NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1823, 29 October 1886, Page 26

NOTES BY JACK.

The Dunedin, Caledonian, Milton, Balclutha, and Lawrence Clubs commenced their season on Saturday last; the Oainaru Club on the Tuesday. From all accounts the several greens were in first-class order, and this promises well for the ensuing Beason. The matches played were Presidents v. Vice-president — the Dnnedin and Caledonians playing five rinks eaoh, Lawrence three rinks each, and Milton and Oamaru two rinks each. On all the greens mentioned there appears to have been a splendid muster of members. It seems that great improvements have been effected on the Caledonian green, and a bowl house has been erected. The president of this club, Mr James Speight, has presented the club with a flag staff and flag. The following are the names of the • players and the scores : — DUNEDIN. President. Vice-president. No. 1 Eink. CL C. Matheson G. Brown B. Baigent T. Morris T Moodie A. Thomson W. Harrop(skip) ... 12 J. Hunter (skip) ... 23 No. 2 Eink. HDodd W. Wright W Thomson T. Fogo J.M'Neill A. W. Macarthur AM'Diarmid(Bkip) 21 T. G. Young (akip) ... 8 No 3 Eink. J. Todd G. H. Marsden J. Garden W. Hislop A. Fraßer J. Jack T. Bneddon(Bklp)... 13 D. Russell (skip) ... 2T No. 4 Eink. E. Young A. Mowat J.H. Morrison W. Davia O Llloyd W. Forrester D. Baxter (skip) ... 22 J.L.Butterworth(aktp) 28 No. 5 Kink. — Siedeberg — Hudson O. M'Queen J. M'Pherson J.Thomson T. Saunders • T. Anderson (skip) 22 AIT. Anderson (skip) 23 Total 90 Total 109 CALEDONIAN. President Viob-prksident. No. 1 Eink. G- P Stewart D Campbell M Smith E Wilson 3 S Oapstick D Jones G Capstick (skip) ... 14 J Yates (skip) ... 21 No. 2 Eink. J Qebble T Dodds H Beverstock J Wain S Oonway J Davidson P Wilson (skip) ... 21 H Calder (skip) ... 14 No. 3 Eink. J C Burman 3 Blaney J M'Gregor — Braid J Wedderspoon C Greenslade JOgg(ekip) ... 19 J VLonsdale(Bkip)... 21 No. 4 Rink. H Davidson S Lister H Mitohell W M'Laren B Hogg W B Carmalft W Dawson (skip) ... 21 J Barron (skip) ... 19 No. 5 Eink. J Golder C. Fraser 3 Aria G R West H Fenwlck E Clifford CO Armstrong (skip) 21 W Halligan (skip) ... 20 Total ... 96 Total ... 95 LAWRENCE. President.* Vick-prbsident. No. 1 Eink. Urquhart M'Coy Miller Brown Chalmers Tanton President Wakefield VicepresidentEobert(skip) ... ... 23 son (skip) ... 20 No 2 Eink. Hunter Arthur Stenhouse Braik Johnston Arbuckle Harrop(sMp) ... 31 Taylor (skip) ... 13 No. 3 Bink. Copland M'Lean Gordon Griffin U'Ren Jeffery M'Donald (skip) ... 13 Capes (skip). ... 26 Total ... 07 Total ... 59 MILTON. President. Vice-president. No. 1 Eink. Hodgson Gray Bremner Lockhart " G. S. White Campbell Taylor (skip) ... 24 E. Marryatt (skip) ... U No. 2 Eink. Dewar Dyer Moore M'Laren H. Marryatt Bastings Baskefct (skip) ... 15 Twiss (skip) ... 32 Total ... 39 Total ... 46 OAMARU. President's, side. Secretary s side. No 1 Eink. temm Menzies Dooley E. Davidson Turpie Gemmel Familton (skip) ... 10 Dowling (skip) ... 24 No 2 Eink. A. Davidson Esther Perry Williamson Tait Houabon MolUson (slap) ... 17 Qreedfisia (iskip) ... 21 Total ... 27 Total ... 45 BALCLUTHA. The Vice-president's side won by a substantial majority. Fpr the information of the clubs who have joined the New Zealand Bowling Association, I again give the result of the ballot for the association's medals competitions : — Roslyn plays Lawrence, on the Milton green ; Oamaru plays Balclutha, on the Dunedin green; Dunedin plays Milton, on the Caledonian green; Invercargill plays Canterbury, on the Roslyn green ; Caledonian plays Christchurch, on the Oamaru green. I understand that the last-mentioned match will, at the request of the Christchurch club, be arranged to be played on the Dunedin green. In each of these matches the club on whose green the match is played will act as umpire. The two competing clubs in each match are to agree upon a day (see rules of association.) It was also arranged that a tournament should take place in Dunedin, and "clubs intending to compete are requested to furnish the name 6of the skips on or before the Ist December next. On receipt of entries a sub-committee will ballot rink against rink, taking care that no two rinks of a club shall be drawn against each other, and that no rink of a Dunedin club shall be drawn to play on its own green, (the Dunedin cluls are : Dunedin, Caledonian, Roslyn) ; that each rink shall pay 4s at the time of entry ; that the total value of the entrance money be spent in providing a cup for the winning club; that the game shall begin at 2.30 p.m. and finish at 5 (P.m.; that thereafter, with all possible speed, «ach okip shall take or forward to the secretary, *t Wat*j»'« Hotel, the reraltof bjspme,Bijraed

