Bowling Notes

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 10 (Supplement)

Bowling Notes

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Club secretaries, or tl.o»e in charge of the social activities of their clubs, are invited to send along notices in reference to any club events. Inquiries relating to (he rules ol the game will be welcomed. Correspondence addressed to “Draw ‘ must reach this oflice not late*' than noon on Tuesday each week. Questions and Answers. “ Nutty.”—l have perused your letter very carefully and honestly I cannot understand just what you are driving at, and I am forced to the opinion that you have written your letter a little bit hurriedly. 1 make a guess that you are confusing the terms “ burnt ’’ and “ dead ” and I can in the meantime only offer you this piece of advice: —Get a copy of the new laws of tho game (1938 edition) and read laws 52 to 60 carefully and I feel sure you will get from them just what is necessary. It not, drop me a line and I will certainly try to help you out. ‘ South End.”—lf doubtful, write Mr A. P. Spiller, 68 Willis street, Wellington, who is secretary of the New Zealand Bowling Council and he will no doubt give you the information required. I am of the opinion that the matter is still receiving the attention of the council. Pavilion Pars. Many footballer have taken up bowls, and many of them have done well in the game. Prominent legislators in the game of Rugby and Soccer are also included in the membership of bowling clubs. W. J. Wallace, the well-known and popular All Black, has taken up the game and shows great promise. The Southland Centre having received permission to hold a South Island tournament, is sure to leave no stone unturned to make the gathering a great success. The Southland people are of a generous disposition, and visitors to the South Island tournament are certain to be well cared for. The tourney will commence at Christmas time and will conclude about New Year The honour of life membership conferred on Tom Gillies at the annual meeting of the Otago Club was a well deserved distinction. The recipient has done yoeman service for his club and the game in general. The Opoho Club is verv unfortunate in losing the services of C. Kettle, who has been transferred to another district. Opoho’s loss will certainly be some other club’s gain, as Charlie is more than just an ordinary club member. Kaituna Club. “ Draw ” begs to acknowledge an invitation to a social evening at the club’s pavilion on August 2. The invitation is of rather a unique design,

and the cartoons display a fine sense of humour. In these appear such as Charley and Sam, not forgetting the hard-working ’ossos, Bill and ’Arry. The programme states that there will be six good artists, a community sing for tho boys, and a court will bo held at which all the Kaituna hard cases will bo tried and found guilty. You may be a cop or on the jury, may be a defendant, perhaps a plaintiff; anyway, everybody will be in the fun. Same old pavilion, same old refreshments, same old supper. Many people will probably agree that it will be pretty “ tuff ” to have the old refreshments and old supper, but perhaps we are making “ much ado about nothing.”

Otago Club. At this club’s annual meeting held during the week some 12 new members were proposed and elected. This is a most pleasing state of affairs, and the club deserves to be congratulated on bringing about such a large addition to the membership. Another item for congratulation in the affairs of this club is the wonderful response of tho members, who subscribed a sum of £BO towards the club’s income. It had been the intention of the members to hold a gala day to raise funds, but the weather conditions on the day proposed for the endeavour made it impossible to carry on, and it was suggested to canvass the members for donations, with the wonderful result mentioned. This club, like a few others in the Dominion, is a limited company, and this form of constitution was a few years ago thought to bo a suitable form of control even for a sports body, but present-day legislation does not bear out that opinion, with the result that many clubs with company formation are looking into the question very carefully. Logan Park Club.

This club held its annual meeting during the week, and reports state that there was a good attendance of members and a good deal of domestic and general business was disposed of. The question of playing howls on Sundays was again discussed, and it was decided to rescind the previous motion that Sunday play be permitted. The argument used by one of the members opposed to Sunday play was unique in so far as bowling clubs in this part of the world are concerned. He maintained that not much use had been made of the opportunity provided last season for Sunday play, and he was of the opinion that the green should be free “ for work ” that could be done on Sundays more conveniently than on other days. This club also decided to hold its annual meeting in future in May. This seems a pity when it is remembered that remits to the centre on competition games can be sent in to the centre until June 1, so it will he seen that this club will have little opportunity of discussing these remits unless it holds a special meeting for the purpose. Dunedin Club. The annual meeting was held during the week, and there was an excellent attendance of members. The business

was got through in a very businesslike way, and for a big club it is wonderful to relate that there was not a single ballot for any position. This state of affairs denotes probably that the members are quite satisfied with the way the office-bearers carried out their duties. It was decided that the club’s championship be hold under the twolife automatic draw, as against the two-section system, and that the games be 21 heads, as against 21 points as previously, some good arguments being put forward for the preference of the automatic two lives. In calling for nominations for the Selection Committee there seemed some difficulty in getting the required number. One thing very apparent was the fact that the members favoured three selectors, but few favoured being nominated for a position on this committee. This club, as its balance sheet and trading account showed, has much heavy expense to contend with, but it is pleasing to note that it is in a healthy state.

