BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15705, 6 March 1913, Page 10

BOWLING.

Notus nr Jack From what transpired at the meeting of tlio Council of the N.Z.B.A. oil Tuesday evening, it'would appear that in,revising the laws of the gamo some little time ago some sub-clauees were struck out, evidently under a misapprehension. Ono of these refers to the weight of bowls, and tlio other prohibited tho use in any match or tournament of bowls that have been tam-. pored with or altered by weighting. It is suggested that under the circumstances it is ' doubtful if tho Ohristchtirch Tournament Committee acted within tho laws of tho game as they at present exist in disqualifying the bowls, of a Napier player which had been transparently, weighted. As tho lams of tho game as altered aro not too well known among players, it is difficult to say whether the Tournament Committeo acted .in accordance with the strict letter of tho law. Possibly there m&y have been other grounds for disqualifying flie bowls in question. The council took no action in the matter, deferring consideration until tho Amalgamated Council 'takes up tho reins somo timo in. October next.

There appeal's to bo very little prospect of getting a sufficient- number of players to proceed to Inverca/gill to play in tho .inter-centre match, and it seems inevitable 'that tho match will have to be abandoned this year. This is sure to prove a sore disappointment to the Invcrcargili folk, w-ho, after sending up a fairlv strong team to Dunodin last year, anticipated a return visit from a fairly representative team. Even now ((it the oleventh hour it is to be hoped the Dunedin and Kaituna Chibe will tako the matter in hand and get together a combined team to play tho return imatch with tho North End Club. If this is taken in hand energetically I believe the attempt would be suocossful. The centre could tlieii decide whether such a team should be regarded as a Dftnedin Centre team. But oven if the Invcrcargili tour has to bo abandoned it is to bo hoped another elfort will be made to got together a team to play South Otago. That would only involve an absence from Dunodin of ono Saturday. South Otago wns the firstcontre to movo in theso intcr-contro matches, and, to inaugurate them, sent a team to Dunedin. It would bo a sad mistake

therefore to drop the match with South Otago. Up to tho present 40 rinks and 76 pairs have entered for the Dunedin Centre's Easter tournament. Green Island heads the Let with seven rink£, followed by St. Kilda with six rinks. Taieri Club has _ entered four riiks, and Kaikorai three rinks. Alexandra Club, Central Otago, has entered two rinks, and there is one entry from Southland. It is anticipated that the entry will bo at least 64 rinks when they close, which will bo on Thursday, 13th inst., whilo some aro sanguine that the number will reach 80. /The various clubs are pushing forward their club tics. So far only one champion has been found—namely, that for tho Otago Club, tho honour falling to J. Spinks. Tho Caversham Club contest has reached the semi-final stage, and R. Hanning (secretary to the council and centre) and Forrester have to play off in the finaL The Caversham Club's rink contcet has been brought to a conclusion. The final was played betwoen tho rinks skipped by D. Forrester and W. Blackwood. Tho gume was closo and interesting, and only singles were securfjd until tho score 6to<xl at 11 all. Then Blackwood drew away, and finally won.

Tho succces of the Green Island Club against Caledonian has given exceptional interest to the game to bo played next kakurday between St. Kilda and Kaituna. Both clubs had only one loss 60 far, and as tho Caledonians havo two losses tho winner of Saturday's contest should havo a lien on the centre's banner for tha season. This applies more especially to Kaihina Club, as teams could be put forward to make almost certainties of subsequent engagements against Wakari, Port Chalmers, St. Clair, and Knikorai. On tho other, hand, if St. Kilda is successful on Saturday, "snags" in tho way of Green Island and Dunedin remain to be disposed of.