BOWLING. NOTES BY TOUCHES. AUSTRALIAN NOTELETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 32

BOWLING.

NOTES BY TOUCHES.

AUSTRALIAN NOTELETS.

TO SECRETARIES OF CLUBS Any news referring to bowling will be gladly welcomed if addressed to "Toucher. Ot«go Witness. Fuir publicity will ba given to it in these columns.

I recently had an interesting conversation with Mr C. J. Payne, vice-president of tne JNew Zealand Bowling Association, during which Mr Payne expressed the opinion that the system adopted for fixing the rinks in each section was one .worthy of the serious consideration of the executive of the New Zealand Bowling Association Instead of drawing the sections hy ballot, a small committee was appointed to distribute the rinks in a manner whereby the strength of each section was equalised. The result of this was that no section was so weak that any one rink had a "walk-o^er" in its section. By the "ballot system as carried out at Christchurch one section may be considerably weaker than the others. In the North Island the sections are fixed by a committee, and that system has given entire satisfaction- One can imagine how all interest would have been taken out of the Invercargill tournament had the strongest rinks been, drawn in any one section. By equalising the strength of each section there is a certainty of having the best rinks playing in the finals. One other matter of importance must be dealt with by those responsible for the proper conduct of tournaments. That is. that players who remain in two or three competitions must elect to scratch if they are in any way delaying the tournament. We often see a player waiting a whole afternoon without playing a game because his opponent hap-

pensto be still in oi-her competitions This is manifestly unfair, as one playe? fs keen ing the strength of the green and the" waiting player is at a bif disadvantage witb+jT^ FF . notic cable at Invercarffll with the Caledonian colts. They were wait whole of the morning. When the ramp commenced, Ham knel the strength of the before Ih* gOt f SUch * Je *d from" the colt! chance T^ -?°L T217T 217 thafc th *y had *« ciiance If lt be shown to any player that !*» k f«P ln g the play back/ then I fee scratch. n ° trUe bowler WOuld ob J ect to tT h ,P aledoni an Green closed its gates to bowling on Saturday last. thpia?/*" Pe f ke 7" Hock "^and Smith, douK ,°V\ g % ng . to pla y his last bowl in the find ir h ? E Jt St<^ . tou rnament. could not nnd it, but, to the dismay of all, the bowl wa . s *°" nd at the other end. How lonit had been lying there is a mystery. When delivering his bow* it somewhat slipped, and £tf 18 th W hl f T n gOod f °rtune P that he got the shot which won him the game F?Sf w ge •"¥? at a * ou "iament. At the tight Hours Day tournament, held in Melbourne, the greens were saturated to such an extent that players had to stop playing. On faster Monday, at Invercargill, when play was stopped on account of the rain during the afternoon, it was suggested that the Doubles might be proceeded with. So the committee .met. and it was decided to proceed. It was such a treat to see several of the bowlers armed with brooms, who took the field and swept the green. One would hardly credit it, but such was the ease. Mats were dispensed with, and fourbushel sacks used in their place, and this proved a very wise suggestion to hold and keep the- green from losing the grass. Whose suggestion it was I do not know, but whoever is to be credited with it deserves the thanks of the players.

The club colours were noticeable by their absence at Invercargill. I think the South-

end team (skipped by R. Taylor) were tho only wearers of the colours. The Kaituna teams were not so much to the fore as they usually are. in this part of the game. One or two teams were noticeable by the badges worn. This is a part of the game that is sadly neglected, and I would like to see more notice taken of it.

Dall and his rink received most hearty and enthusiastic cheers at the Invercargll railway station, and then again at Gore, where they were met by the redoubtable Gore rink, headed by T. Lock and Duncan Holmes, who tried hard to persuade Dall and his rink to &top and have a game. C. J. Payne and his happy rink will not forget the good fellowship extended to them at Invercargill, and when the genial Charles is elected president I am certain Invercargill will not be wanting for teams to make the journey. A word of praise to the greenkeepers of the Invercargill greens. With such heavy rains they played well, more especially the North End. and the work put on it was a credit to the caretaker. The South End greenkeeper must have been disheartened to see all the play taken from it, for. on rolling the green, he could be seen taking barrow-loads of mud off the roller. Tom Lock, of Gore, who skipped the champion rink at Invercargili, has sold his business, and contemplates settling in Dunedin. Tho club, which is lucky to secure him as a member, will ha\e a great acquisition to their lanks. for he is as genial a friend off the green as when he is to be found playing the gamo.

