BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 4

BOWLING.

By Jack. Although the wind was at times unpleasantly strong -on Saturday afternoon, the conditions otherwise were favourable for the opening of the season, and there was a big muster on each of the six greens on which the'opening ceremonies were celebrated. The Dunedin Club’s green was very extensively patronised, and the vice-presi-dent (Mr J. M‘Crae), in the absence of Mr J. Frame (president), who returns to Dunedin this week, extended a cordial welcome to members and visitors. At the invitation of Mr M’Crae, the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) declared the green open for play, the first bowl being rolled by Miss Frame. The ladies’ section was also opened, this ceremony being performed by the president (Mrs J. Stewart). The green has probably never appeared to be in better condition for opening day, and it seemed to play remarkably well. A festive air was given to the occasion by a liberal display of bunting and by the sparkling music dispensed by an orchestra; There are few better greens than that of the Kaituna Club, and on Saturday afternoon this green presented a sight that must have gladdened the eyes of club members. The president (Mr H. S. Reid) gave a hearty welcome to one and all present, and congratulated the greenkeeper on the excellent condition of the green for opening day. He mentioned that it .was 30 years ago that his father (Mr H. W. Reid) was president of the Kaituna Club, and he (the speaker) was the first of the second generation to hold the highest office in the club. After Mrs Reid had rolled up the first bowl, the president declared the green open for 'play. Afternoon tea, daintily served, and bright music added to the enjoyment of the proceedings. The St. Kilda Club’s green was in good order for Saturday’s opening, and promises well for the season. Mr W. Thomson (president) officiated in a capable manner, and in addition to a short address" by Mr R. H. Todd (president of the Dunedin Centre), Messrs D. M. Fustier and J. J. Marlow (representing the Dominion Council) and R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Kilda) also spoke. Altogether a very happy afternoon was spent by a large gathering of bowlers, representative of the various clubs in the centre. The Caversham green was gaily decorated for the opening ceremony on Saturday, a big display of bunting, a pretty collection of flowers, and a jazz orchestra gave a festive air to the proceedings. A hearty welcome to members and visitors was extended by the president (Mr G. Will), who, in the course of his address, paid a tribute to Mr T. K. Sidey for his various services to the club, and also for bis ardent advocacy of daylight saving. Mr D. C. Cameron (vice-president of the Dunedin Centre) also gave a short address. The West Harbour green was well patronised for the opening ceremony on Saturday, and after an appropriate address by the president (Mr J. L. Page), Mrs Page rolled up the first bowl and an enjoyable game was then indulged ill. The prettily-set green of the NorthEast Valley Club was patronised by a large crowd on Saturday. Mr R. M'Lean (president) welcomed all visitors and members, and, after referring to the chib’s prospects for the coming season, declared the green open. The honour of rolling down the first bowl was entrusted to Mrs M'Lean. Mr W. Culbert represented the Dunedin Bowling Centre. The Mornington Bowling Club’s green will be opened on Saturday next. The season looks promising, as quite a number of new members has been enrolled. The green, thanks to the supervision of Mr D. Cunningham, looks to be in good playing order. The Winter Club closed with a card evening and dance, the winners for the card tournament being Mrs Fleury and Mr Hook, while Mrs Henderson won the “ lucky table ” prize. Credit is due to the president (Mr Hobbs) and the committee, for the pleasant evenings spent during the winter months. The Caledonian, Roslyn, Balmacewau, Leith, Taieri, and Kaituna Clubs will also commence operations on Saturday, and Green Island, Anderson's Bay. and Port Chalmers the following Saturday. Among Caversham Club's new members is Mr J. Lock, an ex-member of the St. Clair Club. Mr Lock skipped the St. Clair rink which won the Adess Shield on the first occasion on which it was competed for. There was a good attendance on Tuesday last for the opening of play for the season by the Caversham ladies. The weather was favourable, and the green was in fine condition. Visitors were present from the sister clubs, and officials from the Ladies’ Bowling Association, and Messrs R. H. Todd and J. C. Whitelaw from the Dunedin Bowling Centre. Mrs R. W. Johnston (president) welcomed the visitors, and spoke of the enthusiasm of the members, specially welcoming the new ones. She then called on Mrs J. Cooke, secretary of the Ladies’ Bowling Association, to. roll up the first bowl. The pavilion was gaily decorated in the club’s colours, and the outside was gay with bunting. Opportunity was taken to present the greenkeeper, Mr G. Shand, with a pipe in token of his many courtesies during last season. The opening of the ladies’ section of the North-East Valley Bowling Club took place on Tuesday afternoon. There was a large attendance of lady bowlers and friends. The president (Mrs S. C. Lawson), in declaring the green open, extended a hearty welcome to all, and 'expressed the hope that the season would be a successful one for all lady bowlers. She referred to the new, ladies’ clubs at St. Clair and Oamaru, and wished them every success. The thanks of the Valley ladies were duo to Mr Saul for the gift of two shields for the pairs’ competition, and also to Mr Lunam, the greenkeeper. Mr R. H. Todd, president of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, extended greetings and best wishes from the centre for the season. He said the ladies had been of great assistance to the centre in a number of ways, and that great interest was taken by the men in the progress they were making. Although there had been great opposition to lady bowlers at first, it was now dying down, and he was convinced they had come to stay. He made reference to a photograph taken at the opening of the St. Clair green some 25 years ago, showing a game, Ladies v. Gentlemen, in which the men had to play left-handed. He was afraid that if the men were so severely handicapped nowadays they would be badly beaten. Mr D. M. Faslier, vice-president of the Dunedin Centre, expressed his appreciation of the help given by the ladies and wished the Valley Club a happy and prosperous season. Mr R. Hanning (secretary of the Dunedin Centre) said he could only reiterate what Mr Todd-had said as to the assistance the ladies had been to the centre. Bowls was a good game for the ladies, but they should always remember to be home in time to prepare their husbands’ tea. Master Leslie Coxhead, a small boy of about four years of age, then rolled up the first bowl, and the green was declared open. Most bowlers are aware that the pending, season looms close ahead as the most important ever experienced in Wellington (writes “No. 3” in the Dominion). In the first place the Dominion Association’s big tournament is to be held here early in January, and on account of that the first representative match ever played in New Zealand is scheduled to precede the tournament here. This match was instituted last season, when New Zealand sent an official team to Australia under the management of Mr S. M. Stone (now president of the Dominion Bowling Association) to New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria: and in Melbourne last Christmas these rinks participated in the first official representative match in bowling history. Now the Commonwealth is returning the compliment by sending rinks to Wellington at the new year to try conclusions against all New Zealand rinks. Mr Marcus Marks (president of the local centre), who has just returned from Australia, has stated that we can rely on rinks coming from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Whether it will be more than one rink from each State is not at present certain, but whatever the number of rinks sent may be. New Zealand will provide a corresponding number. These games (of 25 heads) will be played on three successive afternoons (commencing on January 3) on different greens, the aggregate scores of all games to decide the issue. Messrs Benzie (Christchurch) and Smart (New Plymouth) have been appointed to select New Zealand's representative rinks, and it is understood that they will do their best to select the best bowlers, irrespective of geographical situation. This may not be the easiest task in the world, as some bowlers are slow in getting up to their best form, but both selectors have a good knowledge of Dominion howler a.

