NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 31

NOTES BY JACK.

Our good friends at Port Chalmers have at last, I am very glad to say, formed a bowling club in their pretty little town, and I am informed that their green, which as a matter of course has only been newly made, will be ready for play about the beginning of November. I am sure I am only echoing the good wishes of all the bowlers in and around the city, and the whole colony for that matter, in wishing the Eewly-formed club every success and great prosperity. I have not yet seen their green, but the first time I visit the Port I shall fossick it out, and will then be able to give a full description of it for the benefit of the readers of this column. The managing committee wisely consulted Mr Carlton, of Roslyn, as to forming the green, and he has acted as their engineer throughout. They could not have made a better choice, as no one, I think, in the colony knows better what a green should be than Mr Carlton. He has certainly pleased the Port people, as the following resolutions passed at a general meeting of the club testify: — "That the members of the Port Chalmers Bowling Club do hereby pass a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Carlton for the very able manner in which he has carried out the work in connection with the formation of the club's green, and to express their entire satisfaction with the work." Resolved also — "That as an expression of the esteem in which he is held, Mr Carlton be made an honorary member of the club." Again I say good luck to them, and I hope that "Jack," before he "turns up his toes to the roots of the daisies," will have many a pleasant game in Port Chalmers.

I would like to see two more clubs formed in the suburbs of Dunedin, and then I think the game would be thoroughly popularised amongst us. One should be at Caversham and the other at the North- East Valley. Surely the inhabitants of these two populous and rising suburbs are equal to the occasion. I need not enlarge on the subject at present, trusting that the hint I have thrown out will not be lost sight of by the residents. I know there are good players residing in both localities, and it only requires some one to set the ball a-rolling, and it will bear fruit some day. On looking over my report of tho social held by the Caledonian Club in last week's issue of the Witness, I find that I inadvertently omitted to mention that Mr Thomas Chapman played a solo upon tho cornet in his usual accomplished style, and was accompanied on the piano by Miss Moloney in "a very able manner. I am very sorry that I omitted Mr Chapman's name, but it was entirely an oversight, and I trust that he, as well as all the friends who were present, will accept this my apology for the error.

A meeting of the committee of the Bowling Association was held last week. Little or no important business was done, with the exception of approving of the draft report which had been prepared by the secretary. Evidently there will be a lot of play this season. I hear already of one club whose members estimate that they can send four rinks to the next tournament in Christchurch. That is taking time by the forelock with a vengeance. However, if we live till next February we will see how they will shape then. Time tries all.

Now that the season for bowling has fairly set in, and the various greens are in full play, a book on the subject will be found a handy companion. Such a volume is provided by James Brown, Sanquhar, in a " Manual of Bowling," published by J. Menzies and Co. Within the limits of less than 140 pages the author has managed to introduce everything pertinent to tho subject, and a well-digested index renders reference very easy. The history of the game is highly interesting, and the writer makes a good suggestion when he recommends the formation of a national central and representative association.