BOWLING,

Otago Witness, Issue 1929, 9 November 1888, Page 26

BOWLING,

NOTES BY JACK. Last week I expressed a wish io learu what had become of the Dunedin Club this season. Ere my notes appeared in print, bub too late for insertion in my budget for the week, the secretary of the Bowling Association showed me a letter which he had received from Mr Mowat, the president ot that club, from which I take the liberty of making one or two quotations. Mr Mowat states that the club has postponed the return match between the president and vicepresident, as they are introducing a system of electing the teams who practice and play on Saturdays by ballot. This change is being effected in order to prevent a tendency evinced by the strong players of the club to get together into rinks by themselves, to the exclusion of the younger members, and, consequently, less efficient players. The desire of the executive of the club (and a very laudable one it is) is thab all new and weak players should have the best opportunity of being included in matches, and if any are left out now it will be entirely their own fault through not putting in an appearance to practice. Since this system has been adopted greater interest in the success of the club has been displayed by the various members than there has been for some years past, aud if the present spirit be kept up the prospects of a successful season are very good indeed. Mr Mowat thinks that the new system will prove a success, but he would prefer to see it tried for a month longer before expressing a definite j opinion. So far the contests between tho various teams chosen in this manner have been remarkably close. The green is in prime order, and since the season commenced there has never been less than 40 to 50 members present on each Saturday, and the club hopes to have many meetings with it 3 neighbour clubs' during the season. Mr T. G. Young has presented the club with two handsome ballot boxes to be used by the members when drawing for rinks. Mr Mowat concludes his letter by stating that "Mr Crump, the secretary of the club, would forward particulars of the play on Saturdays and match days." This, I regret to say, he has omitted to do so far as last Saturday is concerned ; but perhaps owing to the stormy afternoon there was no play, so I must not arrive at a hasty conclusion ai to the secretary's intentions. A meeting of delegates from the DunediD, Roslyn, Taieri, and Caledonian Clubs was held in the[Shamrock Hotel on Saturday, November 3, for the purpose of arranging the dates of the various I local club matches during the first part of the season. There were present from the Dunedin Clvb — Messrs Mowat, Moodie, and Sinclair ; Taieri — Messrs Mackte and Churton ; Roslyn — Messrs Klatheson and Elliott; CaledonianMessrs Hogg, Young, and Dodds (secretary). Mr Mowat was voted to the chair. Mr Dodds explained that he had been desired by his club to convene the meeting, and had for that purpose also invited the Green Island Club to send representatives, but had received no reply to his letter from the secretary of that club. It was resolved, however, to include that club amongst the others in making the fixtures, which were arranged as follows : —

It was suggested that these matches be played by 21 heads, except where the time has to be arranged to suit the trains, and it was agreed that the delegates meet again on the 22nd December to fix the dates of the return matches. A suggestion was thrown out, which no doubt will be acted upon at the next meeting, to have a grand field day some Saturday in the beginning of the year at the opening of the new Caledonian green, between sides composed of, say, the Dunedin and Taieri Clubs against the Caledonians and Roslyn, 10 or 12 rinks a side. This meeting to fix the local interclub matches was a step in the right direction, and as all the local clubs will be represented the fixtures will no doubt be faithfully carried out, so that there must be no clashing. Mr R. H. Leary, on behalf of the Green Island Club, has been interviewed, and it appears that that club was unrepresented at the meeting through somemistake, the secretary of the club saying that he never received any intimation of the proposed meeting. Mr Dodds, on the other hand, informs me that he posted a circular to the secretary in the same manner as he did to those of other clubs, asking that the club should appoint delegates to attend the meeting. As no reply was received, of course no intimation as to when the representatives of the various clubs would meet could be sent. As it happens, however, no harm has been done, as i Mr Leary has intimated that the club