BOWLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 7

BOWLING.

The Devonport and Onehunga Bowling Clubs officially open their greens this afternoon, and a cordial invitation is extended to members of town clubs to participate in the functions.

. The Ponsonby Club's greens were opened on Saturday last in tho presence of a record attendance of members and visitors from sister clubs, together with quite a number of ladies. Like their friends at Mount Eden, the Ponsonby bowlers have not been idle since last season, the improvements effected including a couple of summerhouses and two splendid croquet lawns, the latter being laid out in front of the pavilion. With its present conveniences and facilities the Ponsonby green is second to none in Auckland. The Auckland Bowling Club's opening, originally fixed for this afternoon, has been postponed till Saturday, November 7, the committee considering it unwise to open for a week or two owing to the wet weather during the past few days. Quite a number of Auckland bowlers have announced their intention of paying a visit to Whangarei on the occasion of the official opening of the green at that township, which has been fixed for Thursday, November 5. All last year's visitors will no doubt be found making the trip again, as the outing of 1902 was most enjoyable, and the good folk of Whangarei could not do too much for their Auckland guests, who spoke in glowing terms of the hospitality oi the members of the country club. lam informed that.if the Mount Eden ladies so desire, the local club will set apart the top green for them and their lady friends two afternoons ill the week to enable them

to indulge in the ancient game. Bowls has for the first time found recognition as one of the Olympian Games. It will form one of the pastimes to be competed in at the World's Fair, St. Louis, U.S.A., next year. It is probable that at the next meeting of delegates a motion will be submitted in the direction of altering the name of the governing body to the Auckland Provincial Bowling Association. A considerable amount of merriment has been caused in one of our progressive suburban districts by tho members of the local bowling club having hastily oxcised its new rule regarding the dispensing of afternoon tea. The fair sex, when acquainted with the change decided upon, whispered the word boycott." Consternation was in the air, and surrender was complete. There will be no further attempt to interfere with the ladies' prerogative on that green. In order that tho weekly notes appearing in these columns may be of general interest to bowlers secretaries of clubs are invited to contribute short newsy paragraphs on matters relating to the clubs with which they are associated, or on any points of the game they may feel disposed to touch upon. Items for the column should reach the office not later than Thursday of each week, and should be addressed to the Bowling Editor. It is to be hoped that secretaries will not overlook the invitation. i The Te Aroha Club has decided to hold a tournament during the Christmas vacation. Tho dates- suggested, December 25, 26 and 27, have been loft open pending a conference with the club's delegate' to the Auckland Bowling Association. Elaborate arrangements are to be made for the entertainment

of town visitors, and it may bo taken for granted that the Auckland clubs will be well represented. I shall be pleased to publish the tournament programme when prepared by the To Aroha Club. With his usual liberality, the president of the Ponsonby Club (Mr. James Kirker) has given n handsome trophy for the club's champion singles during tho incoming season, while the rice-president (Mr. P. Brown) has come to the rescue of tho novices with a trophy for first-year players. The trophies for tho pairs and fours will be provided by the club. The table prepared by Messrs. Alcock and Company for the purpose of testing the bowls used in competitions under the control of the Northern Bowling Association will bo of unusual size—two slates larger than a billiardtable ; hence the impossibility of sending the plant away from Wellington to enable the bowls at the Auckland tournament to be tested on the spot. It is probable that the table will bo ready for use at the end of the month. At a meeting of members held last week the president of the Mount Eden Club announced that two members (Messrs. J. Newlaud and MeMahan) had intimated their intention of contributing towards the various entertainments at the approaching carnival by inviting the whole of the visitors and the members of the Mount Eden Club to a night at the Opera House. The announcement was received with loud applause, and the generous donors wcro heartily thanked for their prospective hospitality.