BOWLING TOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 6

BOWLING TOUR

QUEENSLANDERS IN NELSON OFFICIAL WELCOME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON GOODWILL MISSION MORE IMPORTANT THAN MATCH-WINNING The Queensland Bowling tourists were officially welcomed to Nelson yesterday afternoon when a match against teams | representing all the clubs in the district was played on the Nelson Club’s green. The President of the Nelson Bowling Centre, Mr A. H. Crawley, extended a cordial welcome to the visitors on the i third tour of New Zealand made by a Queensland team, and he hoped the tour would be the forerunner of biennial visits. Such tours created goodwill between the bowlers and people' of the two countries. The result of! the matches # did not matter. Nelson . had not placed picked teams on the I green, but had arranged the visitors’ j opponents in a manner so that all the j clubs in the whole of the district were represented. He hoped their visit to Nelson would be a pleasant one and that they would enjoy the games with the players who had travelled from ail parts of the district to honour the Queenslanders

Mr R. J. Morris replied on behalf of the visitors and thanked the Nelson President for his welcome. He firstly congratulated the Nelson Club on its beautiful greens and surroundings, which had been greatly developed in recent years. They were having a hurried tour through New Zealand, but the hospitality extended to them had been really wonderful. It was a privilege to visit the Dominion and to try vo further the goodwill which already existed between the New Zealand and Australian people. That was more important than the winning of matches.

Mr Morris then coni erred on the Nelson President the Order of the Kookaburra and the Order of the Teddy Bear, making appropriate presentations on behalf of the team.

Mr Crawley presented a Nelson Jubilee badge (which has been struck to commemorate 50 years of bowling in Nelson) to Mr Morris, and each member of the Nelson team presented a similar badge to his opponent. Cheers were exchanged and a group photograph taken before the matcli was commenced. RESULTS OF MATCH The particulars of the match was as follows (Queensland names first) : Behan, Ker. Richardson. Mason (s), 18; Stewart. Martin, W. Dee. Crawley (Nelson), 20. McClelland. Smith. Miller, Charles (s), 25: Dodson. Herbert. Simpson. Piper (Maitai), 21. Sea, Andrews, Day. Morris (s). 31; McGlashen, Bowers, Wilkinson, Rowling (Motueka), 26. White, Buss. Taylor, Johnston (s). 35; Petterson, Polglase, Kirk. Murray (Takaka), 17. McNicol, Rehden. Coben. Hasenkamp (s). 19: Hunt. J. T. Eden. Simpson, Eyles (Wakefield), 25. McMahon. Ryan, Siemon. Patterson (s), 21; Stratford, Win. Sutton, Smith (Richmond), 17. Totals: Queensland 149: Nelson 126. The social rink resulted : Maslen, Fink, White. Stirling (s). 20: Higgs, Bradley, McKee, Batchelor (Mapua-Murchison), 26. The green presented a very gay appearance, the Club House being festooned by the flags of Australia and New Zealand. There was a large attendance of onlookers. The tables for the afternoon tea were specially decorated with miniature flags, and the whole surroundings lent an air of gay festivity. Mrs A. H. Crawley and Mrs H. R. Dodson superintended the afternoon tea arrangements and had numerous lauy helpers. NELSON PRESIDENT ENTERTAINS In the evening there was a large party of bowlers and ladies at the Majestic Theatre, being the guests of Mr A. H. Craw’ley, President of the Nelson Centre.

A coloured plate of welcome to the Queenslanders was thrown on the screen and was warmly applauded: also a splendid (.roup photo of all the assembled bowlers taken on the Nelson green yesterday afternoon. After the pictures over 80 bowlers and ladies were again entertained by Mr Crawley at supper. Presentations were made to the four Queensland ladies; to Mr J. R. Morris. President; and to Mr F. C. Ker, manager. These were accompanied by pleasing remarks by Mr Crawley, who hoped the visitors would retain memories of their visit to “Sunny Nelson.” At the invitation of Mr Crawley the following other speakers voiced their good wishes: Messrs R W. Stiles (Centre secretary), H. R. Dodson (Maitai), J. W. Ching (Wakefield), J. G. Wilkinson (Motueka). J. W. Murray (Takaka), C. Higgs (Mapua), L. Wells (Richmond), and P. H. Kitchingman (Murchison).

Messrs J. R. Morris and F. C. Ker warmly thanked the Nelson President and bowlers for the hospitality ana great welcome extended to the Queensland party, also for the presentations made to them. They would not easily forget their visit to Nelson, with its enthusiastic people. splendid climate and beautiful surroundings. Mr Ker paid a very special tribute to the efficiency of Messrs Newman Bros.’ travel service and their excellent drivers. He also thanked Mr Crawley for studying every detail in their itinerary, thus adding, to the pleasure of their visit. Mr G. R. Hooper (Toowomba) addet a word of thanks. Mrs J. B. Rehden and Miss J. C. Hasenkamp replied on behalf of the ladies The very happy party ended with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” The visitors left for Blenheim this morning and will play the Mailborough Centre this afternoon.