NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS IN HAMILTON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 28 October 1921, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS IN HAMILTON

‘Mr Nat- Brownlie forwards the following from the Hamilton Advertiser concerning the visit of the New Zealand howlers to Hamilton, (his native town): — . .Both as a recreative and social function, the visit was alike memorable and pleasing. r i here were main contributing factors to this very desirable result, the duel ol winch was the weather —tin 1, great desideratum in the carrying through of :ni out-of-doors gathering. The conditions were simply perfect, tlayraiu ol the early morning only tending hi make things mart 1 fresh and agreeable as the day proceeded. The visiting howlers and their lady friends, on arrival from Glasgow at the Central 1 C.lv. Station about 0.30, where conveyances wen 1 in waiting, spent the lorenoon in a drive 1 to the High Barks, visiting the old oaks, while cattle, and / adzow Castle. Reluming to Hamilton, lunch was -served in the Commercial Hotel. Provost Sir Henry S. in. proposing the toast ot " r I be .New Zealand BowKrs,” said the honour was conform! not merely because ibey were bowlers, hut because they came trom New Zealand, when I hey oi Hie ole country were brought to sic representatives of the younger part, ol theEmpire who/had done no less splendid work for it in the recent, war; when, if there was in any part ol the Empir; a. traitorous aim, it was not on flu side of those parts of the Enipin which were most distant froiu iC heart. ('Hear, hoar). They ol tin older Empire fully recognised the work done hy the sons of the. Empire, from “owr the seas.” (Applause) Tho.wnoHeed that not merely was f/his denmcratie portion of New Zealand with them that day. hut that the head ol the country was present, in London meeting (he official head of the Km pire for the purpose of drawing' th bonds of Empire closer. (Applause.) He believed strongly in Imperial ’Federation, bus in kmliing (he bonds oi Empire It mind always he with nonsenl of parlies. Tim Proms!, nexb referred io ilie advanced social Position which 11m cci.udi'v of New Zealand had taker ■in tin 1 world. They were the first to introduce, although only for a shod time, a universal penny postage; (bey were also first to introduce a nopconirihulory old age pension scheme; and in Hade they were the first ho create a Government standard for butter, cheese, and hemp, so that nothing was exported bufi what was of the finest quality, or was marked to show it was an inferior quality. (Hear, hoar.) Concluding, .Sir Homy said they were proud to meet with tbeny ;u [democrats, for the game 1 of howl inn was 'most democratic. They recognised the axiom that “on the green and under it” all men wore equal. (Applause). The afternoon game on the Hamilton green was fixed for three o’clock, and hy that time the picturesque sylvan ' enclosure in ‘Straithmoro Road was completely with spectators eager to give the visitors a rousing reception. A band of willing workers from the membership of the club had been busy from early

morning decorating the clubhouse and surroundings, and the result of thou labours was very effective and artistic. At the entrance gate was the greeting, “Welcome to Lanarkshire,” and from the top of the bowl-house there was run up the Now Zealand Hag, while from the flag-pole. at. the opposite end of the green, .instead of the usual club Hag, there floated in the breeze tbe Onion Jack, the flag ot Empire. Garden scats and chairs completely encircled the enclosure, and irom till points of view the club-house, embowered its it was timid,si, palms and hanging plants, was greatly admired bv the large‘company of spectators, included among whom were a goodly representation ol ladies. '1 he visitors on arrival tit the gieeu weu. grouped and photographed _on Unstops of the, green.'by President Anirow Brown."( Stepping on to the turl, 'die New Zealanders sang with great gusto their Scottish song of welcome die refrain of which, to the, tune oi ■■John Brown’s Body,” was “Scottish bowlers now we greet you, Scottish bowlers, pleased to meet you, We may lost 1 or wo may beat, you. As we. go bowling on. Thev followed up the sung with an cxaibi'lion of the- Maun war-cry—a .vcird and ticrcesomc incantation well calculated to have put loss timorous men than the Lanarkshire bow ers olt their game. Needless to say (.he exhibition of primitive entry mto battle, vlucb was marked Hy much icalnui, vns loudlv applauded. (The N Z, team guen contains the name of W. A. Dec, Nelson, -skip ol ■me of the N.Z. units). The game throughout was very en- ■ ivahiei’and was followed with the ■ mitesl. iulerest hy the large assemble seated on the bank. Jhe result vas practiealh a draw, three rinks on ■idler side finishing on the up ude snd three on the down sale, in he ' ..'gregate ol shots Lanarkshiie had .■ -fudili advantage. , I While the game was in progress the Indies of the"visiting party were atcompanies! by several Hand on ladies, dven a drive up Clydeside to Stoneuvres Balls. Afternoon tea was also served the largo company ol asseiu)li rl bowlers and friends bv 1 resident Grown and his good lady ol the Damhi ton Clul)' Thov were most cordially I hankod at the close of Hie game lor jdicir great hospitality” on (ho ealJ oi lUr H' J Martin, Coatbridge. . . Tbe visitors, after being cntortainou to tea in the Parish Halls Jolt lor Glasgow by the 8.7 tram. Ihey expressed themselves as greatly delightled with their visit to Hamilton.