BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 16848, 25 September 1918, Page 8

BOWLING

[By Measttreb.]

Though there is nothing actually doing at present, there is plenty of talk about what is going to be done in a week or two. Several of the clubs intend to start as soon as possible. Morningt/ | Club, I I understand, hope to make a beginning on the first Saturday in October; and CaverI sham Club are ready to begin on the least provocation. Mr C. Russell Smith writes: 'ln commenting on mv remarks at the_ annua! meeting of the Dominion Association your note of last week may give the impression that I am opposed to the principle of giving each centre representation on the council. This is not so, as lam strongly in favor of such a proposal. The difficulty is to devise an efficient working_scheme in order to put the idea into practice, and it was on this phase of the question that I gave a word of warning. I shall be delighted if a workable scheme can be evolved, as I fully recognise that the wider the interest "in the affairs of the association the better it will be for the game." Otago Club lose a popular member by the removal of Mr J. Spinks to Wellington. Members regret, his departure. The j club he joins in the Empire City will gain ] a valuable member. Mr Spinks_ played a i consistently good game. He will be remembered'ns~ doing valuable work in the position of No. 2 of the champion rink of the recent Dominion tournament. Ho j took a great interest in his club's social j d<liners, and carries with him the best wishes of all who knew him.

The lady members of Mornington Bowl-

in? Club (who are a very live body both on and off the sriven) held a basket social in St. Mary's Hall on Wednesday evening last, when there was a large gathering of bowlers and friends. A most success-

ful function was the result. Dancing was induhred in to the accompaniment of music supplied by Mr Yates. Mr Bell ably carrying out the duties of M.C. At intervals (hiring the evening items were rendered In- Mioses Mn-itlnnd and Bell, Master Carotin, and Messrs Henderson. Kennedy, Hobhs. and Carolin. A plentiful supply of choice edibles was dispensed by willing helpers. Shortlv before the supper adjournment the elnb trophies won during the season were presented by Messrs D. Rlyth (vice-president) and P. Carolin. Occasion was also taken by Mr Neill to present M- J. Davidson, the club's late greenkeeper. with ;i case of pipes as a tr,l,-.->n of the club's appreciation of his services.

The third and deciding billiards enmo between half a- dozen 'Evening Stnr' men rind a like number from St. Kilda Club resulted in n win for tiie newspaper plnyers. who were acahi most heartily welcomed by their old opponents. The fenture of the contest was the great reeovery by J. Edwards after horns apparently hopelessly out of if. The figures have, already been published. On Friday evening n return billiards match was played between the Tvaituna and Mornington Clubs at the residence of Mr J. Stevenson. Stafford street. As the Kiituna Club do not possess a table of their own. they felt somewhat at a disadvantage in giving a return match to their " 1 Till " opponents. However, Mr Stevenson came to their assistance, and placed his table at their disposal for the overdue —tin oit'c- winch, needless to say, was readily availed of. The result was that a. most enjoyable evening was spent by all concerned the host treating the players with the greatest hospitality. The games, were played in half-hour spells, and the Mornington players managed to turn the tables on their opponents by 614 to 596. Individual scores have already appeared. At the conclusion of play Mr Neill Thanked the Kaituna players and Mr Stevenson for the very enjoyable* evenincr provided. Mr M'Kenzie thanked Mr Stevenson for his generous hospitality. The latter expressed his pleasure- at having been able to meet them, and extended an invitation to return at a. future date.

Ota?o Club played Balmac-ewen on Thursday evening, with the following result (Otago names first) : —Clark 159, Owen 71; M'Leod 104. Wilson 55; Smith 100. Omand 62; Walker 96. Glover 55; Spinks 85, Wright 79; Huntley 57, Balk 52. Totals : Otago 601, Balmacewen 574. Tho protest against one player's bowls in the Queensland singles championship (an account of which appeared in recent notes) is thus commented on in the Sydney ' Referee ': The fact that a test of the bowls found them wanting as compared with, the standard is nothing against their owner's honor, unless it can be proved that- they were dealt with by the turning machine or similarly treated by even sandpaper. Everybody who has given any attention to the effect of climate upon bowls knows that they shrink, or otherwise fall off from their original drawing capacity. Especially might this happen in such a lengthy period as two years. All bowlers should be compelled to have their woods tested at least once a year. A-fow years ago, when there were complaints about bowls produced by the best makers in England not acting up to their branding, it was explained by the manufacturers, as well as several bowlers of experience, that there was every possibility of the bowls being injuriously affected during the comparatively short period between their lodgment aboard ship in London and their removal from the cases upon the arrival of the vessel in this part of the world. The decision of the Q.B.A. will be anxiously awaited by followers of the game all through the continent. This happening evidences the keenness of Queensland players. It is apparently equal to that of Victorians and New Zealanders. I verily believe that straights could bo used in Sydney and everybody be convinced of the fact without a protest being entered. The four rinks representing New South Wales who toured Queensland did poorly indeed in their three international contests. They lost the first game by 124 points to 66, one Queensland rink scoring 40 to 9. In another rink Queensland j scored tho possible 8, and the nearest I bowl was a yard and a-half away ! The second game New South Wales lost by ; 125 to 67, two of their rinks going down by the same figures;— 37 to 12. They made a much better fight in tho third game, which they lost by 99 to 96, but the close finish was entirely due to one of their rinks (skipped by Dr Burge, who was promoted from third player on this occasion) i scoring 55 to 15. The other rinks wero j down.

At the annua! meeting of the South Australian Bowling Association the following notice of motion was to be considered :—" That in the opinion of this association it is undesirablo, in tho interests of the game, for any man eligible for the Australian Imperial Force to take part therein. This association therefore resolve that clubs belonging to the South Australian Bowling Association be required not to select such men to take part in any association fixture, or in any tournament held under their auspices. Eligible men shall be defined as follows:—Any man unmarried of military age, unless ho has offered his services and has been rejected as physically unfit, or has obligations of such a nature as*to prevent him enlisting."