EARLY BOWLING DAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 12

EARLY BOWLING DAYS

ONEHUNGA CLUB ACTIVITIES ORIGINAL OFFICE-BEARERS An historic memento of tho Onehunga Bowling Club was produced on Saturday last by Mr. E. J. Gatland, the president, on tho occasion of the official opening of tho 1932-33 season. The relic, which is in tho form of a booklet, was published somo 30 years ago and it will doubtless evoke a sigh of sadness in tho breast of many a veteran in the bowling world to-day from tho fact that with a few exceptions all "those who took an active part in tho early history of tho club have now passed away. Tho first meeting for tho purpose of forming a bowling club was held in the public hall, Onehunga, on August 17, 1901, and tho club was duly registered on January 29, 1902. Operations to form the green were commenced in tho following March and tho green was opened with "much eclat and success" on November 20, 1902. At the close of the season a successful smoke concert was hold in the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga, on May 16, 1903. The membership then was 74. Tho first president was Mr. C. C. Fleming, who was succeeded by the Rev. Georgo Brown, M.A., and Mr. M. H. Wynyard. The vice-presidents were Messrs. D. Sutherland (Mayor), I). Neilson, A. Pittar and Dr. Pabst; committee, Messrs. Georgo Brown, John Neill, W. D. McLean, T. Hale, J. W. Whyte, J. N. Rishworth; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. James Robb; hon„ auditor, Mr. S. J. Brookfield; green superintendent, Mr. W. D. McLean; match committee, Messrs. McLean, Brown, Captain J. S. Nealo and the secretary. Tho memento is rendered complete by the inclusion of a list of competition winners in the 1902-3 season and also of several rhymes and conundrums by Messrs. M. IL Wynyard and Tilson Smith, introducing in whimsical vein the names of the various players. The production is in a good state of preservation and affords interesting testimony to tho activities of a past generation of bowlers.