by himself and countersigned by his opposing skip ; that the secretary shall at once make up a statement showing the result of the game by crediting each club with its total winning shots, and debiting it with its total losses, and the club which has the largest majority of shots per rink over its opponents shall be declared the winner of the cup." I trust that all the clubs will give the foregoing statement of the conditions under which the tournament is to be carried out their best attention, and that entries will be sent in promptly, so as to enable the association to fix a day when it shall be played off. The following with reference to the Cunningham Cup, from the report of the committee of the Chii.»Lt.!iurch Bowling Club read at the last annual meeting, will be perused with interest:— " The club has now for three seasons in succession held the Cunningham Cup against all comers, and, considering the closeness of the contests, the efforts that other clubs, and the Dunedin clubs in particular, have made to win this the most valuable trophy ever held by any bowling club in New Zealand, the Christchurch Club have a just claim to congratulate themselves on their success, the more so as the Cup was the present of Mr P. Cunningham, a past president of this ckb. Some discussion has taken place on the system of scoring hitherto adopted in this contest, and I think that a fairer system has been proposed, and if it meets with the views of this meeting I should like to see a committee of three or more members (Mr Cunningham being one) appointed to confer with the Dunedin and other clubs on the subject. The question of requiring a fee each year from each club entering for the Cunnningham Cup contest might at the same time be considered by such committee, the entrance moneys to be expended in the presentation to the members of the winning team of some memento of their victory. At present no such provision exists, and no presentation has been made to those members of our club to whose skill and perseverance we owe the fact of our three successive victories." I shall have a few words to say on this subjecb next week.

A committee meeting of the Milton Bowling Club was held on the evening of the 19th inst. to consider a challenge which had been received from the Tuapeka Bowling Club for a match to be played on November 9 on the Milton green. It was unanimously resolved to accept the challenge, and the secretary was instructed to write the match committee to that effect. It was decided to dispose of the New Zealand Bowling | Association rules at 6d each. The secretary informed the meeting that Mr Bastings has presented an afternoon tea service as a prize to be competed for by means of risk matches. At a meeting of the match committee the following were elected to play against the Tuapeka Club in the match. : — Messrs Taylor, Lane, Gibb, J. Reid, G. S. White, M'Laren, Moore, Sprosen, Twiss, Grant, Lockhart, and D. Reid ; emergencies — Messrs Nelson, Bastings, Dwyer, W. W. White, M'Blrea, Mahoney, Bremner, E. Marryatt, and Stewart. AN AMERICAN'S DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME. Out in Jesmond, far away from the smoke and grime of the lower, old-time city, nestles Portland Park (Newcastle), surrounded by large, well-kept houses and lawns, itself beautiful in flowers and sweet-scented hedges, shady walks, velvety laws, and luxuriant trees. This is the home of our bowling club. Here is the ground upon which are fought every evening hard-contested games over which there is a great deal of rational excitement and many a laugh and jest. When I first saw the game I was surprised that a party of elderly gentlemen should waste their time in such a simple manner. There is a plot of smoothly cut grass, say 100 yards long by 60 wide. A little white ball, about the Size of a billiard ball, is thrown 40 yards from the base, and then each player in turn rolls a large wooden ball, about as large as one of the toy balloons that so delight the hearts of the youngsters on 4th of July, at this smaller ball, which is called the jack. The side having the most large bails, or " bools," as the North Englishmen call them, lying nearest the jack count that many points, the game usually consisting either of the first making of 21 points, each ball at the jack counting a point, or in scoring the most points in seven throws. That's the game of bowls as I first saw it, and an easier, more simple game I thought was never invented. Why, it was child's play. Anyone could be a good "booler " in no time at all . So thought lin my ignorance. I have since learned that a skilful man may, with hard work and constant practice, become a fair to middling player in the course of five or six years, and that in seven or eight he will be competent to play in unimportant matches. Our best player has been at it 30 years, and he is often beaten by members of other clubs, one especially, who has " booled," man and boy, nearly 50 years ; and to-day, in spite of his bowed form, he can " lay his bool reet on the jack," or make "a toucher" four times out of five.

A great deal of care is bestowed upon the " green." There is a specially elected green committee, usually made up of gentlemen of ardent temper, who never let any false ideas about hurting one's feelings interfere with the si rictest enforcement of all the rules. It is this committee's duty to see, early in the spring, that the green is re-sodded, properly rolled, and prepared for the season's work. During the season they must exercise continual watchfulness to see that it is not injured in any way, that players always stand on the mats provided for that purpose while bowling, and that no matches, cigar stubs, or anything else are thrown upon it ; and if they see any player running on the green he is immediately fined 6d, and is made pay it too.

