FIRST BOWLING GREEN IN PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 May 1927, Page 7

FIRST BOWLING GREEN IN PATEA.

Worthy of a. Place .in Bowling History

(By “W.K.H.’)

When iu Patea recently one of the first tilings I did was to go to the sue o-t the first bowling green established in Patea ami reiiesii my memory with regard to statements l have otten lmuic that a bowling green way termed m the tovi'u as earty as 1883, <jr two vea.i>~ betore tlie New Plymouth Club was termed. Although the old club only lasted lor one season it -hais a right to a place in bowling history ia-s the second green established in the North island, .Auckland being the hist .in 18(51. '1 he first president or the old green was Mr. Joint Milroy, Patea’* set-quo. Mavor, who died at Mauaia anil was buried at Patea. Mr. W. Taylor was secretary, he had been connected with bowling -at Melton, in Otago, before, coming to the North island. He was a big hearted jovial man who could sing a. good song -anti make himself at home in any company. Mr. AY . ilowitt wias treasurer and green superintendent, and from the- commencement ol the club took the keenest .interest m looking after the turf of the green. Mr. (afterwards* the Hon.) lhomas Fergus was patron of the club. He was contarctmg in Patea at the time, being a member of the firm o-f Proctor and liownes, who- built the railway line at Patea- besides constructing the railway wharf and; building the railway station. Must ot the green was laid out by Mr William Jackson, a bricklayer, who A lived in Patea tor lorty years. Hie building boom had come to- an end and Jack-son w-a-s out of work and took on the job at Is per hour. He put in splendid work and finished his job to the satisfaction of everyone, the green proving -a very fine one. The green was- situated at the back ot the- house where Mr. Milroy lived, and not far from the Presbyterian Church, below the ojkl fire brigade water tower on the hill. ‘ Mr J ames Paul, the father of the New Plymouth Club, often played on the green -and was a. very welcome visitor. There is no person in Patea who has a clearer recollection of the events of the old days than Mr. Harry Locker, who has lived in the district since the- latter sixties. It was my good fortune -to meet Mr. Looker during my brief visit. He remembered well that Jackson formed the green and other incidents connected with it. My time was limited and it was raining very heavily when I. visited the old spot. There- was not a soul about, and I was glad, for in that half-hour incidents and events of the past filled mind to the exclusion of all else. The green could be easily traced. although it its quite overgrown and was at the time of my visit, a neglected piece of ground. Not any remain who had any connection with. and. ms I stood, cap in hand, with the rain beating steadily on my head, my mind reverted to the fact that what a sturdy lot the old

pioneers wen:. At the graveyard hall an hour later, still in the rain, I paid my respects to their memory at many :a. graveside. I recalled with gratitude that J ilmil been privileged in my younger days to be associated with many ol them and to learn at their feet the stories el even earlier days. I low peacefully ami well they slept and how great will he their reward. It hy chronicling the above facts about the old howling green I. have rescued one historical fact from oblivion I am well repaid for my trouble for how much connected with the early days I s misquoted and oh, how much lias been forgotten and lost.