THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9040, 16 February 1891, Page 3

THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(From Oub Own Co:reespondent.)

The New Zealand Bowling Association's annual tournament wa3 brought to a close at Chtistchurch on Friday night by a smoke concert, and the Otago bowlers returned to their homes on Saturday. Taken altogether, the tournsipent was very snccessf ul, but there is a growing feeling that it should be abandoned or very greatly curtailed. Bowling is essentially a social, friendly pistime, and its greatest admirers contend that the keen spirit of rivalry caused by the tournament is au evil which is bound to tell against the game. Soma assert that if each club were allowed to enter only one rink and a limited number of players in tho single-handed match, the tournament could be reduced to two or three days, aud its objectionable feature 3 would disappear; but others think that it should be abolished altogether, and only the frieDdly interclub matches continued. A.9 at present arraDged, those who take part must be prepared to play from early morn to dewy eve, and then perhap3 find that they are com? pelled to abandon the contest because of a badly arranged programme. Bowlicg is a pastime in which ail should be able to take part j but to succeed in tho present tournament training is necessary, and play is changed into downright hard work. The Taieri team deserved their success in tho rink tournament, and no one grudged them the position they gained. But to attßin it they had to forego most of those little social amenities which constitute tho chief attractions of the game. Pre-eminence in the oricket or football field means a quick true eye, a steady nerve, and generslly qualities which should be of service to a young man. Bowling is a game which furnishes gentle exercise and relaxation to the business msn who has only an hour or two to spare or provides amuaement to those who are too advanced in years to indulge in other outdoor sport. To continue such cony tests as were held at Christchurch last week ip, therefore, to contiaue something in opposition to ths conditions under which bowls should be I played. It must not be thought thut the ' bowlera who visited Christchurch did not enjoy themeelvea. They met with nothing but kindness. Mr A. Grant, railway traffic manager, gained their hearty goodwill by taUiog pains to see that they were made comfortable while travelling on tbe railway. The Ohristchurch bowlers and citizens were unremitting in their hospitality. Mr P. Cunningham invited as many as he could find to his housa, where he entertained them, aDd afterwards took them round hia beautiful grounds. O.ptain Marshall made all welcome to his pretty bowling green, and dispensed profuse hospitality. The Hon. J. T. Peacock placed his grec-u at the disposal of visitor?, and opened his grounds and house to all who could visit them. Visitor were made free of the Canterbury Club house through tho kindness of Mr S. Manning, ex-mayor, and in a variety of other ways everythiug was done to make the stay of the visitors an enjoyable one.

Ib ia unnecessary to refer, to the various matches played, but it may ba pointed out tbat in the single-handed contests an unusually large number of lies occurred at the end of the 21st head, these not appearing in the scores as published. The play of the champion, G. 3. White, varied considerably, bub his coolness always gained him the clay. Hi 3 toucheat games probably were the first and last. The scores in the match with Sneddon, last year's runner-up, who had the bad luck to be drawn agaiast White in the first round, do not Bfltord any indication of the keen game ployed. Whito wa3 nearly put out by Mackay, of Oiraaru. When darkness set in, Whito had a good lead, but bis oppooed overhauled him, and at tbfi 21st head £ho scorea were cqu^l. MUckay insisted on the extra bead being played,although at t|ie timoit was so dark that it wss impossible to distinguish nny object a few foot away. With his last bowl White won the game. In the final with Tayior, the champion was five points bohkd, with only two heads to play, and bis position seemed almost hopeless; but he won with ooe point to spare. The play of the Taieri men waa always watched by a large number of persons, who

found a never failing source of enjoyment in tfio quaint Dorio phrase used, "Putt it there, Wullie," which ia now a housouold phrase in Christchurch.