NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 40

NOTES BY JACK.

Bowlers will be pleased to he&r of Mr Dawson, who was at time of writing (May 30) in Inverness. Ho says : — "Wo lauded all right at Tilbury docks, and had a great struggle to get ouc traps on board the train for London, and had another fight at the London end to get ever) thing passed by tbe customs. They ransacked every trunk, and ifc was a perfect pandemonium. However, MrHopkias and I stuck to one another, aid managed to get lo ELxsll'b Hotel by 11 o'clock at night. Some of the passengers, however, did not get to their hotels till 2 o'clock in the moruiog Haxell's is in the Strand, the busiest part of London. The traffic goes on incessantly day and night I called at (he Colonial Bank and s*w Mr Gowie, the manager, and had a clwt with him. We were very much astonished to hear of Mr Leary's de*th — it muat be a great shock to his wife and family. The weather was wet aud foggy and very disagreeable, and as there were a good many of our fellow passengers going j through to Suotlaud the second day after we landed, I thought I might as well have their company and get away from the fog and smoke of London. Mr Hopkins c*ine on aa far as Glasgow. I came right through to Inverness, which I reached in 13 hours from London — not bad travelling. I took a third-clss* return to L'Hidon. Ib only cost £3, and considering (hat the third class carriages a.c as good as, if uot better fitted than, the New Zealaud first class, it is very cheap travelling. Inverness is a beautifu l place. We have hid very five weather since I came. I have had a good many games of b iwls during the few days I htve been here. The greens have a beautiful velvet tutf on them, but are just a trifle heavy. They are a lot of very gcoi fellows. — in fact, I wojld not know but what I was on a Dunedin gceen. They do not speak broad Scotch, but very similar to ■what you hear on the Dunedin greeus. The principal drink here is wh'sky, and it is of the very best. There is uot much show for brewsrs, and chtre is only one small brewery here in consequeuce. No such thing as prohibition is thought of here. They take their whisky regularly, and draw it mild. I shall have a look round the Highlands, and then work back through the various cities to London." The annual meting of the CKmaru Bowling Club wns held on Frklay night, Mr D. Patterson in the chair. The annual report showed that th" eevson 1894-95 was opened on October 11, 1894, and although the clnb has not been so victorious in its outside engagements as on previous seasons, the committee think that members will admit that it has been a very enjoyable season, and they are glad to be able to congratulate them on the financial report appended. This shows that the necessary expenditure has been balanced by the receipts, a repeated record that is of more lasting houour than success at the games, and the committee desires once again to thank the members for their liberality in enabling the treasurer to show a surplus over expenditure, which is a mo3b satisfactory proof of their loyalty to the club and attachment to the gn-me. Nine interclub matches were played, oE which two were won and seven lost. At the association's tournament, held in Dunedin on January 14, the club entered one full rink, and two for the pairs, but were not successful. At tho. Easter Tournament, held in Oamaru, wo

furnished nine entries for the pairs, and in the face of severe competition two of our members took firnfc prizi and one shared in the second prize. Messrs Gr*nt and Ke'inedv carried off the President's prize, and Mes-iv Pattewon and Turpie appropiiated Mr MA.dams. The committeo desire to record th< ir appreciation of the donors' kindness. The championship was won by Mr Neil Fleming. The committee regret; that there has lately been les? interest shown in this single match, and submit to the consideration of members lhafc some steps should be t-iken to create a greater interest in this annual cjnte-.t or that it should b9 eliminated and scm- other class of game established. The committee dtisire to record their appreciation of the cvietaker'B exertions to provide a good turf, which owing ta the encroachments of the clover plant have been moro than usually severe. In concluding, the committee desire to bring under tbe notice of members the valuable aid given by the ladies', who with most praiseworthy consideration have so frequently enhanced our euj<iyments by tho supply of tea and refreshments. — Vhi reporb and balance shout as read were adopted. Votes of thanks were accorded to the outgoing proaidenfc, the committee, the delegates to the New Z<-a!and Association, the grouudke-eper, and tha acting secretary. The folio ving were elected office-bi-arrrs for tho ensuing year : — Mr Dowling Pr sident, Mr D. M'Phersun, eecretaiy and treasurer ; committet — Mes-rs Martin, Mollison, and Turpie ; and M<«3ts Dowling and M'Poerson, were re-elected as the club's representatives on the association. It was resolved that it be a resommendation to the committee that they confer with the Phconix Club committee in arranging the dates for playing tho ibtarclub matjhes during the season. After a dis-cu-sion as to whether the champ-'ousbip match should be d^lct-d as one of tbe games of the season owing to so little interest being taken in it, it was ul im^tcly dtcidtd that ib rem.ain as at pre-ent. Mr Brown intimated that he would give a pr"zo to be pUycd in a four-bowl game for a'l those who have not won a prize.