NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 26

NOTES BY JACK.

The following are the arrangements made by the Christchurch and Canterbury Clubs as to the time and place of playing the various matohes at the bowling tournament this week :—

Tuesday, 10.30 a.m.— Christchurch green : Eoslyn v. Christchurch— lnter-club match. Canterbury green: Caledonian v. Canterbury— lnter-club match. At 3 p.m.— Christchurch green; Caledonian v. Christchurch— lnter-club match. Canterbury green: Dunedin v. Canterbury— lnter-club match. Wednesday, at 10 30 a.m.— Ohristohurch and Canterbury greens : Otago v. Canterbury—lnterprovinclal match. At 3 p.m.— Christchurch green: Dunedin v Christchurch— lnter-club match, Canterbury green: Eoslyn v. .Canterbury— lnfcer-club match. Thursday, forenoon.— Christchurch and Cantprbury greens: Single hand tournaments. At 3p.m. — Christchurch and Canterbury greens : Rink tournament.

Fbiday.— Christchnrch and Canterbury greens: Single-hand tournaments.

The following members of the Caledonian Club proceeded to Christchurch by express ou Monday to take parb in the tournament:—Messrs C. Greenslade, G. Walker, J. D. Yates, J. Blaney, W. E. Carraalt, J. S. Capstick, J. V. Lonsdale, J. Ogg, E Hogg. Messrs Dawson,'Barron,and Fish were to followon Thursday. Several players from the Dunedin Club left on Saturday, and the remainder, with the Roslyn players, on Monday morning. The carnival has been the topic of conversation among bowlers during the past week, and the results will be anxiously looked forward to. I am sorry that a complete report cannot appear in this week's issue, but, as far as possible, the latest news obtainable will be given. The teams from the Dunedia, Roslyn, and Caledonian Olubs left Dunedin for Christchurch on Monday. The interclub matches, as noted above, were fixed for Tuesday. Although the clubs from Dunedin have sent up thoroughly repre-

sentative men, the Christchurch bowlers should win every match, as it is hardly to be expected that the visitors should score a win. On Wednesday morning I notice that one interprovincial match is to be played. I presume this means the Canterbury bowlers pitted against the Otago bowlers. I should not wonder if the visitors managed to pull off this match. This will really be the first interprovincial match played in the South Island. The afternoon will be devoted to interclub matches. I predict that the Roslyn Club will take first honours, and it will go hard with the Dunedin Club if they do not win, as the visitors have had good practice on the greens, and should be in better form than on the first day. Thursday forenoon and all day Friday will be devoted ' to single-handed tournaments. Little can be said at this stage about the play likely to ensue ou those days, as it ia not knows who are likely to enter. I trust, however, that the contests will be up to expectations. On Thursday afternoon the tournament will be played off, each club competing entering two rinks, the prize competed for being the amount of the entrance money— viz., £2 10s. It is perhaps hardly safe to hazard a guess as to who will be the victor, bat I fancy the Dunedia Club's chances are the best of any, Roslyn running up second, and, as usual, the Caledonian Club at the latter end acting as whipper-in. While writing about the Caledonian Club I may mention that on Saturday it was by a very narrow squeak that they were represented at the meeting. Indeed, it was only owing to the energetic efforts of the president (Mr Dawson) that a fairly representative team was induced to promise to go. The Christchurch clubs are strongly represented, and the contests being on their own greens the prinoipal honours should be won by them, but the glorious uncertainty of the game renders an expression of opinion on the point rather hazardous.

