KAITUNA BOWLING AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB,

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 51

KAITUNA BOWLING AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB,

The annual meeting of the Kaituna Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club was held in the Grand Hotel on the 16th. Some 40 gentlemen were present. Mr J. Waddell Smith, president, occupied the chair, ahd expressed his pleasure at seeing so many, present. The annual report of the Bowling Club read as follows : — Your committee have much pleasure in again presenting to you their annual report, and in doing so take the opportunity of congratulating members on the very successful "and enjoyable season just ended. From a bowling point of view' the past season has been a most successful one, and^the fact that the Kaituna Cub holds premier position is ample proof liiat Ilie players selected from time to time worthily upheld th^ selections made by the Match Committee. The clubs that were beaten by .Kaituna during the past season were Port Chalmers, Roslyn, Green Island, St. Clair, Caledonian, and Taieri, and the 'match against the Dunedin Club had to be abandoned on account of heavy rain setting in, so that your club never suffered a defeat in any of the interclub matches ; and your committee venture to think that all present -will readily admit that tho Match Committee — Messrs Cook, Dall, and Paterson — are to be complimented on their judgment in the selection of players. The club was also very successful in tournament matches, for as members' will perhaps reanember, at the toiirnamont held here in January last the. firsi prize in the Singles was won by 'our worthy vice-president (Mr Sneddon), and the same gentleman, together with Mr Sanders, succeeded- iv winning the first prize for 'the Doubles, whilst two other Kaituna players, Messrs Paterson and Coitman, were xunners-up fqi the 'same trophy. At Oamaru the club were again successful, and the rink consisting of Messrs J. Sanders, Fred. Smith, Payne, and Sneddon won the champion prize ; and Mr Sneddon is to be congratulated on skipping the rinks and securing first prize twice in succession al the Oainaru Easter tournament. Here also Mr Paterson worthily upheld" the honour of the club by winning the Consolation prize with the rink consisting of Messrs Coitman, Connell, Keid, and Paterson (skip). The second prize in the delegates' majtch was aiso secured by the-club, having been won by Mr Paterson, so that the season's record is one that we should all be very proud of. Members will see from a glance at the balance sheet that the expenses for the past year have been exceptionally heavy, for notwithstanding the. liberal donations that members gave towards the removal of and additions to the pavilion, the club has had to find a matter of £12. And then, again, asphalting the paths and tennis court appears as a big item — viz., some £19, odd ; and your committee thought it very stdvisable, aftei well considering the matter, to 1-urchase a new mower, which was done at a cost of £8 10s, so that these items alone mean nn expenditure of £39, and naturally have been a. tax on the funds. However, they are not re-

ciirring expenses, and we have now a very subwiantial and attractive club house, in first rate order and repair, besides having the whole oi ihe paths nicely asphalted, and your committee sire- sariguine that the" finances of the club at the end of the coming season will be very satisfactory. The total receipts > for the past season were £184 17s 2d, and the expenditure £175 ss, leaving, a- balance of £d 12s 2d at the -Union Bank; but we must not lose sight of our liability to the corporation of £60 for rent. The trophies to be presented this evening

have been won,- by the following gentlenien

President's trophy, Mr Tom Sanders; vicepresident's trophy, Mr G. B. Dall ; pairs trophy, Mr T. G-. Spiers and Mr R. H. Coltman; rink trophies, Messrs Connell, J. Park Smith, Watson, and Forrester (skin) ; colt's trophy, Mr A. "W. Stables. " , The colour badge matches have not been the great success that they were the previous season, and this is to be regretted, as these games should be an incentive to good keen play and rivalry . amongst members. However, the wet season no doubt had a lot to do with it, and ' members will- notice that there is the sum of £1 8s standing to the credit of this prize, so -that

next season the trophies will certainly be worth

winning. Your committee were nleased to notice the

number of new players on the green during the season jii3t ended, and would like io impress upon members present that if ench one \v,ould make himself responsible, say, for the introduction of one new member, the success of the club would soon be an accomplished fact. Your committee feel that it is scarcely necessary for them to remind members of the excellent condition in which our caietaker, Mr