Mr A. Gillies, of Dunedin. and Mr Dryden, of Taieri. were on the green to see the finals played.

The Gore team and the North End team agreed to divide the £50 for first and £10 for second into £40 for first and £20 for second. The total prize money is divided as follows: — Gore. £4-0: North End, £33; Southland. £10; St. Kilda. £6; Kaituna, £6 ; Taieri, £6 ; and Caledonian, £2. It will thus be seen that Southland received the larger amount, £83. while the Dunedin clubs received only £20. A word of praise is due to Mr Findlav.

the iDresident, for the admirable tact and unfailing courtesy extended to each bowler. On asking him a question, you were met in the same gentlemanly spirit that is always shown on the green. Had it not been for Mr Findlay Mr Ham would have undoubtedly been in trouble, for it is no sinecure to run a tournament and also play.

The committee and other members of the Southland clubs must also be congratulated cm the courtesy shown by them to the visiting bowlers. A difference of opinion has been expressed at the big prize money offered by the Southland tournament, some terming it "pot-hunting." I must admit that £50 for first prize is on the high side. If it was reduced to, say, £20 for first, £10 for second, £6 for rhird, and £4- for fourth, making in all £40, instead of £70, as given by Southland, it would be sufficient. A bowler who leaves for Christohurch. will take a full week at the least, if not more. He has his train fare fco pay. his boards entrance money, -md then — and that not the least — forfeit his week's wages, so that £20 is not too much for first prize : when the successful four can get trophies to be proud of, instead of. as at present, a medal, '"which." a-s I heard a bowler say. "he will in all probability loss it off his chain during the first month." On the other hand, one could get a trophy to adorn his house, and then hand it down to his family, who would bf- proud of it, after the winner has joined the great majority. lam certain, fiom what I hear, that the question of prize money will be fully discussed at the annual meeting of delegates. The sectional -yetem of playing has come to stay, I hope, for in Invercargill it "was fully appreciated by bowlers who had not made the journey to Christohurch in the beiginning of the year. The Doubles at our forthcoming tournament, to be held in Dunedin. will be on the sectional system I hope. Under this system one ia able to come into touch with bowlers, which, when the sudden death system is played, one is unable to do.

A strange coincidence happened at the Invercargill tournament. Dall's rink, playing for St. Kilda. were members of the Kaituna olub, while the Caledonian Bowling Cl'ib can claim them as their infanta, for Dall. Stokes, Keasfc. and Smeaton learnt their first draw and drive on the Caledonian green. The colts from thf> club in question may be congratulated on the fine form shown by them. On their arrival they were very much disheartened to find that the ordinary rink was on the sudden death syisteim, but after being successful against two rinks, and considering the position held by them against Sneddou and his warriors, they were more than pleased. Callender and Scott have been practising for some time together, both being prizewinners in their club. On Anniversary Day Sanders Bros, fell victims to them thrice in succession. The fourth place in the Doubles gained by them was warrantable on their previous play, when the greens were not so heavy as experienced in Invercargill. I may also say that tho leads in the colt rink, M'Lbiinan and Foloy. are also prize-winners, the former having been successful on two occasions.

At the championship played at Sydney during Easter, tho prize-money was constituted as follow*:— £20 Ist, £10 2nd, £5 3rd, and £2 4-th. Easter tournament committees should, I think, hand the w inners of first prizes certificates, thei same is is clone by the New Zealand Bowling Association, for the pavilions on some greens are sorely in need of decorations for ths walls, and this would' be looked upon in years *"o com© as mementoes cf some nard-foughl-oufc games.

It wa? pleasing io fill bowlers to see the North-East Valley Club initiating a progressive tournament and singles amongst their own memters at Easter, and it speaks highly for so young a club to give such encouragement to their members. It i& bound to add fresh blood to their munbeirs next year.