It is a pity that the medal match between the Canterbury and Caledonian Clubs could not be played off. It would certainly be to the advantage of the Canterbury folk, but that would not count much. Ido not think the Caledonian either can or will win it, even if it is played at Oamaru ; although this places both clubs on a more equal footing. It is rather surprising that the Oamaru and Timaru Clubs did not make some effort to send representatives. I am sure it would have done them a world of good if they had done so. A match was played on the Caledonian green on Saturday by sides chosen by the President and Treasurer. The weather was superb and the green very keen. The match was won by the President's side by 67 to 47. The following are the names of the players :— President: No. 1 Rink.— J Davidson, JAm, W M White, W Dawson (skip), 18. Tbeasuber :S P Stevens, H S Fish, W M'Laren, John Ogg (skip), 17. No. 2 Rink.-G Walker, O Batfe, J M'Gregor, G Ctipßtick (Bkip), 28. W Wardrop, J Wedderspoon, J Blanov, J V Lonsdale (skip), 20. No. 3 Rink.— W Rilev, T Dramm, T Robertson, H Fenwick (skip), 21. J Price, Q O Chapman, 0 Fraser, W E Carmalfc (skip), 6. Total : President, 67 ; Treasurer, 47. A number of rink and single-handed matches for prizes were also played off during the afternoon. The extract from the letter from an ex-mem-ber of the Caledonian Bowling Club, who is at present in Melbourne, to a_ friend here, and which was published in last issue, opens up an important question to bowlers generally, and one which deserves a very great deal of attention from the various clubs. In speaking on the subject of a team from New Zealand visiting Melbourne, the wriier says : " Don't send duffers." Now, I do not for one moment wish anyone to think, nor do I say, or would lead anyone to suspect, that those only who can afford to pay their own expenses are duffers. On the contrary, there are a large number of good, nay, first-class players amongst them, but as a matter of fact, and I say this without fear of contradiction, the best players in. our various clubs are generally those who are not in such a favourable financial position as to be able to defray their own travelling expenses ; they usually comprise a class whose avocations will not allow them to spare the time to enable them to proceed upon long journeys, and in some cases, where they are not their own masters, to even hint at such a thing to their employers would be almost tantamount to leading to a resignation of their situations (a contingency in these bad times not to be thought of for a moment), because their employers could not afford lio lose their services for, say, the month or five weeks which a journey to Victoria, New South Wales, or South Australia would entail. The result, then, will be that the clubs who do wish to be represented at an intercolonial tournament will have to depend upon those who are in independent circumstances as their representatives ; and who are not, perhaps, as has been already mentioned, their fittest representatives. Even in such a short journey as to the tournament being held at Christchurch this week considerable difficulty was experienced in inducing members to go by more than one club. Times are too bad, and it causes a person who is only earning daily wages to put on his considering-cap and cogitate deeply before he finally decides to go, even if the ways and means will stand the strain of the extra expense. This is not as it should be, and it is scarcely fair to ask players to go at their own cost. Bach club should have a fund out of which representatives' expenses— railway and steamboat fees at least— should be paid. To this proposal many members might object on the score that the annual subscription is already heavy enough, but in reply I would point out that tho subscription is generally fixed at a low sum, merely enough to cover working expenses, and at the end of the financial year it is found that the revenue and expenditure just balance and no more. That proposal therefore cannot be considered a satisfactory one. There is a proposition, however, which I think would reach every member of the various clubs, and which would bring a fair revenue in, while not unduly pressing on any one. It is usually the practice in the various clubs to have rink matches amongst themselves every Saturday afternoon, each rink as every one knows, is composed of eight players. Now, let each player hand to his skip at the commencement of the game, say, Gd — a sum that would not hurt any one, — and let the amounts received from ! such a source be devoted to the payment of the travelling expenses of the members when they go forth to do battle for the honour and glory of their clubs. Of course if any one felt inclined to contribute more, so much the better. No doubt many a member who, perhaps, visits the green only once or twice in the season would not confine himself to " a tanner," but would eive a little extra, and the regular, or as they may be called the working players of the club— those who practice every day — would not grudge their sixpence on the Saturdays. The game is scarcely popular enough yet with the general public, and has not enough of excitement in it, as in the case of cricket and football, to charge for admission to the grounds, so that there is no possibility of raising funds in the form of gate money ; therefore the members are compelled to practice self-reliance, and depend on their own exertions, and consequently are placed at a great disadvantage. This is not as it should be,

for as much honour redounds to a city, province* or colony in having the most' skilful bowlers as in having best cricketers or footballers or the smartest firemen. Yet when any of these have to leave their homes and contest for the supremacy in their respective games it is by no means uncommon for their expenses to be defrayed by a public subscription and even in some instances by a grant from the funds of public bodies. Mrs Grundy might ask, " what is the use of the game of bowls ?— it is only fit for old fogies," to which the reply is, that there is as much skill required, and as much training needed to become a good bowler, if not more, than there is in any other game. It results in the devotee acquiring a true eye ; it teaches the hand and the eye to work in conjunction ;Jit develops the muscles ; and it gives gentle exercise to the whole body. Another thing, and one of as much if not more importance) it trains a person in the habits of good society and gentlemanly feelings. No club of any pretensions to the name will allow brawlers or swearers or drunkards to remain amongst its members. For these reasons, then, and for many others which could be mentioned, the game is more deserving of the support of the public at large than it receives at present. It is most gratifying to see so many young men joining the various clubs, and the more closely they follow it the better they like the game. It is quite safe to predict that in New Zealand, at least, bowling will, ere long, become as popular, as enthusiastically played, and as much enjoyed by the masses as the more robust outdoor games now are, and will therefore be as deserving of the financial support of the general public.