Winter Green Opened. A ceremony unique in the history of Auckland bowling took place when the first floor of the parent club’s spacious pavilion was officially opened by the president, Mr J. Tyler, as a winter sports area. The whole length, 43ft, is laid out as a winter “ green,” 9ft wideband the rest of the area is taken up with billiards, table tennis, bobs, darts, peg qiioits, and card tables. In addressing the crowd, which included members of other clubs, for any bowlers are eligible to play, Mr Tyler commended the special committee who had carried out the work, Messrs H. Grocott, E. L. Lyell, W. White, and W. Bateman, and expressed the hope that the new pavilion would greatly increase the sociability for which the game of bowls is already well noted. Congratulations to the club were extended by Mr E. W. Inder, president of the Auckland Centre, who expressed his confidence that the club’s enterprise would be heartily appreciated by all bowlers during winter afternoons, and also in the evenings. Mr Tyler then played the first two bowls, the second one a toucher, amid applause, and announced that the new green was officially opened for the use of all the bowlers of the city.

Prominent Players of the Past. (Extract from New Zealand ‘ Bowlers’ Annual,’ 1906.)

Mr W. M'Laren’s experience as a bowler dates from 1886 when he became a member of the Kaitangata Club. During his term of membership, extending over fourteen years, he acted as secretary for some considerable time, and was president for three years in succession. At Kaitangata he won numerous club trophies, and was frequently champion of the club. The following is an excerpt from the club’s annual report of 1900:—“ Mr M'Laren has been an active member of the club since its establishment some fourteen years ago, and was one of the few who took an active interest in the formation of the club. His name is associated with the of the club, and it is partly due to him that the Kaitangata Club enjoys such a world-wide reputation.” On the occasion of his leaving the district in 1900 he was made a life member, receiving from the club as a certificate of life membership a specially valuable set of silver-mounted bowls, with which ho has won many a hardfought battle. In 1900 Mr M'Laren cast in his lot with the well-known Dunedin Club, and in a few years he was the winner of many first and second prizes:—l9oo-01 champion of club and winner of president’s trophy; 1901-02, skipped winning double with Dr Trounce; 1902-03, skipped winning double with Dr Shand, runner-up in championship to M. Sinclair: 1904-05, runner-up in championship to W. A. Scott, runner-up in vice-president’s to G. P. Mollison; 1905-06, won club rink competition (J. C. Whitelaw, A. M. Braik, W. D. Wyatt, W. M‘Laron), won vice-president’s trophy. Record of wins at New Zealand Bowling Association tournaments : singles; 1897, won the Singles; 1898, won doubles with C. Nicholson, of Kaitangata; 1901, skipped the winning double with the veteran, Tom Morris, of Dunedin; 1903. runner-up to that well-known skip J. Brackenridge in the championship rinks contest, with J. Barnes, J. C. Short, J. G. Bentley ; in 1904, won singles _ championship in 1906 he was third in the singles championship. Up to 1907 W. M'Laren had taken part in three of the tournaments held in Wellington under the auspices of the Northern Bowling Association and with some success; 1903. runner-up to W. Callnutt (Roslyn) in singles championship: 1906, skipped one of the Southland rinks which not only secured pride of position, but also scored the highest aggregate iv’mber of points in the champion two-r*ik contest, the teams being constituted as follows: —W. Burside, C. J. Goldstone, J. White, J. Hain (s.), and W. M'Donald, H. L. Darton, W. C. AII- - W. M'Laren (s.). It is worthy of note that the players comprising the two teams are all members of the teaching profession. W. M'Laren also won manv competitions in the Dunedin and Southland centres. In 1906 he won the M.C.C. Championship of Australia, the runner-up being F. Hardham, who ran into first place three years previously. On account of the matches between Australia and New Zealand being held in Melbourne while this tourney was in progress, all the States of the Commonwealth, with the exception of Queensland, wore represented. The trophy won by M'Laren consisted of a handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed. Bowlers’ Billiards. One more game and the competition will be completed, and it looks as though the Valley Club will be the first to get its name on the shield. Should this be the case it will be the first time that any club has won the competition three times in succession. The three leading teams at present are North-east Valley 48 points, Kaikorai 46J, St. Clair 46. M‘Leod, of the Caledonian Club, is playing very good billiards. In his game against Belcher he played well, and had no difficulty in defeating his opponent by a considerable margin. Barron, of Anderson’s Bay, will no doubt prove an acquisition to this club. He possesses a fine all-round knowledge of the game, and will in the near future be a hard proposition. Clubs are reminded that entries for the champion of champions must be in the hands of the secretary not later than Saturday, July 30.

Eighth Round Results. North-east Valley v. Anderson’s Bay ey names first).—Hope 164, Thomson 106; Cooke 192, Marshall 66; Tonkin 153, Perry 65; Symon 117. Peake 82; Bertcnshaw 258, Barron 165; MTlonald 88, Brooks 117; Lorden 209, Magorian 85; Colbert 178, Tillyshort 66. Valley, 7 wins; Anderson’s Bay, 1 win.