will cordially co-operate with the other clubs in the arrangements made, and will proceed to Mosgiel on Saturday first to try conclusions " with the Taieri boys onco more, and, if possible, beat them for the third time. I understand that the Green Island Club will only play two riaks ; secretaries of other clubs will please note this. The meeting (as all bowlers' meetings are) ' was a very friendly one, each representative I present seeming to vie with his neighbour in endeavouring to make the dates suit the conve- | nience of each club as much as possible, thus helping to popularise the game. From the tone of the meeting "Jack" looks forward with plea- j sure to a very enjoyable season. j The idea of opening the New Caledonian green with a grand match chosen from all the local clubs is a good one, and one I should like to see carried out, as no doubt it will be. Time games seem to be doomed, and very properly so too, but I wrote so much in condemnation of them last season that I will spare your readers, and not again advert to them this year, if I can avoid doing so. I wonder how our representatives have got on in Melbourne to day (Monday), for this was to have been their first day's play. If they succeed even as well as Carbine, our New Zealand delegate to the turf, did on Saturday — winning second prize— l will be more than satisfied. It is to be regretted that it is out of the ques- j tion for the Caledonians to go to Lawrence on Friday first, but it cannot be helped in the meantime. They must just make up their minds to go later on in the season. j Boreas at last seems to have become tired of tormenting us poor mortals. From Sunday afternoon up to time of writing a delightful change has taken place in the weather, which it is to be hoped will long continue ; and— if one could only credit old and I am afraid exploded traditions — as a new moon came in on Sunday a little more genial atmosphere may be hoped for,

The Caledonian Club. The play on Saturday afternoon on the Caledonian ground was not very pleasant, a terrible south-wester blowing all the time, and owing to the counter attraction of the laying the foundation stone of the new municipal buildings at Port Chalmers and the disagreeable weather the attendance was not large. A scratch match was, however, played between sides chosen by Messrs Wedderspota (vice-president), and Ogg (treasurer), and resulted as follow : — Mr Wedderspoon'a side.— J Stone, J M'Gregor, O J Birlow, J Wedderspoon (skip), Thomas Drumni, A Wilson, D Logan, Q-. Walker (skip), D O'Connor, W Thomson, R At Mark's, J S Capstick (skip). Mr Ogg's side.— COronln, T Yonng, T R Dodds, J Ogg (skip;, W Shephaird,' T Johnston, G Capstick, E Hogg (skip), W Wardrop, B Brown, O Fraser, John Davidson (skip). Kinks. Mr JWedderepoon ... 8 Mr J Ogg ... 22 Mr G Walker ... 12 Mr B Hogg ... 21 Mr JS Capstick ... 17 Mr J Davidson ... 23 37 66 A committee meeting of the club was held afterwards, when it was resolved that owing to the prior engagements so many of the members had made for the 9th inst., and the absence of others, to postpone the proposed visit to Lawrence to play a match with the Tuapeka Club on that day until later on in the season. Roslyn Club. The return match Treasurer v. Secretary was played on Saturday. Two rink 3 were formed; and although the wind was blowing half a gale all the afternoon a very enjoyable game was played, resulting in a win for the secretary by three points. The following were the players : — Treasurer.— W Watson, J P M'Kay, M Elliot, W Oarlton (skip) ; M'Pherson, D Scott, J Crawford, P M'Kenzie (skip). Secretary.- J S Neave, It T Wheeler, O Fountain, E M Roach (skip) ; J L Weir, T X Harty, W Wilson, R Crawford (skip). TREASURER. BECRETARY. WCarlton ... 19 B M Roach ... 29 P M'Kenzie ... 22 R Crawford ... 15 41 li Oajiaru Club. An alphabetical match took place on one day last week on the Oamaru Bowling Club's green at Meadow oank. The green was in capital order, but the weather was cold, and this probably kept some players away. The following was the result of the game:— A to L.— Cunningham, A Davidson, Dowling, Gemmell (skip) ; D Grant, R Young, Headland, Greenfield (skip). M to Z.— JMenzies, Stephenson, Mollison.Turpie, (skip) ; AtkinsoD, W Menzies, M Young, Martin, (skip). A. to L. M. to Z. Mr Gemmell ... 21 Mr Turpie ... 23 Mr Greenfield ... 22 Mr Martin ... 27 43 50 AMENDING THE ASSOCIATION'S RULES. A meeting of the sub-committee of the New Zealand Bowling Association was held on Monday evening for the purpose of considering and recommending alterations to the rules. It is' proposed to deleteJßules 7 and 12, and the following are recommended to be adopted in their places : — 7.