NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 50

NOTES BY JACK.

Tiiere is not much doing in bowling circles yet — "'too mncliee lainee," as oui Chinese friends would Fay, to play bowls ; and so we mnsi possess our eouls in patience a little longer wifch. us much philcscpliy as we can, and "wait until the, clouds roll by."

I have received the following letter from the secretary io the Thnaru Bowling Club: — "Kindly allow me to correct a couple of errors in your notes of the 17th inst., re Tima^u. Ifc is not a fact that the Timaru Club joined the association last yrar, as you say — we have been affiliated to the association tor a number of years past. Our representative carried off third prize only,' not first as you say. Our green has Lsen re-opened for the season, and is in coital order. Wo arc always glad to welcome visiting bowlers." I are much obliged for the correction, for although OQO

tries to be as accurate as possible these little slips will sometimes occur — hivmsnum est erraro was one of the earliest and most useful maxims I had impressed upon my system (wirh (the aid of a not too stout cane) years ago. I can only hope that'my remarks may ultimately, so far as the firet sentence is concerned, prove prophetic. I congratulate the club on the state of their green, and their hospitality to visiting bowlers is too well known to require any comment. The Caledonian and Kaituna Clubs both opened on .Saturday last. On the former the green was too wet for play, but Mr Dawaon, the president, made the best of a bad job m his ustial happy style, and made his visitois (a strong contingent from the Dunedin Club and one robust representative from Boslyn) feel that fclieir journey had not been altogether in vain. At Kaituna the green was a little drier and a short game, President v. Vice-president, was played, resulting in a win for the latter by 10 points. At the conclusion of play, Mr Sneddon, the president, entertained the" members and visitors (his deputy at the tea-table being Mrs Sneddon), all of whom, I think, must have enjoyed their afternoon immensely, and Mr Dall displayed his lino voice in the rendering- of a song (specially adapted for the Kaituna Club by one of their members) of which I ho-pe to be able to give the words next week, if he will kindly let me have them. I heard ifc last yeair at Oama.ru, and was much taken with it.

The Port Chalmers Club opened forrnnlly on the 20fch, I hear (for as Sir Boyle Roche ~put it, "I'm not a bird and can't be in two places at once"), and, like their town brethren, had to put up with more rain than play. However, they of the breezy Port do not mind a little rain, and disported themselves as joyfully as circumstances permitted, and hope en lor ''better or wone 1 ' in the mailer of weather like the' rest of us. <

The programme for the tournament to be held in Christchurch on January 14-, 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1901, has reached me. The only novelty, a3 compared with that of the last tournament (played here), is the introduction of an inter-island match "ito inaugurate in connection with tho Canterbury Jubilee what may afterwards be an annual fixture." So says the programme, and I sincerely hope itwill bo so. The only thing to growl about in tho programme is the postscript in which the ''Tournament Committee '< reserve the right to strike out the sing-le-ha.nded championship if it is considered that time would not permit it being played off." I think that the various contests may be bo arranged 'that all can be completed in time. For instance, what is to hinder a start being made at 7in the morning, instead of 9.30? That would enable one round to bo played by 8 o'clock; allow an hour for breakfast, and an hour for dinner, from Ito 2 ; then play on to 6, .and a wonderful lot can be got through. Besides, there is no diytar»ce between the grsens, and not much time would be lo3t in travelling, as ■unfortunately is the case in Dunedin, when the tournament is held here. I commend these remarks to the powers that

be. , Monday, noon. — Bain, rain, rain is still the order of 'the day, and night too, for that matter. On Sunday morning early it poured for a few hours ; again, on the same evening, it. started and continued, without intermission till nearly 8 o'clock this morning; and again it has commenced. Surely we shall have som& fine weather some time, trot when will that some time arrive ? Answer one. 'that, if yoxi can, ,yo wisacres. Some capital snapshots of bowling incident? at tire opening of the season appear in this week's pictorial pagC3 of the Avucness.