —'"That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Bowling Association, asking that the -medal match between- the Caledonian and Canterbury Clubs be played in Christehurch." Mr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Raphael moved—"'That the Secretary be requested to write to Mr H. Toomer, in view of the important matches to be played, asking him to withdraw his resignation." Mr Ashby seconded the motion, which was carried.

The office bearers for the year were elected as follows: —President, Mr G. Coleman; Vice-President, Mr E. C. Ashby; Committee, Messrs Bi Hale, F. Hobbs, and J. Carl; Secretary, Mr H. Raphael; Treasurer, Mr J. Smith (reelected). Mr Bergh, the late Secretary, had to decline to be re-elected, owing to business engagements. Mr Hale here vacated the President's chair, and installed Mr Coleman. Mr Coleman said that he thanked them for the honor they had conferred on him, and he would endeavor to foster the harmony and good fellowship which bad always characterised the Club. The late President, Mr Hale, had done all that lay in his power to keep this up, and he would try and follow his good example. Mr Hobbs moved—" That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Hale for the excellent manner in which he has carried out the duties of the office of President, and that tbe same be entered on the minutes." Mr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed unanimously to Mr L. Bergh for his services as Hon. Secretary during the past year, on the motion of Mr H. A. Davis, seconded by Mr Partridge. A similar compliment was paid to Mr W. Savage, the retiring vice-President on the motion of Mr Dale, and the retiring Committee on the motion of Mr Alexander. Mr Savage moved—" That the financial year of the Club end with .the season, and that in June of each year a meeting be held to pass accounts and receive the balance-sheet." Mr Toomer seconded the motion, which was carried. Seventeen new members were proposed for election. The meeting then adjourned until Friday next.