and long tournament experience to guide them in their choice. The Australian players will be lunched each day at the green on which they are engaged. There is pretty general rejoicing among the bowlers at the decision of the association to play only two games of 25 heads each in the rink tournaments this season. The fact that for some years past three games a day (of 21 heads) have been played has kept many bowlers away -from the big tournaments, as riot only does the playing of 63 heads in one hot summer’s day involve considerable fatigue in the case of a bowler well up in years, but having to do so throughout the section play of the tournament involves a certain dislocation of habit in the matter of meals and proper rest. Th green selected for play might be half or three-quarters of an hour’s journey out of town, and it may be situated in the place where a good meal is not easily procurable, and so the sum total of these inconveniences, coupled with the strain of playing three games a day, is too much for bowlers who have over half a century of years behind them. On the other hand, two games of 25 heads is ideal—one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with ample time between to have luncheon without hurrying. This is being especially appreciated by southern bowlers,' and as the result Wellington may confidently expect a larger influx of competitors from the south in January than has been the case for some time past. , The annual meeting of the Naseby Bowling Club was held on Saturday, Septemlier 22, and was attended by Messrs Kennelly (chair), W. Templeton, A. E. Brown, P. Newman, T. Flynn, T. Bremncr, F. A. Lloyd and the, secretary, H. Davis. The balance sheet was read and adopted. This showed a debit of 17s 9d. The expenditure totalled £29 14s 9d and the receipts £2B 17s. Office-bearers were elected as follow: —Patron, Mr T. Bitchener; president, the Rev. C. W. Foreman; vice-presidents, Messrs Lloyd and T. Flynn; committee —Messrs P. Newman, A. E. Brown, C. Hore; Selection Committee, Messrs Bremner and Templeton (reelected) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Davis (re-elected). The secretary was authorised to write and ask Mr Yarcoe if he would represent the club as delegate to the association, and to thank him for past services. The subscription for the year to be 30s. The Ladies’ Club wrote and asked permission to use the green during the season and also to be able to form a committee. It was decided to accede to both requests, the ladies to have the green for three half-days a week and one evening. It was decided that the ladies be requested to observe the following rule:—“That after delivering their bowl they return to the bank unless skipping a rink.” The club reserves the right to restrict play if the green is getting worn or cut up. The ladies’ subscription was fixed at 10s. An amendment to increase it to 12s 6d was lost by one vote. Mr Brown read out the statement of accounts regarding the euchre tournament, showing that there was £8 in hand and £l7 I3s iu the Post Office Savings Bank. The new fence at the green had to be paid for, the cost being £lO, the pavilion required painting, and the caretaker wanted a new mower. Mr Brown suggested that each member be asked to give 10s towaids getting a new cutter, the club to find the balance. It was left in the hands of the committee to obtain specifications and price for painting the pavilion. Mr Bremner was appointed trustee to the Post Office Savings Bank account in place of Mr R. Vaughan, who has left the district. The caretaker was granted a£s bonus, and the St. George School Committee a sum of 30s for the use of the hall during the season-