DUNEDIN BOWLING CLUB,

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 58

DUNEDIN BOWLING CLUB,

The annual meetiug of the Dunedin Bowling, Lawn Tennis, and Fives Club was hold in the pavilion on Friday evening, and was well attended, between 40 and 50 members being present. The president (Mr J. C. Short) occupied the chair.

The following is a summary of the annual report subrritted: —

In presenting an account of another year's stewardship, your committee have pleasure in congratulating members on another peaceful and prosperous year. Finance. The year closes with x credit of £19 13s 9d, but it has t> be observed that from the year's revenue has been paid 18 months' rent, thus paying to June 30, while the number of dcbentiiros has been reduced by 20, and a few outstanding liabilities from last year paid off. There arc now virtually nu liabilities save the debentures, now 147 in number. The committee desire to place on record their st-nso of the generosity of those members who have surrendered their debentures at a discount. The committee have managed the finances vth economy, and with due regard to the best interests of the club. During the year Mr T. Moodie, after holding the office of treasurer for many years, found it necessary, owing to private engagements, to resign, and the committee placed on record its appreciation of Mr Moodie's services. Mr Stewart wa,s appointed treasurer until the annual meeting. Membership The full membership increased from 86 to 95, and honorary and tennis declined to 19 and 11 respectively. The committee feel that members can greatly assist by introducing new members. Pavilion. The energy of the president, backed up by subscriptions of members, .resulted in the erection of a very serviceable shelter pavilion on the sunny side of the ground, for the design of which the a!ub is indebted to Mr Hislop. Green Owing to the unfavourable nature of the season, •which actually opened in snow, the number of playing days was much below the average. The gTeenkeeper is taking keen interest ir» liib work, and the committee hope to se«> his labours result next season in a firstclass green. Matches ; In the lateiciub con-

" tests, the club -were finally placed in the proud position of premier club of the Dunedin district, being bsaten only by the St. Olair Club. They thereby become holders for the coming year of the N.Z.B.A.'s district penant and of the Mackie snuff mull. Pleasant interchanges of matoheo took place, Phoenix and Milton visiting us, and -we Milton and Kaitangata. These clubs show that they have excellent material for play, and Phcenix beat us on our own green. At Christchurch, though, we did not take the premier place in any department, Messrs M'Laren, Be-ntley, Short, and Barnes secured second place, and Messrs Sinclair, Burn side, John, and Barth third place. At the Oamaru tournament Hunter's rink was first; Thomson and Barnes first in ths Doubles, and Gillies and Gilmour third. Club contests: These resulted as follows: — Colts' prize, W. A. Scott; vioe-presid'ent's, A. Gillies; presidents, G. P. Mollison; champion, M. Sinclair; four bowl — M'Laren and Dx -Shftad 1> A FraseT aod J. Rennie 2; rinks (Social- Committee's prize)— J. Graar, W. Alloo,; R. F. Smith, J. C. Short 1; E. Holmes, J. Spratt, A. Robertson, J. Salmon 2. The thanks of tha club are due to the Match Committee, who have performed thfcir somewhat thankless task most faithfully, as the results of the contests show. Social : Prior to their departure for the Homo Laud, Messrs M'Pherson, Miller, and, on the eve of his marriage, Mr William Thomson, all of whom have well earned the good will of members, were entertained at socials in the pavilion. The work of the Social Committee has contributed not a little to the social side of the club's life, and the committee desrr3 to place on record their high sense of the club's indebtedness, first to tho committee who manage, and secondly to the ladies who so generously show their hearty goodwill to the club. The balance sheet showed that tho credit balance last year was £32 13s 6d, the total receipts £276 9s, and the credit balance this year £19 13s 9d. The club's existing liabili- < ties were: Debentures £147, pettys 6s lOd, and unpaid subscriptions £1 11s 6d. The Chairman, in moving tho adoption of the report and balance sheet, said he would like to say a few words, although their secretary had been so full in his report that he had left very little for him to cay ; in fact, ho had pretty well taken the wind out of his (the chairman's) sails. However, a few words would not be out of place. The c'.ub had every reason to congratulate itself upon tho work of the past season, and he thought members should be very proud of it. — (Hear, hear.) As they all knew, they were the proud possessors of tho pennant and the Mackie snuff mull. He would like to say that the ■winning of the pennant was due to the good play of tn club, but more particularly to that of some of the members. He thoug-ht that to Mr Sinclair's rink all praieo must be given. They would remember that at a very critical stage his was the only rink to show to the front, all the others being behind. His total to the good was sufficient to enable them to win, and that, ho thought, was worthy of praise. He •was sure members would agree with him The season had been enjoyed by members, the games played with other clubs being particularly pleasant, both in town and country. He would like to thank the Social Committee for the way they had carried out their duties. Having such an adjunct to the club was to be highly commended. — (Hear, hear, and applause.) Mr A. C. Gillies seconded the adoption of the report and balance shoot, tho motion being carried unanimously. The Social Committee's report (read by the secretary, Mr W. M. Hogg) thanked a donor for a donation of biscuits. There had been an increase in members. The social, hold in August, had proved very successful. There was a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £4 12* lid. Mr Sinclair, in moving the adoption of the report of the Social Committee, said the work done last year had been a work of pleasure to every member connected with it. It had not only been piea.s?nt, but entirely harmonious, and h^ would like to mention specially the services of Mr W. Hogg, the secretary of the committee. Mr Gillies seconded the motion, which was carried. The following office-bearers were elected for the enr-uing year: — President, Mr R. T. Wheeler, jun (proposed by the late president in eulogistic terms) ; vice-president, Mr Mark Sinclair; treasurer, Mr G. L Stewart (who was retiring from the position of secretary, and who was spoken of in high terms of praise by several members) ; secretary, Mr George Brown ; auditor, Mr F. Peako ; delegates to the Bowling Amociation—Messrs F. Peake and J. C. Short; committee — Messrs F. Peake, W. Maclaren, J. White, H. C. Foster. A. C. Gillies, and W. Austin ; Social Committee — Messrs M. Sinclair, W. A. Bcott, H. K. Wilkinson, C. J. Liggins, and W. M. Hogg (secretary) ; Match Committee — M«fisrs W. Maclaren, M. Sinclair, and W. M. Hogg. Tho prizes were then presented by the late president (Mr Short), tho recipients being received with applause. A vote of thanks to the retiring president (moved by Mr Wheeler) and other retiring office-bearers closed tho meeting.