— Clubs on admission, and each year thereafter, shall pay to the treasurer of the association fees on the following scale— viz., under 50 members, £1 10s ; 50 and under 80, £2 ; 80 and over, £2 10s ; and the subscription shall be payable on or before January 1 in each year. 12.— 1n arranging for association matches for medals and trophies, and for the convenience of clubs, the association may. if it thinks it advisable, divide clubs into districts— viz., say first, the North Island clubs ; second, the clubs north of Dunedin ; third, the clubs south of Dunedin. The Dunedin clubs proper may be balloted for— with northern clubs one year, and southern clubs the next year, and so on. 13.— Any two clubs that are balloted to play together shall be allowed to mutually fix upon a neutral green to play upon, and a member of the club owning such neutral green shall be elected umpire. If the clubs fail to agree in the selection of a green, the association shall arrange matters in j such a manner as will be most convenient to both clubs. 14.— A1l association matches shall be played 21 heads up ; the club oeouring the highest aggregate number of points to be the winner. 15.— Should two clubs agree on a day, hour, &c, for a match, notice must be given to the person acting as umpire, who must report the result of the match to the secretary of the association. 16.— Should one club fail to appear, or appear without its proper number of rinks, then the trophy shall at once be handed over to the club which complied with the rules and attended for the purpose of playing. Should only one player be absent through accident or ill health, then the leader and third player in such rink shall be allowed to play one ball each extra, provided the umpire is satisfied as to the bona fides of auch player's absence. 17.— For all intercolonial and interprovincial matches, annual tournaments, single handed tournaments, &0., a Bub-committee shall be elected to frame such conditions and rules as they think necessary for the successful carrying out of a match or tournament; such rules and conditions to be confirmed by the association. 18.— Should any officer of the association resigD, the association ohall fill the vacancy. The president for the time betag need not bo a delegate elected by any club. W. Cablton ) , D. Russhll > Committee. Thos. Moodie )

SOUTHLAND LAHD BOARD. The monthly meeting of this body, held on the 2nd inst., was attended by the Chief Commissioner (Mr J. Spence) and Messrs A. -Kinross, T. Dennis* ton, and C. Cowan. We take the following report o| the proceedings from the Southland Times. Mr Wade, on behalf of unsuccessful competitors for sections 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, and 22, Weudonaide, Bald he had been informed that the form of application provided by the act had not been complied with by those who were successful at the ballot far these st<> tions ; no declaration as to age or bona fides of the applicants having been made. He understood that the declaration in support of the application was one used for cash purchases, whilst these sections were disposed of on the perpetual lease system. — The Chairmrn pointed out thatthis land had been offered under the Land Act of 1837, the provisions of which swallowed up those of the act of 1885.— Mr Wade said that the provisions af the Land Act 1885 still existed, as it wasttonstnntly referred to in the act of 1887, part of the 35th clause of which read :— " All enactments, word*, phrases, and references throughout the said act- (the act of 1885) and the appendices thereto which shall be inapplicable in the construction of or inconsistent with the context of the said act as amended by this act, or which have been rendered nugatory by this act " shall be repealed That reference showed that the present act, whilst providing some further measures, did not profeaa to repeal certain of the provisos of the act of 1885. As it was a most important question, if the board had auy reasonable doubts in the matter, he might point out that there was still a remedy— that of referring the question to a judge of the Supreme Court.— The Chairman admitted that the form looked as if intended to be used more for cash purchases than anythißg else but if there were any mistake it had been on the part of the Government, who had not provided any other forms.— Mr Wade contended that the functions of the Land Board were to administer the law as it stood and not Bimply as the Government directed. —Mr Denniston felt bound to say that Mr Wade had' started a fatal objection to the course pursued with regard to the sections.