NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 28

NOTES BY JACK.

The first annual meeting of the Wellington Bowling Olub was held on the 4th mat M about SO members being present. From the annual report, that was read and adopted, it appears that there are 138 names on the roll, as against 117 at the end of the previous season. Sin cc the olub entered on its present grounds in March 1887 there had been expended in forming greens and btber permanent improvements a sum of £565 3s 7d. The cost of the ground was £900, the purchase money being obtained on loan at 6| per cent. Obtaining a freehold entailed a greater yearly (expenditure for intercut than that formerly paid as rent, but it was believed that the better seourity obtained for the extensive improvements, made on the grounds and the increasing value of property would compensate for the additional expenditure. Sinoe the formation of .the company 115 members had signed the artioles of association and had become shareholders. There wag. ample room for two tennis courts, and five oonrts if necessary. The treasurer (Mr K. Wilson) reported the club's finances up to May 31 as follows :- Receipts, £393 15s sd, of wbioh £23312s 6d represented subscriptions and entrance fees, and £42 14s 9d oash taken for refreshments. On the Bide of expenditure, £64 11s 9d represented- s the bank overdraft ; £82 Ids 10d for maintenance of the green ; £31 18s lOd toward the refreshment aocount ; and £207 7s 9d in improving the old green. A Bnpplemontary statement showed the .position of the olub under its new condition, on June 12, as follows :— Receipts, £1061 14s Id, which included a loan of £1000 for forming the new green,' and £88 12s ld;aa;an' overdraft from the bank. The expenditure just balanced this sum. In moving the. adoption of the report Dr Maogregor Baid the olub, financially and , otherwise, wai.in a,, better position than any other olub in New Zealand. It has been decided to form a tennis-court in the grounds. Mr H. A. Andrew, hon. sqcretary of the M.0.8.0.,| writes as follows from Maheno on the 7th to the Daily Times :--I noticed an item in your issue of July 3 re bowling on a carpet being the latest novelty. Just for the sake of information I may say that it is no novelty, as it is a game introduced in the Old Country some 20 years ago. I have played the same kind of china bowls on the lawn at that time baok, the balls being intended for the lawn or indoors. The principle of the game is the same as on the green or curling. Bight pair of bowls of different colour form a full set, with one white spot 'ball for the lawn, which, of course, is not. required on the carpet, on which are made three rings and a centre spot ; diameter of outer ring about the width of carpet, length of same, about 24ft ; a base line at the end and. one 4ft from outer ring, which mustbe played over. No ball oounts outside ring. The game is a very good and sooiuble pas« time in the winter, especially in the country, and quite as good a substitute for tha green as roller skating is to ice skating. There are some,/ no doubt, think it, is very Bi'mple, but v they find there is a great deal more play in it than they imagine, and requires a lot of practice. We have had a v club here seven or eight years. Messrs Matheson Bros, were the first importers of ' the balls, I believe. Ido not know' if they are to be had in town now. The Kakanui Club bad great difficulty in getting balls last season ; they obtained two sets from Christohuroh, but they were no good whatever, being too soft and small, and they split them up in a night or two. I should think the Milton Pottery ought to be able to make them; any way, they must be made of some extraordinarily strong material, as I use the' same pair I used from the start, and they have stood a great amount of battering. Some gentlemen have private sets for their houses in Oamaru, and if the balls were to be had I feel sure more interest might be got up in the game. I hear they have lately started a club in Waimate. We shall be glad of more new opponents — the more the merrier. The carpet should be two strips of the widest felt, and matting at the bottom is better.