"SONG & STORY"

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 14, 17 January 1921, Page 11

"SONG & STORY"

A BOWLERS' EVENING

AT THE TOWN HALL

Between four and fire hundred' bowlers attended the smoke concert on Saturday night which was given in the Town Hall by the Dominion Association for the untertainmeiit of visiting competitors at the tournament. Mr. T. Bush (president tif the association:) presided, and he was supported by tV.e Dominion Executive and the officials (of the Wellington Centre. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. 1?. Luke, M.P.) was also present. The gathering was highly successful, and the evening passed most pleasantly. The Royal toaet having been enthusiastically honoured (the City Organist, Mr. Bernard Page, accompanying on the organ), the evening's entertainment open«l with a short organ improvisation by Mr. Page, which led into the stirring notes of "Rule, Britannia." The solo verses of this were sung, by Mr. E. J. Hill, and the large gathering took up the refrain. The toast of the Dominion Bowling Association was proposed by the Mayor, who, while regretting the interruption of the tournament by the rain, said that the downpour had been of untold benefit to fanners, to the city reservoir supply, and to the country generajly. (Appkuse.) It had been a source of great pleasure, to the Wellington people to have tho visitors amongst them,- and he felt sure there had existed the best spirit of friendliness. He referred to the merits of bowling as a game, and hoped the tournament would prove a,- memorable one for all. (Applause.) In replying, the President (Mr. Bush), on behalf of the council, specially thanked the Tournament Committee and the local Centre for assistance in running the tournament. (Applause.) . He might be striking an unpopular note, but he believed that the time had com© for the appointment of a permanent Dominion secretary. (Applause.) The need had been demonstrated over and over again. In the last, three months, for instance, the Correspondence had totalled 2857 letters. That the association had progressed was shown by the following figure;;:—ln 1914, the first year of its inauguration, there were 198 clubs in the Dominion, and in 1920 228. (Applause.) This proved that the game was increasing in popularity. In 1914, 80 club entries were received for the rink events; thia year, tho number was 160. (Applause.) The pairs' entries for the same periods were 175 and 186 respectively; and the singles 192 and 108. The annual tournaments, he said, were becoming cumbersome. On the present occasion every inch of room had to be made available to accommodate the rink matches, and as the increase was still proceeding, it was suggested that sections should he increased from ten teams to twelve. That would s,ive five days' play-to all entrants instead of four. He believed also a tournament should not last more than ten days. (Applause.) The sooner, therefore, tho pairs and singles were cut out, and the tournament confined to the rinks, the better. (Loud applause.) Confine the pairs and singles to the clubs and centres, and let tho winners meet on,a neutral green. (Applause.) He expressed his pleasure at the large gathering, and hoped that all would return home convinced that the 1921 tournament had been a most enjoyable one. (Applause.) 11l proposing "The Visitors," Mr. F. Meadowcroft spoke of the pleasure it had given not only the local enthusiasts of the game, uMt also the whole c^ty. to have the visitors here. (Applause.) The local papers.had given a great amount of space and consideration to the tournament—(loud applause)—and this, with the presence of be-flannelled bowlers everywhere, had kept the game before the piiblic. / Mr. Hair. (Invercargill) replied. lie thanked the Wellington people and the local bowlers for their kindness to the visitors. (Applause.) There was no place he enjoyed coming for tournaments more than Wellington. (Applause.) On behalf of the visitors, he extended heartfelt thanks for this kindness. _ In proposing the toast of The Press," Mr. C. Mills (Blenheim) said that the reports of the tournament had* been very extensive and complete, and bowlers appreciated it. (Applause.) The notes on the various games had been concisa, and on behalf of the council he wished to express appreciation to the papers. (Applause.) The toast was suitably acknowledged. Professor Maxwell (Walker, in a neat speech, 'proposed the Tournament Committee, which had worked so hard for the success of the {fathering. (Applause.) He particularly mentioned the work of Mr. J. Selig. (Applause.) Mr. Selig, who replied, thanked the gathering for the emphatic way in wJiich the toast had been honoured. The'work ■of the committee had been pleasant, because of the fine fellows comprising it. It had aleo priven the committee great pleasure to offer entertainment to the ladies accompanying the bowlers. (Applau&e.) In thia connection he thanked the Mayor and Mayoress for their assistance. The toast of "Past Presidents," coupled with the names of Oolonel Collins and Messrs. M. Barnett and E. Summers, was proposed by Mr. J. J. Roberts, who also asked the Kathcing to stand for a few seconds in respect to the memory-' of the late Mr. Maurice Casey, a former president. He also recalled others who had filled the,office, including Mr. M'Gallum, who had been under a very serious operation, and had been unable to attend. Replies were suitably given, and 1 other to«ts honoured were: "The Artists" (proposed by Mr. M. 1 Carr, President of the Wellington Clab, and acknowledged by Mr. E. J. Hill) and "The Ladies" (proposed by Mr. J. Keith and responded to by Mr. T. _M. Wilford, M.P.). s A very enjoyable and greatly appreciated programme of songs interspersed the toasts, contributed by the Messrs. Bernard Page. Albert Russell, Stuart Nelson, Howard Foster,' R, 8,. Orr, Rnpert Mea-tes, E. J. Hill, and Joll (Hamilton). Mr. Frank Thomas presided at the pianoforte.