RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 533, 15 January 1913, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

Those people who take their joy in bowls have just concluded a week of uninterrupted bliss. -The Pennant tournament at Auckland commenced on Monday and finished as the shades of e'en began to fall on Saturday. Naturally Te Kuiti was represented at the great event, and. of course, maintained the prestige of the King Country in a manner befitting the most enterprising and progressive district of the Dominion. It was just as well the Te Kuitians did not win the charnpionshp this year, as in view of the form shown by some of the younger player they would never have lost it, and the great annual contest would have been robbed of much of its at tractiveness. It must have been a strenuous week. Simple and easy and gentle as the game appears to. the uninitiated, I am credibly informed by ah ardent votary of the pastime that the strain of match playing is tremendous. Peculiar and striking qualities are indispensable in order to make the perfect bowler, while the profound Study and concentrated effort necessary to acquire the correct deportment on the green are calculated to strike terror into the heart of the ordinary man. y

A friend of the writer's; a man of wide experience, possessing a particularly well balanced brain, but cursed with a cynical strain, shows the tolerant smile when I discourse of bowls. When I strive to impart some of the enthusiasm sympathetically absorbed from another friend who is a bowler, the cynical smile broadens to the scornful, and 1 have to keep a tight hold on myself to curb the sympathetic loyalty which is due to the bowling friend. Verily, and of a truth the complexities of life are a source of tribulation to the plain, blunt man who loves his friends, even though they do indulge in bowls. However, the matter is likely to be brought to a bead shortly. The cynic declares bowls to be a highly suitable game for women, and announces his willingness to demonstrate the fact by challenging the chosen of the Te Kuiti Club to a match with a team to be picked by himself. The bold defiance has caused considerable excitement in bowling circles, and though no formal acceptance has been received it is understood the club will accept the gage. I have a horrid suspicion that the cynic is not quite single minded over the subject. It is darkly rumoured he has/had considerable experience in American bowls, and relies upon his prowess in that game to pull him tnrougb.

The Backblocks Local Bodieß Association will be meeting in splemn conclave shortly, and notwithstanding its fearsome title some people are hopeful that the association will overcome the handicap, and accomplish something worth while. A wealth of opportunity spreads itself alluringly before the delegates, and there is little doubt that in. the peaceful valley of Ohura will be shed eloquence of a high order. However, the conference is stated to be essentially a meeting of workers—men who know the things worth doing, and are desirous of en lightening the Parliamentarians concerning local matters which should be remedied. Obviously these men have set themselves a colossal task, and when the annals of the district come to be recorded, Bhould be graced with the hero's badge. Still, they are bred that way in the backblocks. There the strenuous life is lived, the battle with nature fought; and thus they are equipped for a task which might well cause even a bowler's cheek to blanch, and his grim resolution, to do or die, to waver.

Various remits are already to hand, and probably many more ' will arrive before the date fixed 'for the conference. Judging from the importance of the subjects to be dißcussed the conference should sit for about a week, but a day will probably be devoted to the work. However, it is cheerful to reflect that great events have transpired within the limits of an ordinary day; bo there is hope for the association despite the time limit. It mußt be clearly understood that the limit in this instance cannot possibly be exceeded. The day following the conference is to be devoted to the Ohura Show, and show day in the Ohura is a period not lightly to be interfered with. A disturbing thought which ruffles the writer's equanimity is whether or net it is possible for ordinary mortalß to satisfactorily survive Conference and Show on succeeding days. fortunately they breed heroes in the backblocks.