Carswell and lii= rink deserved higher honours than thoee obtained by them, for, as another writer put it through the press, the Taiuri skip handles his men with such tact and encouragement that it would be hard to find his equal. If one of his men happens io play a bad shot (as most bowlers must admit they do at times), you woulrl not hear any comment of bad play, but you would sco tho genial William clap his hanch and exclaim. "Man, Mac. that will be a good shot there"; and as regards knowing the game, he is a past

| master. I happen to have heard one part* 1 while watching the game exclaim, "Hia | equal is not to be found at this tournament as a bowler."' The- smoke concert was a gigantic success. It was ably carried out by President; ! Findlay in the ohair, supported bj- Mf Rennie as vicp-cLairman. The stewardship was in capable hands when entrusted to Mr Porter. Amongst the items, Mr Parlane, of Milton, was in great form. Mri Dall gave the bowling song "'On the bonnie banks of Kaituna," and had to give art encore. Other items were contributed by, Messrs Taylor, Sneddon. Holmes, James Taylor, and Walker. The toasts of the evening were in the hands of Messrs Payne, Smith, Ham, Allnutt, Porter, and J. Parlane. A g-ocd night's amusement was brought to a close by the singing of "Auld lang syne" and "God save our King " The Meadowbank Green, Oamaru, is instituting an art union and bazaar in order to raise funds to liquidate the long-stand-ing debt on their green. No doubfc all bowlers will assist it in its laudable endeavour, for all bowlers who patronise the Easter tournaments held in the— white stone city will agree with me that they extend the right hand of fellowship so much appreciated by bowlers. In the Championship Carswell met D. Mackie. They played until dusk one evening-, when Mackie suggested that it was too dark to play any more that evening, the game standing — Carswell 15, Mackie 20. They started again, however, when the champion Carswell ran out, the game being 21 up. Carswell then met M'lntyre, the lattei 1 at one stage of the game being 14 to Carswcll's 3. At another stage the game stood 17 all. Both continued to score so evenly that at 20 all stood the game when M'lntyre, with a good shot, trailed the jack into the ditch with his last bowl. Carswell being unable to draw the winning shot, thus leaving M'lntyre the champion of the Taieri Club for the season 1904-5. St. Kilda and Caversham played a threerink game on Saturday on the former's green. Both being young clubs they were each anxious for a win. It is evident that the young clubs are anxious for practice to meet the senior clubs next season. The Caledonian Club play St. Kilda two rinks on Saturday on the former's green. The Caversham play North-East Valley three rinks on Saturday. Dunedin Club intend to ring their curtain down on Saturday. May 27. The St. Clair Club will have some difficulties to contend against, as the Caversham and St. Kilda Clubs have absorbed some of the members. A. Young is the champion of the Green Island Club for the season 1904-5. Nobody will grudge Sandy his win. for a more genial bowler would be hard to find. The Caledonian Bowling Club holds its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 31, in the Pavilion. Another instalment of the club matches was concluded on the Dunedin Club's gioen on Saturday. For the final of the rink prize W. F. Bfu.tmgs,^J. Findlay, Dr Black, and John Thomson (s) had an easy win over D. Wallace, J. CL Whitelaw, W. H. Smith, and M. Sinclair (s). Tiiis is the aeoond year in succession thai J. Tiiomson has skipped the winning rink. The final for the trophy presented by Mt W. D. Wyatt, for players who have never won a prize on the green, resulted in a win for W. Gocdlet, who defeated Pietersen in the semifinal, and then won from W. M. Hogg.

The game between Ballarat and Adelaide — a, yearly fixture — took place on the latter's green during Easter, when the Adelaide bowlers were victorious, the scores being Adelaide 96. Ba-llarat 85. The game was four rinks each.

Ballarat in the second venture against South Australia was again beaten. Scores : South Australia 107, Ballarat Central 93.

A colt of six months in Sydney, named Cox, entered for the Single-handed Championship, and defeated two old veterans in Wilkie and Morgan.

In the Sydney Single-handed Championship 24 heads are played. Two clubmates. belonging to the Chatswood, played off for the final, in Young and Gartell. the former winning by 4 points. A noticeable feature in the game was that neither drove during the game. The single-handed champion of the Maldon Club is Charles L K. Grant, runner-up Thos. F. Rollason.

