BOWLING.

Evening Star, Issue 12399, 12 January 1905, Page 3

BOWLING.

[By Leaded.]

It was only to be expected that, after having three fairly fine days, it should rain on Saturday afternoon. It’s wonderful where it all comes from- Small wonder mir greens always look so nice. If it would only rain, say, every second day, it would suit same caretakers grand—they would only need to have a “look in” once in a blue moon. Even the wooden matches In the ditches would get washed away, and tlicra would be no necessity to sod the : roller or use a broom.

Mr - W. Dali (St. Clair) has been aiocess- 1 ful in convincing the N.Z.B.A.—os I prognosticated last week he would—that his bowl-testing machine is equal to the work required, and, while the Association have appointed Mr Dali official tester, it appears to me that beyond the bare appointment there is nothing else in it. While most people will agree with me that Mr Dafi is fully. competent to undertake the altering of bowls, be has come to the con--elusion that it is outside his business. I wonder if the motion passed at the meeting had any influence cm Mr Dali in this respect? It is a great pity, nevertheless, that Mr'Dali was not privileged to superintend the work, for who could be more capable than the man who is to make, the tests? The Association have got rid ofrll responsibility in the matter, and that counts for something nowadays. A good manv of us run away with the impression that there is a lot of money in this businero. There is nothing of the kind ; and even had Mr Dali been appointed to supervise the altering of all the bowls (there are not so many after all is said and done) in the South Island, he would not have come out so considerably in pocket, I do not for a moment imagine he went into the business to make money out of it, for he is certainly one of the most- enthusiastic of howlers, and it is a very great pity, seeing, that he has really pulled the New Zealand Bowling Association out of a grave difficulty, that the Association could not see their way to prevail on Mr Dali to cany to a finality the work he has so ably initiated. The question next crops up “Who is going to do tho altering? ” The majority ruled that “ testing ” should get a fair trial, and now we have pot the appliance. What about altering bowls? Have we got a capable mechanic in Dunedin, or is there onlv one expert on bowl-testing in New Zealand? I think we could easily get them altered in Dunedin.

When the Association meeting was about to dose on Thursday night, Mr MUler spoke in praise of those gentlemen who had gone to the trouble and expense of perfecting their machines, and be was ably seconded by Mesrs W. C. Allnutt and J. H. Hancock'. It was explained by the latter gentleman that it was only at the last moment that Mr Dali was prevailed on to come forward with a rough model of his machine; ip. fact, it was only when he saw no reasonable prospect of any of the ma«chines then in the field meeting with acceptance at the hands of the Committee that he decided to exhibit a machine in which he had ©very confidence, and which had urn doubtedly proved, as Mr Miller (speaking on behalf of the Bowl-testing Committee) remarked, "far and' away ahead of any of the machines inspected.”. . • I have been informed by several onlookers that in the match Dunedin v. St, Clair, played on Dunedin Green on Saturday, the St. Clair skip (W. DrU) received but poor support from his rink, especially his second and third, and had it not been for DalTs saving shots the score put up by Russell would have been a record one. Let us charitably put it down to a wet afternoon. By the way, this is a match in which D. Russell invariably puts up records. Two years ago be put up 12 to Hancock’s 13, and Dunedin lost the match by a point or two. I had the honor of leading for him on that occasion. This season ho puts up 31 to his opponent's 11, and Dunedin wins—thanks to Mr Bussell.

Kaituna gave Taieri a dressing down on Saturday, which was only to be expected..: The “boys” from the Plain were playing* just about their full strength, and seeing' they have not had a green- for practice it was almost an odda-ou chance that Kaituna, playing at home, would flap their wings and crow. I notice the rinks skipped by Minty re and Mackie were the only ones "up.” I notice the Rev. Mr Kinmonth name amongst the Taieri lists. Welcome to the greens, sir. Bowling has indeed “ caught on.” Roslyn journeyed to Outturn and just managed to get home “all out” by 2 points. I failed to find the name of White amongst the skippers for Ontram. Was he making way for the newer players? On Caledonian Green there was played during the latter end of last week.a- tie between J. 'NI Booth and J; Cowie which •was productive not only of a deal of inte-rest-but excellent play. For a comparatively young player M'Beath has come along well, and in giving such-a wellknown bowler as Cowie a game run all the way gives the impression tbit in a season or two he will be amongst the new school of. skips that -is gradually, but surely springing up in Dunedin. The following is taken from the card;— Starting off with a 4, in the first end and a 3 in .the third end. M'Beath was unable to score again;’though only allowing his opponent - to get singles, till the .tenth end, when he 1 9 to Odwie s ; 8. , Two • 3’s , to Cowie cut the 5 latters score up; M’Beath in each of the ttRB succeeding' ends a 2. 15-14. i: X

