THE BOWLERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7027, 15 January 1910, Page 11

THE BOWLERS

Tho Wellington Bowling Club's green presented a very- animated appearance yesterday, when howling enthusiasts and others assembled to witness the final aintics of the players. Suffice it to say they surpassed even the wildest dreams, and great enthusiasm pervaded tho assembly. Afternoon tea. was provided. The greens were surrounded by a hedge of humanity all shapes and-sizes, and hero and there the light frocks of the womenkind were a welcome addition to the picture. In the .evening' a smoke concert was given .in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall, and at the last minute the powers that be relented and graciously accorded permission to the ladies who oared to do so to he present in the gallery till 9.30. One needs to have' tho olfactory nerves of ah elephant to appreciate a smoke concert. As viewed from above a smoke concert is something like a cheap restaurant ■ where tablecloths as well as ladies are dispensed with. Groups of five and. six men. gather round tables meant to comfortably seat four and talk—well, after this men need not give women all the trophies for talking, for the noise made by the bowlers was positively appalling. A bevy of curious and interested women i viewed the manoeuvres from tho security of the gallery, and'so black were: the looks' of a few of the gentlemen that several never even waited to get seats but fled incontinently. Others held their ground valiantly, and enthusiastically in Imagination (for nothing more tangible was vouchsafed them) drank tho King's health. The atmosphere began to get rather smoky, so after sitting out two or three of the choruses I the ladies withdrew, leaving the men to enjoy their "smoke-oh" undisturbed. (No doubt more ladies would have enjoyed the experience of being smokedried had they known they might at-, tend.