BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 10

BOWLING

[By Measurer.] Caversham Club was favored with f fine day for the opening of the greert last Saturday, and, being the only one announced to start, there was naturally a very large attendance of members, visitors, and lady friends. Unfortunately, the green was too wet lor play, the only bowl played being the one by the president's wile. The pavilion was gay with bunting, and an orchestra enlivened proceedings. Mr H. Stubbs, the president, made a happy speech of welcome, and wished the club—indeed, all clubs—a successful and sociable howling season. He made reference to the death during the recess of Messrs Henderson and Selby, and to the influx of many new members. Mr Fastier was the spokesman for the Dunedin Centre, and others who offered greetings and good wishes were nine presidents of local clubs and Mr J. Walker (president of the Ipswich Club, Queensland). Mr Stubbs then declared the season open, and thereafter Mrs Stubbs and her assistants wer6 busy dispensing afternoon tea to 150 guests. In response to an appeal by the Salvation Army for funds lor its men’s shelter a collection amounting to £4 6s was taken up.

Invitations received to openings for to-morrow :—Dunedin Club, Port Chalmers Club, Caledonian Club, Iva-ituna. Club, Mornington Club, Green Island Chib, Roslyn Club, West Harbor Club. St. Clair Club’s opening date is Saturday, October 23. Naturally great interest will be taken in this function. We all hope that this new green is going to add another good playing surface for visiting players, as well as for the club’s own members. Too much should not be expected for the first season, bub a line may be afforded by the green’s behaviour'on the first day of play. North-east Valley, Anderson’s Bay, and St. Kilda Clubs open on October 16.

The Dunedin Club bos had several trials with a “Ransomc” motor cutter on its green lately, and, in view of the satisfaction given by the tests, has purchased it. This machine certainly wall save a considerable amount of time and labor by the greenkeeper, in addition to its work being done cleanly and with excellent results.

Dunedin Club opens its green tomorrow, and there is sure to be tin usual large attendance at this function; The secretary, Mr 11. F. M. Mercer, has been seriously ill at Auckland, but it is gratifying to be able to report that lie is improving, and his condition at present is satisfactory to Ids medical man. However, it is anticipated that he will be in hospital for another three weeks. Bowlers generally will hope to hear of, his recovery and return. His illness unfortunately, came at an awkward time for the club, but the president (Mr Jns. H. Wikinson) has impressed the services of his follow-director Mr A. J. Sullivan for matters in connection with opening day and the carrying on of the club’s affairs. Like Pooh Bah. the latter member seems to fill a multiplicity of roles for his club, and invariably in a capable way. This season Dunedin Club’s ties consist of rinks, champion singles, and handicap singles. For afternoon players there will’be the Mock Memorial Doubles. The pairs have been deleted from the programme this year. There is a likelihood of visits to the dominion from learns from both New South Wales and Queensland this season.

Ploy has been going on in the Nortl Island for a fortnight or so. The Wellington players are going in for more interclub matches this season. Tile ‘ Evening Post ’ writer says that eleven clubs havo entered two rinks each for the senior pennants, and fliirleen clubs have each entered a team of four rinks for the shield matches. This will mean that clubs with two teams in the pennants will have to put in twelve rinks on the pennant Saturdays, and those which enter for tho junior pennants will have to find still another. If a. club happens to hold the Edwin Feathers, seven rinks will ho occupied with competitive games. Tho object of increasing the representation is to afford an opportunity for more club members to participate in interclnb matches. Tho mid-week competition was so popular last year that it lias been decided to continue it this season, and to play it to a finish. With tho inclusion of the Wellington Bowling Club, there are now thirteen clubs in the mid-week competition, as against twelve last year. As each club will play the other, the play will take place every week, except during the Christmas holidays.

The activities of tho Winter Social Committee of the Cavorsham Club ceased for the year on Monday evening, when a glowing report was presented. Nine social evenings were hold during the winter, including two given by the ladies, and all were well attended and successfully carried through. The balance in hand, after paying for lighting, heating, prizes, piano, etc., amounted to £7 13s ] Od, and it was decided to vote this sum to tho club. The success of the committee was mainly due to tho zeal of the secretary (Mr J. G. Dempster), and a motion of appreciation of his services was minuted; also one thanking the ladies and the donors of prizes. Next season’s social gatherings arc already being looked forward to, especially by the ladies.

As there is an impression that a visit of Now Zealand players to Britain ia possible in 1928, doing Canada and South Africa en route, tho following information from a letter written by Mr Melbourne Orchard (London) to Mr W. ShaHarass (secretary Wellington Bowlin* Centre’) is of interest:—Mr Orchard mentions that, in future, teams from Hie dominions visiting England are goin* to lie restricted to thirty players. This will ho tho rule adopted by the International Board, and Mr Orchard expresses hcarly agreement with it. The South Africans were in Britain during tho last season, and had fiftysix players in tho party, besides others, which was too largo an order. “I hope,” writes Mr Orchard, “ th’o New Zealand Council will get a move on to have a team here in 1923. This should lie attended to speedily, because Australians are keen to pay another visit. Whatever the International Board fixes as regards numbers, I would strongly advise restricting the actual players to twenty-eight.” Mr Orchard points out Hint men on tour do not like being loft out of a. rink; therefore, ho says, the lower reserves there arc tho bettor. Ho advises getting a team Home early in Aprik so that they may have friendly I game? with the clubs before the official ! tour starts. That would enable the selectors to pick well-balanced rinks for the serious business. President H. Stubbs, in opening tho Cavcrsliam green last Saturday, raado reference to the success of ladies’ howling sections in other clubs, and suggested that the Cavorsham ladies might well make a. start. This idea is to be taken up. and Airs Stubbs has called a meeting for Tuesday afternoon next week to talk over tho matter and give it. a start. Representatives of other chibs are to be asked to he present and advise.

Many years ago a rink game was being played at Ashficld (N.S.W.). An end was almost completed— only on® bowl to be played—when a, dog rush©3 at the kitty, and, grabbing it securely, bolted from the green. The dog was run to earth, and the jack secured. The veal fun then began. The side which was counting a few shots before the intruding canine swooped down on the kitty insisted on it being replaced in its former position. Eventually, as neither side was satisfied, the dispute went to the association, with the result .that the end was declared dead.