THE WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT. Wellington, January 27.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 37

THE WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT. Wellington, January 27.

THE VISITING BOWLTOS. ' The gentlemen now in Wellington for the bowling tournament were taken round the harbour last Digbt in the b.b. Tutanokai for a moonlight excursion. The silver moon, however, did sot pdt in an appearance, but the stars shone brightly, and the surface of the, water was as "smooth as a mill pond." A hearty vote of thanks has baen conveyed to the Premier for his kindness to the bowlers. j The bowling tournament was resumed to-day, | the whole of the play taking place on the Wai- ; lington Club's ' green. The Champion Pairs and Fours have begun, bub are far from being completed. The weather was delightful, and it being the half-holiday in town the attendance of tho publio w»s very large. The utmost interest was taken in the playing off of the tie in the interolub match between the Newtown, Wanganui, and Wellington Clubs, in which victory gave the winners the right to hold the banner for, the year. Newtown drew a bye, and Wellington and Wanganui played first. These two olubs played fouc rinks, but in the final Nowtowu bad only three rinks and therefore one of the Wanganui rinks had to look on. For the first half of the game Wellington bad the advantage of Wanganui, but then the visitors gradually drew up and the game ended i Wanganui, 87 ; Wellington, 76. The visitor* thus won by 11 points. At 5 o'olock the Wanganui and Newtown rinks met to decide the Championship. Wanganui at once saoured a strong lead, haviDf 20 potato to Nowtowa's 1 after a oouple of heads were played, and they eventually won the banner easily by 50 points. | ' January 28, The bowling green was occupied all day in the continuation of the Champion Fours and Champion Pairs, and it will be late to-morrow before the final will bs deoided, as the match North v. South Island fs to be played In the forenoon. Should any of the games not be finished to-morrow night they will be continued on Saturday morning. Only the Ghristohurch and Danedln rinks remain in the Champion Fours, but them are 1 eeveral rinks in the Champion Pairs. It is expected that six, or at least) five, rinks will [ take part in the Inter-island Uatotu whiob. U expected to Oocuoy f out noun. .. - .

January 29. Great Interest centred in tha inter-island match to-day. The North Island led through* out, the chiaf advantage being in the rink slapped by Sample (Wellington) against Hulchtaon (Blenheim), where the score was 32 to 8. When four rinks were finished there was a tie. At the fifth the South were two ahead. Then came Sample's rink, which gave the North a good win, the final soores being : North blaud 123, South Island 101. Shortly aftor the finish of the inter-island match rain set in, and at 3 o'olock' play was stopped for the day. If tbe weather permits play will bo resumed in the morning, when Dunedin and Canterbury will play off in the final for the Champion Fours. In the semifinal of the Champion Pairs Thomson and Yatea are playing Scoular and Haynes, and Bundle and Veale play Etgleton and Rhodes. When play was stopped the first-mentioned pair wera 8 to 12, and Bagloton and Rhodes were leading tho others by Bto 5. It is still raining. January 30. Heavy rain to-day prevented the bowling tournament being completed. Bssides the final game in the Pairs, the final between Canterbury and Danedin in the Champion Fours also remains unplaced. As it was impossible to play any games to-d%y and the southern players are leaving to-night, it has been arranged that Canterbury and Dnnedin will fight out) their Championship game at ChrUtohuroh, where the tournament of the New Zealand Bowling Association will be in progress next week. As regards the Pairs, some of the players will stay until Monday and try' and finish the games, and those who cannot remain will appoint substitutes to complete the matohes tor them. February 1. The bowleri proceeded with the finish of the Champion Pairs this morning. The "twa southern rinks— the Christohuroh and Panadin clubs— who were left in the Champion Fours have arranged to play off in Christchurcb. In the Champion Pairs Rundle and Veals beat Eagleton and Rhodes by 20 to 15 : Yatei and Thomson beat Scoular and Haynes by 16 to 15. In the final Bundle and Veale (New Plymouth), after a close game, beat Yates and Thomson (Feilding) by 20 to 18 and won the Championship.