Sanders, has kopt the green right through the season; and mention should certainly be made of, and our warmest thanks given to, the ladies who did so much in making the Satur<laj' afternoons pleasant and attractive by providing afternoon tea. The report of the Tennis Club contained

tlie following

The committee have to leporfc that there has "been a considerable increase in the membership of ' teniiis players; the list containing the names of 19 ladies and 13 gentlemen. During the aeason a s nurnber of matches were played with other clubs, both in the" town Aid country. Although our team "did not always prove victorious, the games were nevertheless most enjoyable. The journeys to the country were specially enjoyable, and we look forward to- the pleasant outings which are in store during the coming season.

There was only one thing that the tennis

players were dissatisfied with, and that was the lack of one or two more courts. There was

practically only one which could be played on •luringjbhe greater part of the season, the grass court being found much too soft to allow of an enjoyable game being played on it. The result ■was that there was a great scramble for the top court, and it was quite a common thing for some of the members to go away from the court having only played one set — about half an hour's play during the whole afternoon. _ If something is not done this season to provide at least another asphalt court it is not likely that a number of the present members will join for the coming season. On the other hand, if another court i§ provided the membership will no doubt be considerably increased. .The Chairman, in moving the adoption of me reports, said, as they were all aware, at the beginning of the year they had had to face an unusual expenditure. This was caused through the shifting of the pavilion from its original position to the one it at present occupied. The work required careful consideration, and the thanks of the club ■were due 'to those members who had given their services without stint towards the "work. He specially mentioned the assistance lent" by Mr Thomas Sneddon, the indefatigable" vicepresident. He felt sure they would agree with him that the removal of the pavilion had been an improvement. Another matter which had engaged the attention of the committee was the reasphalting of the paths, and this work had been completed, with the result they fcnew. The appearance of the end gate had been, improved, and the thanks of the

club were due to Mr Mitchell for suggesting and assisting in carrying out this alteration. Mr Mitchell had also donated several plants, which had improved the appearance of what was rather an unsightly corner. On the whole, the season had been an excellent one, despite the fact that there had been a good deal of wet weather. For the first time in its history Kaituna had come out premiers, and he was very glad this had occurred during his term as president. He was sorry that the colour badge matches could not "be carried out, but he hoped to see them played this year. During his term of office the committee had done their work well, and there had been no comj>laints. He wished to thank them and the office-bearers very heartily for the kind way they had assisted him during the year..

Mr Thomas Sneddon (vice-pi esident) seconded the motion, which was carried.

The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows : — President, Mr Thomas Sneddon; vice-president, Mr Thomas Paterson; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr R. H. Coltman; assistant secretary, Mr G. Duncan; General Committee Messrs E. Cook, W. Watson, J. Eden, PI. W. Reid, G. B._Dall, C. J. Payne, and J. W. Smith; auditoF, Mr W. Forrester; Match Committee — Messrs E. Cook, G. B. Dall, and J. W. Smith; Green Committee — The President, "Vicei-president, and Secretary; delegates to the New Zealand Bowling Associa.tion — Messrs Coltman and Pateroon.

' After the re-election of Mr R. H. Coltman as honl secretary and treasurer, the Chairman spoke in terms of appreciation of the services rendered -by Mr Coltman, and, on 'behalf of the members, presented him with a combined silver matchbox and sovereign case a,i a recognition of same.

The Chairman then presented the winners of the various competitions with their trophies. He afterwards vacated the chair ill favour of the newh -jlected president. Mr C. R. Smith moved that it 'be a recommendation to the incoming- committee to take into consideration the advisability of increasing the accommodation of the tennis courts. The tennis players felt this so much that he believed they would not object to an increased subscription if it would result in their obtaining the desired accommodation. After discussion the motion was carried..

Votes of thanks to the retiring officebearers, to the ladies for providing afternoon tea, the caretaker, and the press were then carried, and several new members elected.