BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 16990, 12 March 1919, Page 8

BOWLING

[By Meastjbmr.]

The victory of W. Carswell, the veteran Taieri player, in the Champion of Champions Match was decisive. He went through without a loss, putting down some strong opponents in his progress, and winning all his games but one (E. Falconer, of Otago Club, ran him to the last head) with plenty to spare. It was a fine formance, and gave, us a flash of the Carswell of 20 years ago. Perhaps his greatest record was in 1899, when at Christchurch he won the Dominion singles championship, with T. A. Mackie won the doubles, and skipped the rink which came in second. He has proved that he has not lost all his skill, by any means. A. Barnett, on his way to second place, surprised his friends (and himself too, I fancy) bv his sterling play. Ho has not been looked upon as a great singles performer; indeed, he has never entered for any such contest outside his own club, though many times forming one of a rink or a double at tournaments. His play on the two days was consistently good, his poorest performance being in the final. To beat Scott (Outram), Falconer, and Harraway as easily as he did adds to his reputation as a bowler. Both Jones (Balmacoweu) and D. smith (Caledonian) failed to get going last Saturday,:- and Harraway also was out of touch. I). Smith, by the way, had been runner-up for his club's championship for four years in succession before winning this time. Two or three club games were played on Saturday. Cavcrsham were up five rinks against 'Green Island's one; Kaituna five against St. Clair's four; Port Chalmers three to Wakari's nil; and North-east Valley two to West Harbor's one. A question was asked at the executive meeting on Monday night as to how clubs stood in the interclub games. Who was leading for the banner! Nobody knew, and "Measurer," on being appealed to, said it was impossible to tell, as returns from clubs came in only spasmodically. This want of knowledge robs the game of a lot of interest. A notion worth consideration was introduced by Mr A. H. Allen at the last executive meeting. It was that the Centre should get into closer touch with their neighbors, especially the Central Otago branch; and it was resolved that a subcommittee be set up for that purpose, consisting of Messrs J. H. Matheson, \V. Wright, D. M. Fastier, and A. H. Allen. It°was also resolved that the Centre do all in their power to assist Peace celebrations. A representative turnout of howlers in flannels and blazers would make a bright light in the proposed procession. Bowlers, be up! There never has been, and never again will be. such an opportunity. Every man should be there. While the Centre Executive were discussing an invitation from Waikoua.iti and Seaclift' Clubs for a game to take place on the latter club's green, it was stated that the Seaeliff Club conlcl put in a good team composed of the staff and patients. One member expressed a doubt as to whether patients would know whether they were coming or going, but the chairman assured the meeting that he had played against the Seacliff patients, and they were just as sensible as any member of the executive. Then tho members present laughed. Why? Mr A. Smellie, of Green Island Club, informed the Centre Executive .at Monday's meeting that he was about to make a trip to England and America. Mr Smellie, who has started his "journey, was granted leave of absence for the rest of his term. Dunedin Club have lost a valuable member by tho removal of Mr W. M. Hogg to Christchurch. Mr Hogg was not only a very fine plaver and sportsman —he took a leading part'in the legislative side of the game, and his cool, calm judgment has proved of great service. All who know him wish him well, and hope for a speedy return of W.M.H. His fellow-players presented him with a case of pipes before he left. Mr Hogg takes up a position with the Bristol Company at.Christchurch. Tho greenkeepers had a good time yesterday, as reported elsewhere. W. Shepherd was runner-up to W. Paget Galo for the Kaituna Club champion singles. J. Sanders had to retire Irom tho contest owing to illness. Other men close up in the finals were Macdonald and M'Lennan. . • , Tho result of the Seaclift' Club s visit to North-east Valley on Thursday last was m favor of the home team. Of the three rinks played Rigbv's team had rather a good win, and Rhodes had a narrow margin in his favor; but Dr Jefiery was too good for tho third Valley skip. The day was perfect and the green was very keen, so the game was most enjoyable. The doctor thanked the town club for their hospitality, and hoped that they would meet again. Two questions reach me from Christchurch which I hardly understand. They are as follow :—" What is tho correct way to draw (both odd and even numbers) on tho two-life principle? Is there what is called a modified form of the two-hfo principle; if so, how drawn?" All I can say is that on tho two-life principle one man is drawn against another (odd and even numbers beat mo), and before any player is out of the contest he has to lose two lives. The modified form of the two-hie principle is also drawn man against man at the start, and up to a certain stage of the contest (as may be arranged) a player has two lives; after that stage "sudden death " comes into force, and a player then has only one life. If my correspondent will make himself more clear I wnl try to give him further information. The George street champion became excited in the first round, and with four down and tho last bowl to go called out to the umpire: "Say, if I take out Ins shot, will I lie five?" . H. Brewer won the V ictorian championship. . . . The winners of Christchurch Clubs rink championship were T. Nowburgh, U J. Atkinson, A. Dickson, and M. Orchard. Tho club's green is getting back to its old form (it was undoubtedly the best in the city at one time) under the care of Mr I. Phillis, and should be in lino condition for the big tournament next year. M. Orchard also won the club's singles championship. , The original Canterbury Club green is at present in poor condition, clover having taken charge, and it is being given a spell so as to be made presentable for next January. „ Another Christchurch item by bkip concerns a player favorably known to many Dunodinites :--"Mr W. H. Macdoueall, who for very many years has represented Christchurch Club, has now thrown in his lot with the Sydenham Club. He has also presented this club with a very handsome silver cup for singles competition." Thorndon Club (Wellington) played rinks from seven other Wellington clubs on a recent Saturday, and won by 156 to 135. On paper it would seem as though a single olub challenging tho elect from other clubs must have all the worstof it, but apparently it is not so, as Wellington Club for a number of yeaxs have been victorious in similar games. Their record in this respect is interesting, and will be given in this column later on. The experiment might bo tried here, only there would be difficulty in finding a vacant date. Up north there is nothing like the same interest in interclub fixtures as prevails here, and these freak matches are welcomed as providing a change from play among clubs' own members. The various branches of the Public Service hold an annual tournament at Wellington, each department sending along a rink. No less than 16 rinks took part this year, representing the following departments :—lnternal Affairs. Railways, Lands and Valuation. Ordnance, Audit, Public Trust, Legislative. Public Works, Education, Post and Telegraph. Printing Immigration, Labor. Treasury, Justice. Insurance. Railways and Education were left in the final, which is to be played at a future date.

To Strasburg belongs the doubtful honor of having scored the world's highest price record for food during the war. In Strasburg market recently a large gnnse was sold tor 297 tnarlw (nearly £ls)—that is, about the pre-war price of a fat ox. Though estimates of deaths over the whole world "from an\ single epidemic are very difficult to form, there seem to be reasonable grounds for believing that some 6,000,000 persons perished of influenza ane fneuu --"<. durinjr the last three months o! 918.