BOWLING CLUB.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 955, 20 June 1890, Page 13

BOWLING CLUB.

The first general meeting of the Wellington Bowling Club was held at the Exchange Buildings on Friday. There was an attendauce of about 30 members, and Mr C. D. Barraud (president) occupied the chair. The Secretaiy (Mr A. Barron) read the report for the year. It stated that the number of members on the roll at the end of the season was 138, as against 117 at the end of the previous season. It was pointed out that since t*e Club entered on its present grounds in March, 1887, there had been expended in forming greens and other permanent improvements a sum of L 565 33 7d. In January the Club was represented at the Exhibition Bowling Carnival by four rinks, when Mr Scoullar carried oft' the fourth prize in the singlehanded tournament, and Mr Crombie took part in the match New Zealand v. Victoria, and won a gold medal. At Easter a very successful series of matches was held on the Club green. For tho intercluh matches the playeis for Wellington were chosen by the Match Committee, and the tournament rinks were formed by ballot out of all members willing to play. This method seemed to have been pleasing to members, and the result was very gratifying to the Club, for out of four chief prizes Wellington carried off two. The visiting players were entertained by the local club, aqd the funds for the entertainment were subscribed by members for the purpose. On tfie 27 th February a special meeting of the Club authorised the purchase of the Club’s ground for L9QO, and also the incorporation of the Club under the Companies Act, 1882. At an adjourned meeting on the 20th March the purchase was duly completed, a loan being obtained at tho rate of 6J? per cent, The transaction entailed greater yearly expenditure for interest than that formerly paid as rent, but it was believed that the better security obtained for the extensive improvements made on the grounds and the increasing value of property would compensate for the additional expenditure. Since the formation of the Company 115 members had signed the articles of association arid had become shareholders. A proposal would be submitted that at least one tennis court should be formed. It was believed by the directors that this would enable the Club to maintain its present strength and it might increase the membership. There was ample room for two tennis courts, and five courts if necessary. The Treasurer (Mr K, Wilson) reported the Club’s finances up to 31st of May as follows :—Receipts, L 393 15s sd, of which L 233 12s 6d represented subscriptions and entrance fees and L 42 14s 9d cash taken for refreshments. On the side of expenditure, L 64 11s 9d represented ths bank overdraft ; LB2 19s 101 for maintenance of the green ; L3l 18s lOd toward the refr shment account ; and L2Q7 7s 9d in improv : ng the old green. A supplementary statement showed the position of the Club under its new condition, on ihe 12th of June, as follows : —Receipts, LIOGI 14s Id, which iucluded a loan of LIOOO for forming the new and L3B 12s Id as an overdraft from the bank. ‘I he expenditure just balanced this sum. The statement showed that th Q Cub had expended L9OO in purchasing the freehold' of ifis new gpeen. Dr Sfaggregqr rnoyed the adoption of the report’ I|e thought thpy might ijqjy assume that they had passed gdl (Ipe dangers of infancy, and the Club might now be considered to be in a sure position. They owed a great deal to the President and those gentlemen who had helped him in organising the Club in its new form. They could n t, he thought, express themselves too highly of the labours of those gentlemen who had shown great clearness of head and faith in the future in undertaking the work. It was very gratifying to find that 115 mem bers had signed the articles of association, and the fact that there had been no refusals showed great, enthusiasm on the part of members. The Club, financially mid otherwise, was in a better position than any other club in New Zealand. (A i ■! Liuse.) Mr A. Penty seconded the motion, v Inch was carried. The President, on behalf of himself and the ! Committee, expressed thanks to Dr Macgregor for his kind 1 remarks. Their i work had be6n d labour of love. ' !, He i then brought up the suggestion that two tennis courts should be formed. The question, of course, was one of ways and means. Mr T. K. Macdonald thought the proposal, if carried out, would add very much to the interest of the members. He

pointed out that they would have the advantage of being able to play tennis on a concrete court during tlie, winter, after the bowling seasoii was over: Beside tliis) there were many of the yotinger members who would prefer the ndore active exercise of tennis ; and if they had a regulation by which the wives of the menibers could attend the court, it would add exceedingly to the interest, of the Club. He would move that, in the opinion of members, it was desirable that the Committees should take immediate steps to form two tennis courts. He did not know that there would be any difficulty in raising the necessary funds. There was one suggestion that the mcney should be raised by subscriptions, and another was that twenty L 5 debentures should be issued. The financial statement made by the Treasurer was a most satisfactory one, and it showed that the Club was in a better financial position than any similar club in New Zealand. Mr T. W. Gale suggested that Mr Macdonald should add to his motion that 20 members should come forward and take up the L 5 debentures. * Mr A. Campbell seconded the motion. Mr K. Wilson said he could not support any expenditure for the formation of a tennis court. The money must be raised by some independent effort on the part of those members who were especially in favour of tennis. From a rough estimate he had made of the receipts and expenditure for the year, he found that their total receipts would be L 215, and their expenditure for maintenance and interest was LlB5, leaving therefore a balance of only L3O, while they would commence the year, with outstanding liabilities of L9O and LIOO. Therefore they had as much as they could do. He thought they should wait until they could comfortably provide for further improvements to the green. Mr J. Duthie thought the formation of a tennis court would add to the attractions of the green, and that those members who used the court would be prepared to pay an additional subscription. He was of opinion that one court would be sufficient for the present. * I)r Macgregar also thought that one pqurt would be enough. Mr A. Crombie ropyed as an amendment that two tenriis courts and a fives court should be fpriped, and he suggested that the necessary fupds should be raised by making .calls. Me Macdonald agreed to accept Mr Duthie’s suggestion that only one court should be formed, Mr J. O. McKerrow asked if the court was formed, was it intended to admit ladies ? (Cries of Yes and No.) He asked the question because it was a knotty one. (Laughter.) The President said ft wfiS not contemplated to admit ladies. Mr MaGdonald having replied, his motion was put in the following form : ‘‘ That the Directors be requested to proceed as early as possible with the formation of ope tepnis court, provided the necessary funds are obtainable. '’ Before putting the motion, the President said that some of the members were very much in favour of the formation of a tennis court, and he thought that if the court was formed that it would result in an increase of membership, Mr J, Reid, amidst considerable laughter, suggested that they sliou’d have a skittle alley. The motion was then put and carried, on. a show of hands, by 16 to 9. Mr A. Scoullar said he wished to move that clause 51 of the articles should be altered so that the number of directors should be increased from 7 to 9, so as to admit of the Secretary and Treasurer becoming directors. It was suggested that Mr Scoullar should give n tice of F is motion for a future meeting, and he agreed ,to do so. The election of a secretary was deferred until a future occasion. A vote of thanks having been awarded to the chair, the meeting terminated.