DUNEDIN BOWLING, LAWN TENNIS, AND FIVES CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 7651, 29 June 1888, Page 4

DUNEDIN BOWLING, LAWN TENNIS, AND FIVES CLUB.

The annual general meeting of mombers of the above-mentioned club was held at Watson's Commercial Hotel yesterday evening, about forty members being present, with the vice-president (Mr A. Mowat) in the chair. ANNUAL KBI'ORT. The Chairman read the annual report, prefacing it by expressing his regret at the absence of the club's president, the Hon. T. Fergus. He also read a letter from that gentleman, in which he regretted that political duties had interfered with his attendance on the green last season, and intimated that he had forwarded a contribution of LlO, the b.< lance of which, after paying for the president's bowls and his own subscription, was to be applied, under certain conditions, to reduce the club's overdraft. The report then commented upon the matches which had been played during the year, and made special reference to the hospitality with which the Dunedin Club had been treated by the Christchurch Club while the tournament was going on in that city. The Dunedin Club's record for the past season was: Matches won 5, lost 3, drawn 1. Acknowledgment was made of gifts by several members towards improving the ground, among the gentlemen mentioned being Messrs Jack, Dodd, Edgar, Butterworth, Fogo, Howieson, Scoullar, D. Baxter, Mowat, Mendershausen, Matheson, and M. Sinclair. Reference was made to the valuable services of Mr Gresswell, the lion, secretary, who had left for Melbourne, and to Mr F. C. Crump, who had ably filled his place since. A number of tennis players had left during the year because the club had no grass court, but it was intended to get two grass courts this season, and in the meantime a numberofnewmembershad joined, including several ladies. As regarded fives, no club matches had been played, but there had been plenty of play in the court? among members. The club still had a roll of 108 members, and if every member made a point during the ensuing year of getting one new member to join they would soon get up to the required number. The conditions on which MiFergus's contribution was given were that the other members should put their hands in their pockets and subscribe pro rata enough to wipe off the overdraft, and he (the chairman) would intimate that he himself was prepared to gis'e LI towards every LlO subscribed by the other members. The more they subscribed, and the more pounds that he would therefore have to pay, the better pleased he would be. (Loud applause.) The Treasurer (Mr J. Jack) read the balance-sheet, which showed the income from subscriptions during the year to have been L 162 4s 6d from 108 members. The total liability of the club was L 356 19a sd, against L 385 10s 5d for the previous year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion.

MR T. CALLENDER AND THE BOWLING ASSOCIATION.

Mr T. Callender wrote with reference to a letter to the Press by Mr Carlton, containing personalities and charges against himself, which he had not thought it becoming to reply to in the newspapers, as being insinuations that were beneath contempt. He remarked, however, upon the fact that he had heard no expressions of dissent from the tone of the letter by members of the club, and wished to know whether the club still had the same opinion of him as induced them in 1885 to elect him a life member, and bestow other honors upon him. He asked their verdict, as he wished to know his position. Mr Young said no doubt the letter referred to had been copied into other papers, and though no local bowler might take any notice of it, those who did not know all Mr Callender had done for the game might. He moved—"That Mr Calender's letter be received, and that the secretary be instructed to write, conveying to him the club's assurance that nothing in the letter referred to had in any way altered their appreciation of him, and hoping that he would continue to take as active an interest in the game of bowls as he had done in the past. "—(Applause.) Mr G. S. Matiiiesoji seconded the motion, which was supported by other members and carried nem. con. THE CLUIi'S DEBENTURES.

Dr Coughtrey wrote offering to return ten debentures to the club if he were elected a life member.

On the motion of Mr Sinclair the proposal was accepted. A long discussion ensued as to the desirability of other members adopting the same course, the Chairman expressing a hope that it would not be generally followed, and Mr Hakrop urging that it would benefit the club if it were. The latter speaker suggested that if any member who was a debenture-holder offered two debentures in payment of his year's subscription the club should accept them. The Chairman suggested that the Committee might be empowered to purchase the debentures at the lowest price they were offered at by holders, instead of balloting for them. He moved—"That the Committee exercise their own judgment as to the best means of dealing with the debentures." Mr Sinclair seconded the motion. Mr G. S. Mathieson opposed it, and moved as an amendment—"That the decision of the annual meeting two years ago with reference to balloting for debentures be adhered to." Mr James seconded the amendment, which was lost. The motion was then carried, with an addition, suggested by Mr J. H. Morrison, to the effect that if any member offered L2 worth of debentures in lieu of his year's Subscription it be accepted, PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The Chairman then presented trophies to the prize-winners, as follow :—President's champion bowls, Mr A. Fraser; set of pictures (instead of vice-president's bowls), Mr W. Cowie ; trophies for rink matches— Messrs R. Wilson, jun., M. Sinclair, James Anderson, and James Hinlop; handicap match (Mr Young's prize), Mr David Baxter; tennis tournament, Messrs Walter Young and F. C. Crump. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS.

Mr Mathieson proposed as president for the ensuing year Mr Mowat, their late vicepresident, who, it would be conceded, had most ably filled the place during the absence of Mr and had fully earned the higher position of president. He spoke cordially of Mr Mowat's personal qualifications for the post. Mr Morrison seconded tfee nomination in complimentary terms, and the resolution was unanimously carried. The newly-elected President briefly re? turned thanks, and stated that he intended to give a handicap prize next year of 2s 6d or 3s for every new member that joined during the year, so that the more that were induced to join the more handsome the prize would be. The prize would be restricted to new members, and would be played for about Mjrch next.—(Applause.) Mr D, Baxter proposed, and Mr Cowie seconded, Mr Max Mendershausen's election as vice-president.' Thip was carried unanimously, and Mr Mknderhha£tsen acknowledged the compliment. Other office-bearers were elected as lol-lou.-jj;—Hon. treasurer, Mr M. Sinclair; hon. secretary, Mr F. C. Crump; committee—Messrs Angus, Mollison, Moodie, Edgar, Young, and Mathieson. Messrs Forrester, Russell and R. Wilson, jun., were elected as the Mafvth CgmmitU e. The proceedings closed with a. vote of thanks to last year's office-bearers.