NORTHERN CLUB

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 263, 5 October 1936, Page 9

NORTHERN CLUB

SEASON DECLARED OPEN. GATHERING. AT- PAVILION. Despite the continued fall of rain and the gusty wind, there was a very fair attendance, on Saturday afternoon, at the pavilion of the Northern Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club for the official opening of the season. Owing to the boisterous conditions, the gathering was held in the main room of the pavilion, where the tables for afternoon tea were decorated with Iceland poppies, azaleas, mock-orange and other spring blooms.

The playing areas for all sections of the club’s activities are in excellent order, and the gardens presented a very no'at and creditable appearance. The president of the club, Mr C. N. ltabone, said he was particularly sorry that the weather was wet. He extended a welcome to all present, remarking that the members were looking forward keenly to this season because of the added opportunity for play by the observance of the Saturday half-holiday in the city. The speaker extended a special welcome to Mr and Mrs A. E. Mansford (Mayor and Mayoress) and Mr L. R. Bryant (Nelson), a foundation member of the club and president for many years, besides being a life member. To Mr J. A. Nash (president of the Manawatu Bowling Centre) the speaker* also extended a special welcome, and to representatives of the Levin and Shannon Bowling Clubs and others from the city clubs. Mr Nash said he was a life-member of the Northern Club and he took as great an interest in that club as in any other in the centre. The club had taken time by the forelock in providing an additional green, said Mr Nash, in speaking of the changed half-holiday. It was apparent that there would be a large number wishing to play on the Saturday, and it was gratifying to know that mntters were in hand for the formation of a new bowling club at Hokowhitu. Mr Nash expressed great appreciation ot the action of the Northern Club in placing both bowling greens at the disposal of the Bowling Centre for the Easter tournament. The speaker then presented to Mr Rabone a certificate for the champion of champions singles winner in the Bowling Centre’s competitions, last season, to be presented to the winner, Dir F. A. Wort. Mr Nash also presented a duplicate to Mr Rabone to by framed and hung in the pavilion. The speaker concluded by wishing the club a most Successful season. Mr Bryant said he was very pleased to be with the members again, and lie expressed his great pleasure at having been among the band oi workers.who had started the club. Dir Bryant touched on the continued labours of those who had furthered the steady growth of the club through the years. They had watched each small addition, eacn advance made and it was very pleasing to see the club in the position it ■was in to-day. He hoped that the club would always be conducted in its present happy manner and also that strangers would always be welcome. Dtr Mansford extended thanks for being asked to open the club’s season and congratulated Mr Rabone on his election to the position of president. The club had been opened 15 years ago when Dir J. A. Nash, who had had a long term as Mayor of the city, occupied that office. Dir Nash had' been responsible for the development of all the greens the City Council had anything to do with. It said a lot for Mr Nash’s confidence in the game and his interest in it that he had served the sport so well. A good deal of the credit for the popularity of the club was due to Dir P. S. Lareomb (the secretary), the Mayor added. Anything he took up lie could guarantee to make a success of. The club had been responsible for many improvements to the grounds and today there were two bowling greens, 12 tennis courts and five croquet lawns. The Saturday half-holiday would bring changes in a number of ways, but whether the policy of the” City Council in regard to the sports clubs would have to be altered in any material form was'not to be said there. In Christchurch the City Council had handed over the grounds in their rough state and the clubs had made all the improvements themselves. Whether that would do the same in future in Palmerston North he did not know, but lie thought that some of the clubs would think they were hardly done by under such a scheme. It could not have been put into operation before, but it might be possible with the increased membership. The speaker expressed his pleasure, as Mayor, at seeing Dir Brant present. He had given n great deal of his time to public service in this district. It was to be hoped that he would be able to attend the annual opening of the club for many years yet. The "speaker, in conclusion, expressed the hope that the club would have as successful a season as in the past. It was not every club that produced a champion of champions singles player. Dir Mansford then declared the season officially open.