THE BOWLING GREEN.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 46, 17 January 1913, Page 5

THE BOWLING GREEN.

QUESTION OF ITS UPKEEP,

Bowling lias cropped up a few times at the Balclutha Borough Council meetings—on former occasions because some of the councillors in a way emulated Drake, and let the Borough Council "lie" till they had finished their game. On Wednesday night it occurred in a new phase.

In one of the committees' reports it was recommended "That the piece of land around the Band Rotunda be cleared of weeds and the ground levelled and sown with fine grass." The "piece of ground" includes the precincts of the bowling green. Councillor Wood was "leader," and got a "toucher" straight away by objecting to the council doing any work about the bowling green, as he consider-

Ed the club should do this. Councillor Sheridan "drew" him by saying he thought it had been understood that when the Bowling Club put the ground in order that the council would keep the weeds down. He thought the club would be quite agreeable to do part of the work, and it was his opinion that it was not fair to expect the club to bear the whole expense.

Councillor Naish remarked that the club had gone to considerable expense in planting shrubs and trees. The Mayor pointed out that the club had assisted materially towards the beautification of the town, and he thought it would be a fair proposal for the council to put the ground in order now, and leave it to the Bowling and Tennis Clubs to maintain in good order. The council was supposed to look after the recreation of the people, which meant their health and enjoyment. At this stage the club "lay three up."

Councillor Wilkins moved that clause 1 in the report be amended as follows: —"That the grass be cut, and that a conference be held between the council and tho Bowling and Tennis Clubs with a view to having the ground kept in order in future.''

Councillor Clark said that anywhere else they would find that bowling clubs had to pay big money for their grounds, while in Balclutha the club got the ground for nothing, and its state was a "perfect disgrace." Therefore hemoved an amendment that that piece of ground be taken from-the clnb.

Being inclined to "take too much green," his shot was "burnt"-—he got no seconder.

The Mayor questioned the wisdom of Councillor Clark's proposal, and asked why the borough should be penalised by having to bear the expense of keeping this ground in order, which would be the case if the ground was taken from the club.

Councillor Naish said tho council should resolve to have the grass and weeds cut immediately. He considered that the club should pay the council a pound or two yearly for rental; it was a fair thing. He did not believe with Councillor Clark in "taking everything, but they should take what they could get." Councillor Wilkins' motion was car-