couple to Oowie, and then the “colt" responded with two more 2’s. . Oowie got his; score: to. 18 :»t the eighteenth end’-’ then M‘Beatb got a 4, making bfm. 21. to Cowieto 18. .The latter got.out of. the next two ends. 21 aIL An extra was played, and. Cowie, secured a l ,single. . Quite i number of. bowlers left by this . boat for Christchurch, hart the majority leave by first express to-morrow meriting '■ The fifth rink from DunedinGreen is composed as followsE. F. Black, A. Begg, H. Barton 0- Fraser (s). The' St. Kilda Bowling dub intend to formally open tbeir green at Mnaselhargii on the 28th insfc. The only intepdtab fixture for next Saturday is that, between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, on Dunedin Green.

It is said that Messrs AkockandOo. spent £1,200 in experiments on bowl-testkig and altering, before they arrived; at anything like a satisfactory conclusion. They even went the length of engaging university mathematicians, at a high salary, for three months with the object of working the matter out in a thorough manner. The. table test was ■ arrived at simply because these was no efficient machine to make a green test.

A correspondent informs me that I*soo fairs of bowls were “spoiled” in South Australia. -It is not stated by whom, but it is fair to assume that they were altered with an axe.

It will be remembered that Mr W. Dali advocated a green test . from the commencement of the discussion.* Bowlera from Dunedin who had been to the Auckland tournament returned fully convinced, after seeing Alcock’a table test in Wellington, that it was beyond doubt the correct thing. Mr Doll, still unconvinced, made it his business, in company with Mr T. Young, some months ago to go and see for himself, and after putting the table test to a searching examination, probing deeply below the surface, formulated a ’ scientific theory (previously published in this column) of has own, which he placed before the Committee on his return. This theory has remained un contradicted, and to prove the soundness of the position he took up, Mr Dali had to invent a machine capable of testing bowls on the green. By the time he came into the field other machines were ready for trial—had been given public trials, in fact—and had any of those machines given satisfaction the St- Chur inventor’s machine would now he lying in his hack yard. Possibly the greatest compliment tE-at could be paid Mr Dali was expressed in the words of Messrs AL cock’s manager, after inspection of the machine: “We have nothing to equal it ia tho colonies.”

There appears to be a deal of misconception regarding the forming of tournament rinks. I refer to some of our younger players, who, anxious to journey to Christchurch and compete, run away, with- the idea that any four players (members of different dubs) may combine. Rale 7 (‘Conditions of the Game’) reads:—“lt shall he lawful for any three members of the same club to form a rink by taking in a member of another dub affiliated to the Association, provided he wears the colors of the dub of the other players and does not skip.” Those who possess “pokers” had better keep their weather eye open. There arc quite a number of straight howls in Dunedin —many of the younger generation of bowlers don’t know them when they see them; if they journey to Christchurch without having them tested, etc., they may wonder “what’s the matter” when exception is taken to their wood.

The pairs match ‘to be played at the New Plymouth carnival carries trophies valued at £SO. The winners will receive trophies of tho money value of £3C (£ls eaob).

In Australia they da not go in much for doubler, but I notice in a Sydney paper timt Petersham dub called for entries for a doubles (club) competition a week or two ago, and the response was all that could be wished for. There is no doubt about it, doubles is a popular side of bowling in New Zealand, and it goes without saying that once the Australians take to it there will be a little boom’in doubles.

St. Leonards dub (Sydney) had a gala day on December 26. Included in the day’s programme were the following:— Drawing the shot, trailing the jack, driving the jack, drawing the shot (blindfold). When are wo going to “ attempt ” a slight variation?