Each player on joining the club buys a pair of bowls, which are made almost exclusively in Scotland. Bowls vary according to the taste of the player — some preferring heavy ones with a strong " bias," and others lighter ones with very little "bias." The bowls are not round, but rather orange-shaped, The "bias "is given in the peculiar turning of tho bowls, increased oftentimes by quantities of lead. The effect of this " bias " on an inexperienced player is most remarkable. He takes his stand upon the mat, grasps his bowl firmly in his hand, looks steadfastly at the jack, measures the distance with his eye, calculates the force required, and lets drive straight at the distant jack, standing back proudly to see what a beautiful shot he has made. The bowl speeds merrily along straight for the jack for perhaps 10 or 12 yards; then it gets "on its feet," and in the most unaccountable manner begins to describe a semi-circle and finally comes to a standstill eight or 10 yards to the right and five yards in front of the little jack. Inexperience tries another bowl, changing faces. Result — exactly the same, only his bowl this time stops yards away ,to the Jeft of the jack. " There must be some inequality in the ground just there, that makes the bowls act so." Not a bit of it. The ground is all right, smooth as a parjour

floor. It's the "bias" in the"bools." You must know just how far out of the straight line from base to jack, and with how much force you must roll your bowl in order to overcome this bias and make it semi-circle right up to the jack. And that is a little accomplishment that takes long and steady practice to acquire. The bowlers' vocabulary is entirely their own. For .instance, if you are going to bowl so that the curve will be from right to left, you " play the forehand," that is, the left will be the heaviest side of your bowl ; if the curve is from left to right, you "play the back hand," the heaviest side on the right. You "take plenty of grass " when your bowl has a heavy bias and the distance compels your bowl to make a wide detour before reaching jack. You are "too narro," i.e. narrow, when your bowl makes the curve' before reaching its destination and rolls away to one side. You are "too tender" when you don't reach jack, and "too merry" when you go beyond it. When you touch a bowl near the jack, arid thus move it out of the way to your own advantage, you have " rested on " the other bowl. As soon as the game is finished, " Game up " is cried, and any member not playing may then come in, one of the old players (chosen by lot) retiring. Such fun, such excitement has the Portland Park seen this summer. As early as 6 o'clock in the evening one or more rinks (a rink consists of six or, eight players, three or four on a side) are hard at it, and from that time five rinks are full till dark, and many a night games have been finished by the light of large lanterns placed near the jack. Our club is composed of 80 members, whose ages range from 28 to 70. Grey-haired veterans challenge— aye, and often defeat — youngsters who imagine because they make an occasional good shot they are players. Rare sport it is when two famous " skips " or " housekeepers " — a skip or housekeeper is the leader of the side and play last, and directs the play for the rest of his sidesuch as Dr Wikon and Mr Chambers, have two good sides matched against each other. Both are old hands and capital players, and they watch every play with the keenest interest. Chambers is a sure bowler while he has the lead, but woe betide the unfortunate who makes a miscalculation and gives the other side a point. Then the worthy skip's temper displays itself in the shape of some frightfully cutting remark about getting a new pair of boots, spoken in that tone of voice of which Chambers only is master. Wilson is just the opposite. Cool and collected, he never gets excited, never loses his head, and plays a strong uphill game. And what tugs-of-war they have ! Many a time all other play on the green is stopped to watch the struggle, and some remarkable play has been seen. On one occasion, Chambers' side had cut out three bowls of their opponents, and had the three bowls nearest the jack. Chambers bowled andmadea"toucher," giving his side four. Wilson played, " rested "on Chambers' bowls, and changed the score to one in his (Wilson's) favour. Chambers played his last bowl, rested on Wilson's, and turned the score again. Then Wilson played his last, "ran the jack," that is, rolled the jack with the bowl away from Chambers, scoring a point, and, as it was the last innings, winning the game which would have been Chambers' had it not been for the splendid play the doctor made. And such a shout went up : " Oh ! the booler ! " " Aye, hinnies, that's boolin' ! " &c, &c.

Would that I had the pencil of a Leech that I might reproduce some of our bowlers in black-and-white! The genial Wardle, enthusiastic despite his 2201b of "too, too solid flesh"; the graceful Lowe, with perfect physique; quick, nervous Tiffin, short of stature, but sure of eye and arm; cheery Summersby, broadshouldered Jurgenson, who delights in " running the yack"; the irrepressible Beall, with his never-failing •• Walk wide, gentlemen," when he wants anyone to get out of the way of his bowl ; good-natured, kindly Adams, our worthy president ; and Dixon, Hiddlestone, Donkin, Smith, Temple, Crawford, Dobson, Alder, Youll, Sweeney, and a host of others, all enthusiastic bowlers and true types of the genuine wholesouled Northumbrian. A goodly company truly.—" The Rambler's Note Book," by Robinson Locke, late American consul at Newcastle-on-Tyne.