— Mr Kinross held that there was no doubt a perpetual lessee thould sign a declaration though he had the option of taking his land as a perpetual lease or cash purchase. Applications for sections 1 to 3 and 10 to 16, block VII, and Ito 11, 19 to 22, block VIH, Wendonside, were granted as published; Mr Denniston dissenting', on the ground that the declaration was defeclive. C. G. Thurston's applications for sections sto 8, block VII, were refused, owing to informality of application, and it was agreed that they be again opened for selection. The 'following perpetual lease applications were granted :— John Milne, section 22, block IX, Wendonside ; Edward Fitzgerald, section 4 of 407 a, Hokonui ; C. S. Smith, section 57, block XII Walau; John Wilson, section 103, block Xll' Waiau ; Magnus Flaus. section 12a, block XV, New River Hundred; A. P. Inglis, sections 8 and 9a, block XV, New River . Hundred t Edward James Tanner, section 306, block XV. Forest Hill. William Paton was granted section 2, block XII, Oteramika, on deferred-payment. A. G. Earle applied to have section 6, block VIII, Wendonßide,;carried;through as a perpetual leasehold instead of on deferred-payment,— Granted. George Holloway applied for the sanction of the board to transfer his perpetual lease over section 2 block VIII, Wendonside, to J. W. Squires.— Mr Hoot appeared to support the application. MrDeaniston said that there was an important principle involved in the sanction or refusal by the board of this transfer. In order to understand the position it was necessary to glance at the history of the land opened at Waikaia. It was opened in response to a loud cry in that quarter for land for settlement. The prices and methods of tenure were all arranged for one end— to promote the settling of bona fide cultivators on the (oil. Unfortunately the Legislature had not, along with the facilities afforded for acquiring land, taken sufficient precaution to shut out speculation. The ballot system, admirable in itself, had opened the door for the intrusion of men who had no interest iv the land except as an instrument for blackmail, gambling, and legal robbery. That the land at Waikaia had been used as »uch an instrument there was abundant proof. Low prices had been put upon it to 6uit the agricultural depression of the time and to avoid the evils under which the country was groaning. The School Commissioners, sympathising with the needs of the settlers, agreed to those low prices and sacrificed a large sum of money that might have gone into their coffers to the relief of the taxpayers and of the Public Treasury. But this liberality had been to a certain extent rendered nugatory by tho land-sharking that had gone on. Applications had been made for tome of the best of the sections, solely and simply for the purpose of reselling at a higher price. That one of these casts was before the board he had not the slightest doubt, and he wouldmove— •'• That, on the ground of tho informality of the original application, or on more general grounds, the board should, in the exercise of the discretion possessed by it, refuse tho transfer." Mr Rout said ho had not expected any oppposition iv this matter. His client was not a speculator, but intended to cultivate the land, and bad already purchased fonefng material with that object. Mr Kinross, in seconding the motion, said that although Mr Rout might be correct, the present system was merely oponing the way to dummyiam and blackmailing, while the intention was to give the bona fide settler an opportunity of settling on the land. But if a person sought to transfer his land to another, and could do it within so short a period of his getting possession, there wns something wrong, and they might as well give up the whole business. Mr Cowan interpreted the act as making the ao quisition of land more easy. He theoretically agreed with Mr Denniston, and was Impressed that the application for a transfer senmed to follow rather Boon after the granting of the land. He thought that the board should have some further evidence that tlie settlement on the land was bona fide ; and should give notice that no application for transfer would to entertained until, say, a year had elapsed. He moved "That the application be refused, but that after a year's fulfilment of the conditions, the board should consider any application for a transfer." Mr Denniston abandoned his charge against Mr Holloway after the explanation of Mr Rout, and having obtained the consent of his seconder, withdrew his motion, concurring in the amendment of | Mr Cowan, which was unanimously carried. j Hugh Brskine applied for a lease of open land ndoiniDg Run 477, Waiau, for a term of 10 years at s rental of £5 per annum. — Government to be recommended to declare the land in question a run. Mr Finn, on behalf of Mr Carsons, applied to purchase section 16, block IV, Campbelltown.