Adelaide sent a team- to Ballarat just before the Christinas holidays to play a series of matches. They were, however, not equal to the task of smiting the dwellers in the golden diy. First of all Ballarat cantered in with 114 to 74. Thai Ballarat North come along and slammed the South Australians about —90 to 83. Lastly, Ballarat Combined had a turn, and tho S.A.S again had their light “snuffed out”—9B to 80. An Australian paper said it was a first-class team—in fact, the pick of South Australia—that went over, and great deeds were expected of them. Flemington Club (Melbourne) ran a rink tournament on Boxing Day, in which twenty-eight rinks competed. H. Howe piloted a team from Port • Melbourne, and, after going strongly through the first two rounds, went all to pieces* in the next round, his opponent beating him by 16 to 6!

A curious coincidence happened to two Albert Park bowling teams in Melbourne recently. The first pennant, playing at Flemington, and the second at Prince’s Park, both made a tie on the twenty-fifth end.’ Both these teams were previously unbeaten. In the play-off, Flemington. succeeded by 1 point, and Prince’s Park lost by the same number. Another coincidence was that at Prince’s Park F. T. Hiokford (Prince’s'Pint), the president of the Freetrade Associatkai, and EL Poulter (Albeit Park), president of the Protectionist Association, were captains opposing one another on the same rink.

- There was an amusing incident in a tournament gam® on one of the Adelaide greens the other day. After a head had been played the umpire could not decade which bowl occupied pride of place. Lake ■the little boy who leaves the'rosiest cherry to the last, one of lie.players said: “Oh, measure the other fellow's howl first.” While the umpire was carrying out these instructions the speaker’s wood, which load been balancing on a false keel, suddenly fell outward, and when the tape was applied it wa® found to bo an inch out of court! Of course the generals who take upon themselves the task of directing the game from the bank bubbled over.

The official reopening of the top green of the Sydney City Club, after top-dress-ing operations •were carried out, took place ■with much festivity, • There was a representative gathering, which inducted a fair sprinkling of ladies. Prior to the opening ceremony taking place members and visiting bowlers, of whom there was a large attendance, adjourned to the pavilion, where wine was uncorked and the president' of the, club introduced to the gathering Mr E. MTarlane, Under-Secretary of Lands, who had been elected patron of the dub. In proposing Mr MTarlanef s health the president said the members were to be congratulated on seeing Mr MTarlaae in a, that had wen held by such distinguished gentlemen as the late Sr Alfred Stephen. Mr R. McLean, in supporting the toast, said that Mr hPFarknc had always been a true sportsman, but now that he had taken no bowls he ■ would soon realise that he had got to the kernel of true sport.

BOWL-TESTING. A start was made yesterday afternoon with the preliminary green testing to enable bowlers who intend to take port in the Christchurch tournament to obtain temporary certificates pending a thorough testlater on, when Mr Dali has completed Lis new machine, and not until then will howls be stamped.. So.far as the test went, Mr Dali’s machine _ gave. excellent evidence of its good qualities, making allowance .for a strong wind and a damp, green after the .late rams. The Committee appointed to confer .with Mr Dali, after deciding on a temporary test bowl, then left, the method of,testing entirely in Mr Dali’s hands,, and confidence was expressed on.all hands that, a Ettle time to put everything b working order, a reliable howl test would he obtained surpassing anything hitherto seen. At the same time it- was patent ton*. the excessive rush to: get sets of howls put through prevented a veiy critical test pf

been pronouh'id in. ordinary play on the narrow, side. Mr jDall is : certainly - not in'anywaiy 'to blame far.titts huiry and scurry, as in my opinion sufficient tame was not given in ennhln him to shift his machine as.occaaion required or hare the trade of the bowls re-rbUod at stated intervale; Oyer thirty sets' of bowls being put through in a'few boms «a a damp green was bound to make a track (more or leas), ..which would be entirely obviated on a keen green and by shifting the position of the machine now wid again. ■ However; -I have no hesitation in saying that bowlers may confidently leaye these details in Mr Dali’s hands, feeling sure there are few points .in the complicated question of Iwwi-tesringhe does not understand, I 'merely; mention what has occurred in observation and in fairness to Mr Doll under the conditions in which hj« performed a very exacting task in the wox&rvc, *l° justice to everybody yester. day afternoon. When the critical test is ma ™ under proper conditions later on, I predict a sure triumph for the green W-