NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 27

NOTES BY JACK.

I am sure all members'of the various clubs ia the colony will learn with deep regret that Mr John Ogg, the well-known member of the Caledonian Olub, has sustained a great be reavemenfc in the sudden and quite unexpected death of his wife, whioh took place on Saturday afternoon laßt. Mrs Ogg. had been ailing ! for about a week previously, bat no danger was | apprehended. Oa Friday, however, a change for the worse took placei and Mr Ogg was very anxious, but still he did not anticipate a fatal termination. On Saturday afternoon, about half past 4, after he had given her a drink of | weak maizena and water, she expressed a wish to see her medical attendant, and almost im- ! mediately away. Much sympathy ia | expressed for Mr Ogg in his affliction, as he is left with a family of six young children, and the mother's loss will be severely felt in his home. The deceased lady was of a rather reserved dispoai-, tion, but by those who knew her intimately ! she waa much esteemed, Her remains were interred in the Southern Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. The mournful cortege was a very large one, showing the esteem in which she and her husband are held. Mr Ogg is not, I regret to say, the only member of the Caledonian Olub who has been bereft of his wife during the week, Mr Harry Fenwiok, who is very well known in bowling circles in Ofcsffo, having sustained a similar bereavement. The late Mrs Fonwick died early on Tuesday morning, 17th instant, after a long 1 and painful illness, and her bereaved husband will have the I sympathy of all who know him, In proposing the health of the president of the New Zealand Bowing Association at its ! annual meeting, Mr Mitchell said that with reference to country clubs contributing towards the cost of prizes, so far as his own olub (Inveroargill) waa concerned, he might say it was just recovering from "a somewhat severe operation, and this, combined with the dull times, would probably prevent much monetary assistance being given. He explained that for some years his club had had an overdraft, interest upon which amounted to something over £15 a year. A resolution was adopted at the last annual meeting to the effect .that debentures be offered to the members of the club, and that the same be paid by equal annual dividends as the surplus funds should warrant. The 153 debentures (£1 each) are all taken up. The overdraft is paid, and it is expected the surplus | funds in June next will admit of a dividend of 63 8d in the £. The overdraft had become chronic, and like a tumour could only be removed by a surgical operation, leaving behind : it, however, a feeling of faintness not favour* able to another financial effort. The following is a copy of the debenture issued by the Invercargul Olub, and should any other club like to follow that club's example the form is at their disposal. I must say, however, that the members of the Inver-, cargill Olub are more sanguine of having a surplus than the members of any other club that I know of would be : — "Southland Bowling Olub. Loan of £150; £1 debentures.' This debenture is payable by equal dividends at the annual meeting of the club out of the surplus funds. This debenture bears no interest."' It is signed by the president, vice-president, and secretary. It is quite a pew departure in finance, and deserves publioity. There was, I believe, a feeling among the members of the association, and also among the various cluba, that 'the vice-presidentship should not be confined to Dunedin — 'that a member of the InvercargiU, Canterbury, or one of the North Island clubs should have been chosen for that honour. - I fancy, hdwever, that the fact of the Exhibition tournament being fixed to be held in Dunedin, and consequently a large number of bowlers being ex-" peoted to visit here, induced the menaberß to forego their convictions for one year, and Mr Dawson was therefore chosen. There is not the slightest doubt but that the work of enter taming the visitors is pretty well cut out, and it would have been too bad for the president ito have the whole of that work thrust upon his shoulders. The result of the election of office-bearers .ought, under these oircumstances. to meet with the hearty approval of all bowlers in New Zealand, Mr W.Carlton, the president, is one of the most energetic of our bowling men, and the association should progress well under his management. He has bean a most,enthusiastic bowler for many years, was vicepresident one year of the Caledonian Bawling Olub, and when he removed to Roslyn he was one of the principal movers in establishing the Roslyn Bowling Club, and he baa assisted materially in enabling that club to hold its own among the other cluba. He has occupied the position of president and vice-president, and proved a very active working member. He ia a leading skip, and at the last' tournament the rink skipped by him won the first prize. He contributes £10 10s to the prize fund of the association. Mr W. Dawson, who has been elected vice-president, has done a great deal towards encouraging bowling. Although not an active bowler, he has been thrice elected president of the Caledonian Club, and his firm (Messrs Speight' and Co.) presented the principal prize to the association last year. This I year he has promised on' behalf of his firm another valuable prize. 'He should prove an acquisition to the association, Mr Thomaa Moodie, re-elected treasurer, is a woll;known bowler and a very reliable man for the position. The association, at their annual meeting, 1 spoke very warmly in praise of Mr Moodie, and he is held in very high esteem. Mr Geprge Capstick, re-elected secretary, iB also an en tbudastic bowler. The Association with such officers should work well and harmoniously tosmthe*'

The STelaon Bowling Club has joined the association, The clab numbers 49 members.

I sawin last week's notes that the Napier Club propose to establish an association in the North Island. I think this idea is as yet a little premature. Let them wait nntil more clubs spring up in the North Island. At present there is not sufficient to justify them in start* ing another "head centre." The New Zealand Association can as yet easily control all the business of the various club 3in New Zealand, and my advice to my North Island friends is to bide a wee yet.