THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11125, 18 January 1899, Page 4

THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

A LADY'S VIEW. The subjoined letter must have been sent to us (Wantjamii Chronicle) by mistake, but as the writer lias omitted name and address we insert it. Gr My dear Elsie, — We are having such fun, and Ido love Wanganui. There is a Bowling Tournament going on, and such an odd collection of men you never saw ; some of them are very nice although not much to look at. The Secretary is named _^ Mentiplay because he gives his whole mind to the game, he has a charming white costume, quite clean too, which i 3 not the case with some of them; he Btrikes the most lovely attitude when he has delivered his bowl, especially if it hits something. Goldwater has a stylish new costume of red and black, which sets off his sideboard whiskers to great advantage. It was a very hot day, but one of the teams seemed cold, for they had their collars turned up and scarves round their necks, aad turned down hats which had seen much service. The most picturesque figure on the green was Mr Fielder, cf Carterton. Ho wears a charming verandah shaped straw hat, which must have seen many tourneys, a silk handkerchief used as a waistband, and double glasses so as not to mistake a bowl for the little white thing; the costume was completed by a little packet of lollies or pink pills, which he produces at intervals. Mr G. Wright is a dear little fellow, and smokes a huge meerschaum pipe j he has a pretty blue and white costume, and grey braces to give him a finishing touch. Mr Purnell, one of the Wanganui players, looks graceful in a . costume a la W. G. Grace ; he wears a " veil round his neck instead of over his face. Mr Macey, a Blenheim gentleman, has suoh. a pretty white waistcoat, which fits him like a glove. Mr Evans is the skip of the Napier men (the skips are the men who skip about), has a strawberry and white coat, and red and white hatband, which did not go well with his auburn beard, but men seldom have good taste in dress. Denny, of Hawera, sported a variety of colors ; gold and red black coat, crimson scarf, brown hat, black and pale yellow tie, white jumper and trousers. " Charley " seems to be a well-known character, and it must have been his delicately striped trousers and nicely trimmed beard which make him play so well for Wanganui. Mr Eodwell, dressed in virgin white, with elbow sleeves, seems to make fun of everything ; some of them look so solemn, but he doesn't; he sticks his pipe in a little pipe-rack made at the back of hia trousers, an awfully good tip for your brother. Palmerston has a real doctor for their skip ; he wears a black beard and a moat talking, I mean taking, suit. Mr Bunting, another Palmerston gentleman, looked well in turned-up trousers, blue socks, white shoes, and a pointed moustaohe, with striped green, maroon and white tie. This gentleman was most artistic in his poses. Tom Brown, of Auckland, is a man after my own heart, one of the jolliest men on the green. Rev. Kempthorne, skip of the Nelson team, is a regular Father O'Flynn; I wonder whether he preaches as well as he pli ys bowls ? One player sported a blue aad white coat and red and white pants, ondj another had a green-check shirt which would make a lovely blouse. Gisborne is captained by Eip Van Winkle. I am afraid bowlers are not a truthful lot. You continually hear " you lie," "we lie," " they lie," and sometimes " I lie," but they are all so good-tempered about it ; it is wonderful. Then, if a player strikes what they call the Jack (not a man), they thank each other most politely. lam having such a good time, and wish you were here ; Borne of them are young, and not all fat and podgy as you told me they would be. Then they talk about "points," but in talking they can give points to our sex. Most of them talk incessantly, especially the skips. I have no time for more today. — Yours affectionately, Gladys.