Otago v. Kaikorai (Otago names first). —Adams 112, Stewart 249; Timmings 210, Findlay 210; Walker 84. Keiler 176; Hornal 86, Schofield 154; Olsen 133, Morrison 143; Howard 150. Stanaway 148; Stabb 133, Devereux 103; Templeton 86, Morrison 154. Otago, 3 wins; Kaikorai, 5 wins.

Caledonian v. St. Kilda (Caledonian names first). —M‘Leod 150, Belcher 72; Fleming 118, Waters 192; Cornish 117, Longworth 126; Davidson 100, Lord 137; Forrester 134, O’Sullivan 130; Sugruo 106, Bardsdell 208; Little 94, Walton 182; Harris 182, Williams 173. Caledonian, 3 wins; St. Kilda, 5 wins. St. Clair v. Tainui (St. Clair names first). —Purdie 240, Jackway 101; M'Dougall 288, Adamson 152; Johnson 173, Ogg 214; Nicolson 170, Booth 196; Coombs 161, Williams 96; Anderson 157, Mills 115; Mills 133, Kean 105; Henry 110, Allan 100. St. Clair 6 wins; Tainui, 2 wins. The result or the Roslyn-Caversham game is not to hand.

Obituary. The many Dunedin friends of Captain H. C. Barcham will learn with regret that he passed away suddenly on July 5 at Greytown, where he resided with his son. The captain was a very keen chess player and bowler. While in Dunedin he played for the Balmacewen Club. Although not a bowler of merit, he derived l a great amount of pleasure from the game, and was very popular with members, more especially the Wednesday players, among whom he had a host of friends. At the time of his death he was a member of the Greytown Bowling Club, and was for a term president. Dunedin Bowler in South Africa. Mr J. H. Hinton, who was president of the Dunedin Bowling Centre some two years ago, and is the representative of the Waikouaiti Club on the Centre Executive, is at present spending a holiday in South Africa. In a letter to “ Draw ” from Durban, he writes:—“A few lines from 9,000 miles away and from totally different conditions may bo of interest to you and my many bowler friends in Dunedin. Whilst you are asleep 1 am enjoying my bowls every afternoon, seven days a week, and frequently play in the mornings as well. Time here is 11 hours behind New Zealand. When 1 was here 17 years ago, Durban had three clubs; now it has 13, most of them with over 160 members, and all with three greens. They play all the vear round, but there is no play on Mondays or Fridays, to give the greens a spell. The four municipal greens on the beach are open, however, morning and afternoon every day in the year, and 6d is charged for a full rink game. The City Council makes nearly £ljooo a year profit out of its venture. The “ season ” is on at present, and bowlers from all over Africa can be found enjoying the good old game. I skipped a rink this week—one from Cape Town, one from Johannesburg, and one from Salisbury (Rhodesia). My badges, particularly the “ rep.” one with its year bars, create a lot of interest. A New Zealand visitor is rather a rara avis, and my welcome every- 1 where leaves nothing to be desired. Early this month we motored to Cape Town by the south coast, returning by sen. I had two afternoons at Sea Point green at Cape Town and on© at Port Elizabeth, playing on the first green to be laid down in South Africa. At both places my reception was most cordial. Of course, my games at Silverton with my brother are the cream of the lot. He is as keen as I am, and we have some great fights. The weather is wonderful. We play without our blazers every afternoon.”

“ Boomerangisms.” Our friend “ Boomerang ” again provides something worthy of more than a passing glance. The subject this time is 1 How to be a Sport

Last week a Sydney player remarked to another; “If you were only able to bring a more sporting spirit into your games you would be, etc., etc., etc.” That naturally brought smiles among the little band sitting around, and one asked: “ Well—what is a sport? ” Don’t we know many of them? Of course we do. Take that chap who throws a “ frogskin ” on to the counter and calls: “Come on, boys, have one with me.” •

We know that mostly he cannot afford it, being on his last ten thousand', but there you are. He is just the most popular man in the town, a “ sport ” to his backbone. Then we met last week one who told us this harrowing story: “ I was playing solo whist, and went solo with ace. king, queen, jack, ten, two others, and the°ace of spades. “ I played my four leaders first, then switched on the ace of spades. One of the four promptly trumped' it, but as he had not previously followed suit, was out of order. “ A member of the team suggested; ‘ Oh. what about dealing them again? ’ I, being a ‘ sport,’ agreed. In the next hand they got a grand slam against my partner and self, and as we were playing two bob solo, what did it cost me for ‘ being a sporty P ” " . But let a man stick up for his rights and he’s “no sport.” Let him play to the rules and he is still that. The players in any game who are prepared to give and take represent the sports; but they who fall to the clamour to give something for nothing are something only a Josh Billings can define.

The sticking to principle, the urge to do what is right, to give as well as take in this world, make up the composition of the true sport.