ROSLYN BOWLING CLUB'S SMOKE SOCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 36

ROSLYN BOWLING CLUB'S SMOKE SOCIAL.

To welcome the coming and speed the parting guost some 50 bowlerb assembled on Friday. 3rd. in the Institute Hall, Roslyn when music, speech-making, some good story -telling, cigars, and supper, combined to make the three hours pass pleasantly. The guests of the evening were Mr Robert Crawford, who has just returned from the Old Country, and Mr W. Wilson, who is upon the eve of proceeding there for a trip of a few months' duration, both gentlemen being members of the Roslyn Bowling Club. Mr J. B. Oallan, the president of the chib, proved a most indefatigable and entertaining chairman, contriving- to extract items from the most unlikely sources — the press representative himself not even being exempted; — and punctuating his efforts with amusin-g gems of wit and humour. The arrangement of the entertainment was in the hands of Messrs A. C. Aleock, A. M'Farlarte, C. F. Jones, and Jesso Timson, whose efforts, supplemented by those of the caterer (Mrs Laurenson) met with unqualified approval. The Chairman, having referred to the object of the gathering, said they were glad to see Mr Crawford amongst them again after his trip home. He was a very old member of the club, and if he had not been the .founder, he was -one of the earliest members. He had always been a staunch supporter of the game. They had missed him while he was away, and were glad to knowhe had enjoyed himself thoroughly, and had had many a game of bowls in the j Old Country. They were glad also to know from him that the greens and the bowlers here compared favourably * -with those at home. In reference to Mr Wilson, he had been one of the founders of the olub, and had been a member ever sinee — for over 21 years. He was going Home, and they would miss him from the green, but they trusted he would thoroughly enjoy himself, # and return renewed in health and with plenty of bowling stories to -tell. It must be gratifying to the two members to see su many ' friends fathering 'to 'meet them, and it was an indication of the esteem in .which they were Held by Roslyn bowlers. When Mr Wilson returned he trusted he would be able to say he had played upon no green superior to the new Ro3lyn green, ■which was shortly to be opened-. Mr Crawford said he would sooner skip a rink against any Dunedin club than make a speech. Anything he had done for the. club as an officer and he had been through all the offices — he had done for the love of the game. He was not the founder of the club, btit one of its first members. When he ' saw so many young members present be remembered how for a long time he had to be' content with playing second. rlt was only by assiduous practice and the detei'mination to know the game- that •eventually he became skip. One of the best things he had done in his life was to become a member of a bowling club. .Bowling was a very pleasant and social game ; it took one away from the atmosphere of business completely. He had I played in eight or 10 games in different towns in Scotland, and he would advise Mr I Wilson to practise driving, for the greens at Horn© were very much heavier than we .had here. When he first tried the greens in Scotland he could only get halfway up the ,srrass, and had to start driving. While at Home he saw a team of Canadians, who, though defeated consistently, were a ipllv lot of fellows, and played the game fairly well. He thanked them, in conclusion, for the kind manner in which they I had received the chairman's remarks con- . oerning, him. : * Mr Wilson said he could only thank j, them. from the bottom of his heart for this I' very kind expression of feeline? upon leav- !' ing them for a> few months for a trip to his native land. It went to show the kindly fee-ling that existed between bowlers- | everywhere. It was some. 22 years ago when he and Mr Soott had thought of forming a bowling olub in Roslyn. He had seen 'the club in varied- phases of existence, i There had been times of depression, but }that was a thing of the- past. The prospect, .thanks to* Mr Callan, of shortly get- ' tin>s on to the new green, in oon- • junction with the- fact of so many young: members joining, pointed to the likelihood of the club becoming one of the -strongest in the city. As he had done something in the matter of starting the olub, he wished to have the honour of r presenting" one of the first prizes for competition iipon the new green, and to that end he intended when at Home to prooure a pair of Taylor's best No. 3 silver-mounted bowls, to Ibe competed for during this and next season byoolte. During the evening some very clear records were reproduced' by a graphaphone manipulated by Sfcr A. M'DougaU, andsonga were sung by Messrs W. G. Allnutt, J. Huxtable, W. Wilson, A. C. AlcooE JF. Wilkinson. O. Balk, A. Bone, and W. R. Sinclair, the accompaniments being in the hands of Mr Timson. A comprehensive vote of thanks brought a pleasant evening to a termination.

*' No, we don't give oredit Kere," said the presiding justice at the Ohristchureh Police Court last week when a man asked for %\me to procure the amount of his fine. The iPoatruasler-ge'neral has forwarded to Mr E. Gt. Allen, M.H.R., under date 3rd insfc., the- following communicadon:-=-" J have now 1 pleasure in informing: you that it has been decided to accept for transmission within the oolony by parcel post, fishing rods up to a maximum length of 4ft 6in, instead of £ffc 6in as at present. The lar-ffer-sized fishing rods will require fco l^e> seiit in special receptaoies, and their transmission will be restricted to offices on mail routes served by coach, vail, or eteamer, the department taking no responsibility for damage or. loss. The minimum charge for postage will be Is 6d up to 31b in weigJft, and 3d for eaoh' additional pound. Th£ receptacles are being manufactured, ancl tne system will be pQinaieiapea go good *3 they are rea.dx,"