ROWLING

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 2

ROWLING

[By MEAsraEn.]

The weather and the epidemic have practically stopped tho game, hardly a chib tie having been played so far. 'There is a prospect of mat dies I eing resumed next Saturday, and presumably the champion fours games will be gone on with. At Auckland. I notice, it has not been considered necessary to cry <>U" cricket and bowling snatches at ail. The local members of the council (Messrs J. J. Marlow, VV. Xieolson. and J- Allan), after consultation, decided to communicate with other councillors urging that tho tournament to begin at Auckland early in January should be postponed. It is argued, reasonably enough, that postponcmcu r is necessary if success is desired. Entries arc due on the 14th inst.. and who

among us at the present time is thinking of tournaments? Very few indeed. The executive at Atickhniii do not seen; to contemplate putting the meeting oli, for they were to meet on Monday ot this week [,o make arrangements for the tournament. | It was intended that the Dominion tournament should be a patriotic attr.iv, all proceeds to go to the funds; but the -Mayor of Auckland has assured the executive flint- no flirt her moneys tor such a purpose are required. The executive now suggest that, instead of only certiiicates being awarded (o winners, trophies of a more substantial nature be given. Ail councillors are likely to agree to this common-sense- proposal. Two new dobs have been allikctcd to flio council —Wes!bourne iVunigauui) a-ud Havelock iXapier). 'Will the ending of the war allect tho game of bowls; I think it will, and to a very great extent. Of Into years young men have taken to the game in large numbers. Tins, nerhaps. Is no!- ;m unmixed blessing, but the fact, remains; and now the players in and immediately around Dunedin total no less than 1,100. Vo other game for men can anything like approach that total. With the homecoming of onr warriors, it sec-ms to me tiiai- an enormous increase «,{ players is extremely likely. Thousands of young rr.eu who. before they left to tight (lie linn, delighted in football. cricket, tennis, etc., will return, many wounded and incapable of resuming such active sports ; and very many more will have lost- their dash and desire for such strenuous piny. Yet the wish for some form of outdoor recreation will be there, and the bowling green is sure to attract- them. Xo game could fill the bill better. Prophesying is a- poor practice, but in two years’ time it will 1-e no surprise to find that the total number of players under the control of the Dunedin Centre. Executive will be nearer two thousand than one. I'licler sad circumstances the well-known and highly-popular Auckland player Mr Maurice Casey fell to Jhe epidemic. Mr Casey was not, only prominent n,s a, player, but also as a legislator of the game. He bad occupied the position of president of the Dominion Association and president of the Auckland Dowling Ass-scinlimi. With his son Vic as his skip, lie played in many tnnrnfinient-; with a good deal of success; and these- two. in company with Professor Maxwell Walker and the late Mr V. Parcita. made up a formidable rink, and did well at several tournaments in dift’errnt parts of tho Doniimivn. A few days r.fier Mr Cnsev’r. death bus sou Thcodoui fell a victim, and just Inter Mrs Maurice Casey also died. It- was Mr Maurice Casey’s pre.etiee to .-pond the winter months in Australia, but the loss of the Winunera and the fear of Punting mines prevented him making the trip this year: otherwise lie would hive joined his son Vic, at present in Svdnev,

Cavorsham Chib have lost another member from iuauumw., -Mr C. Barker, a returned soldier, having sneenmhed. As in other centres, tho perfect system of play has yet tn be found in Sydney, though numerous schemes have been tried. Tim latest effort is the “ district ’’ system, which means that dubs in one locality will meet only clubs in their neighborhood, and not have an official game with opponents at the other end of the city. It is doubtful if ibis will satisfy the Svdnev bowlers. It certainly wontd not work in Dunedin. .Mr VC A. Blrtckrtmie-. secretary of _ the New Smith Wales Bowling Association, ban merle the following annmiucenmul ‘ The rounvdUi'' of the

.-io-ociatinii lace decided (hat, A.r tho puro.r=e of plr-.i’i;: the pennant aml T> r-r-m----nctitions daring the coming season the metropolitan club-■* shall be arranged into districts. Toon (he dosing of entries Mr tie competition? the Pennant Committee will pi't-nare a report upon the most suitable divisions to be made, and such report will be considered, and the districts finally decided upon at a cc-o-idno of the committee nf tine association. Tim games am to be played upon the basis of card; chic, meeting every other club in its district twice—mimolv, owe on its home t-rj-enu with a r?t'U‘n rant oh on tho opponents green. Tim winning dub in each dish'd, together with tlm winning chits in the country distrlcl?. shall confirm-:' the competition until the ultimate final,”