— Reserve to be withdrawn and thrown open for sale at £1 per acre. James P. Young asked leave to surrender section 1, block XVI, and section 6, block I, on perpetual lease, deferred-payment section 2, block XV, and license for sections 7 and 8, block! I, Longwood.— Granted. I Patrick RahiM applied to lease section 33, block IV, Aparima Hundred, offering £2 per annum rental.— Application granted. John and James Patterson appeared to protest against the proposed action of the South Invercargill Borough Council re expenditure of deferred-payment thirds.— A letter from the town clerk of that borough requested the frwd to hold the money till it amounted to a larger mm.- Town clerk to be informed that the board would follow the act in the matter. A water-race license waß granted to George Swain and party in Pegasus district, Stewart Island. The Chairman of the Waikawa Board of Wardens wrote requesting that a ranger be appointed for that hundred.— Requested to suggest a suitable person for the position. A communication from the Wyndham Road Board with reference to the expenditure of deferred-pay-ment thirds in that district was read, and it was decided to forward copy of same to Mr John BurncsA letter from Ma*rga r et Hutton regarding section 4, block VI, Waikaia, was received, and consideration delayed. T. A. Trumble applied for a lease of 100 acres m the Waikawa district.— Government to be recommended to declare tho land open at 30s per acre ana Burvey fees added. The application of Timothy Maloney to complete purchase of section 17, block VI, Makarewa, was granted. An application was read from T. R. Tanner to lease section 15, block VIII, Wendonßide, for ferretbreeding purposes.— Applicant to be referred to tne School Commissioners. f The Oteramika Road Board applied for portion oi section 75, block 111, Oteramika, as a gravel reserve. —Granted. , Tho Clerk of the Wallace County Council suemitted descriptions of read lines in Oreti, Waia»» Wairio, Wairaki, and Centre: Hill districts upon which it was proposed to expend deferred-payment thirds.— Description approved of and expenditure sanctioned. u. n «« w John M'Kay applied for permission to exchange his deferred -payment license over section W»>

Hokonul district, for a perpetual lease.— Applicant to bo informed that the proposed alteration would not be to his interest. Twelve months' exemption from residence on flection 37, block 111, Ofceramlka, was granted to Andrew T. Drake. Carl Eisk defined the area he winhed to Belect at Sandy Point under the Foiest Tree Planting Scrip regulation.— Granted at 20b per aero. A. transfer of runs 198 a, 198b, and 198 c from C. B^sstian to Dalgety and Co. was sanctioned. "•"William Handyiide applied for an area, under the Coal Mine* Act, of 10 acres on Run 143, nesr Morley. —Granted, subject to survey. The adjourned application of George Printz to reclass the land adjoining the Maori reserve at Pahia at 10s per ace was refused ; the Government to be recommended to declare the land open under Appendix II of the Land Act at 20s per acre, and Burvey fees added. The adjourned application of —Taylor to purchase 100 asres on Run 1430, Wairlo, was considered.— On the area being surveyed the board would be prepared to recommend the Governmeut to declare same open for application on deferred payment at 20a per acre and coats of survey. The Ranger reported on the improvements on forfeited section 13, block I, Woodfield, and the valuation was adopted. The following licenses and leases were declared forfeited:— James Noble, section! 18 to 21, Hodgkinson; M. A. Thurston, sections 15 and Id, block 2, Wendonside ; Frederick Sparke, sectiou 14, block 8, Wendon. Letters were read from Rnbrrt Munro, Dennis O'Oallnghan. W. J. Bourke, John Munro, and Franiii Marshall requesting the board to reduce the value of their lind, the present rentals being in their opinion excessive,— Referred to the ranger to report.

No. of Rinks. Clubs. Date. Green. plajs To bearranged Taieri Qr'n Island Caledonian „ Dunedin Roslyn Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 17 Taieri Caledon'n Roslyn ii 4 To be arranged 4 4 4 4 4 4 To be arranged „ Gr'n Island Taieri Caledonian Dunedin Lawrence „ Caledonian Roslyn Taieri Caledonian Roslyn. Dunedin Taieri Nov. 24 Nov. 24 Nov. 30 Dec. 8 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 15 Dunedin Taieri Dunedin Dunedin Roslyn Roslyn Taieri Roslyn Gr'n Island Deo. 22 IRoslyn