A progressive rink tournament amongst the lady bowlers of the Albert Park, Fitzroy. and South Melbourne Clubs was played on the Albert Park preen recently. Eight rinks competed, for six rounds, four ends each. The games were keenly contested, for prizes presented by Mrs J. H. Monteath. (president of the Albert Park Ladies' Bowling Club), and the winning rink was represented by Mrs H. Skinner, Miss Saunders, Miss Heather, and Mrs Bird (captain) ; Mrs Major. Mrs Watt, Miss Elsie Headier, and Mrs James (captain) winning the Booby prize. During the afternoon tea adjournment, which was served in the new bowlers' pavilion, a presentation of a silver-mounted brush and photo-frame was made by Mrs Monteath, on behalf of the Albert Park ladies, to Mrs E. D. Heather, the hon. secretary of the club. At the conclusion o? the play. Mr E. D. Heather (persident of the gentlemen's club) presented the prizes, and a vote of thanks was carrier! unanimously to Mrs J. H. Monteath for her kind invitation to the ladies, who had spent such a pleasant afternoon. The Ballarat champion of champions, 1904-5, is S. E. Figgis, who beat the district champion. Glasson. Port Adelaide champion of champions fell fo Quintin Smith, who beat A. F. Brown, of the Adelaide Oval Club.

The Champion Sinsrles of Ca=tlomainp wpre played off on Saturday last between J. W. Iredale (who had previously won five champion singles) and P. Malcolm, a new player, when the champion. Iredale, fell. Scores^ Malcolm 3L Iredale 28.

ENGLISH NOTELETS

London, Maroli 3. — The striking testimony sent home by Mr Stephen Forf-pscuo of the enthusiastic reception accorded him throughout the wholr> of his playing tour in Australasia has been mainly instrumental in the new development, specially marked he^e this week, by the formation of a "Bowlers' United Society.'" with Mr John Bryant, the well-known English internationalist, as chairman of the Organising; Committee. Mr Bryant has a brother holding a. leading 1 position at Ballara-t, and also another at Perth. Mi- Bryant, a strong supporter of the English 8.A., with which the Imperial B A. can hardly be said to be in unison, is held in tho highest ostoom throughout the bowling circles of the United Kingdom, and is certainly one of the most poptilar of men to

take the lead in this movement. The headquarters of the Bowlers' United Society have been established at 27 Fetter lane, E.G., where all colonial bowlers visiting the mother country will be welcomed, and it is the intention of the committee to set tc work to have branches formed both in the provinces and the colonies. Mr John C. Hunter, president of the Irish 8.A., states that Mr Robert M'Kee, one of the- most popular bowlers in Erin, !has gone to Australia for .a tour. As a member of the first international bowling team to visit London, Mr M'Kee is a- notable pioneer of the pastime, to . whom Mr Hunter says he- is sure the colonials will accord a hearty reception. He is also one of the team a,gainst which the Australian combination competed when playing in Ireland/ during their visit in . 1901. Dr W. G. Grace has definitely fixed his great single-handed - tournament at the Crystal Palace for the dates from June 13 to 17 inclusive. The competition is -open to the amateurs of the world, and the doctor expresses the hope that any colonial bowlers in the Mother Country at , that time will take part. Prizes to the value of 25gs'will be given. Although nearly two months must elapse before the_">egular opening of the bowling season here, Dr Grace has commenced getting *a - part of the London, ," County Cricket Club ground at the Crystal Palace for his now customary early spring Jbowlin.g; games, in which Mr W. L. Murdoch is -to be among the players engaged. The tournament is to take over the rinks first, opened when the Australian team rolled the initial woods of their tour nearly four years ago. NOETH-EAST VALLEY CLUB. The following is the result of the club tournament .held during the holidays on the Korth-East Va^Tey Green. The games were very well contested throughout, and tlios« who •took part spent a most enjoyable holiday. Only one event (Cox and Begg v. Spenco and Pryor) remains to be, played, and the trophy falls to th» winners: — Speacer and Pryor ' (17) beat Mitoh«ll and Arthur (5) ; Spencer and Pryor (21) beat Wilson and Smith (31); Milne and Wright (14) beat Thompson and Gray (13); Murray and P. Gray (16) beat iM'Laren and Wilson, jun. (7) ; Cox and Begg (20) beat M*Laxen and Wilson, jun. (7) ; Wilson and Smith (11) beat Murray and P. Gray (10) ; Cox and Begg (14) beat Murray and P. Gray (11); Cox and Begg (16) beat Booth and -Maw <11); Thompson and Gray (19) beat Mitchell and- Arthur (9) ; Murray and P. Gray beat Mftoholl- and Arthur (6); Booth and Maw (19) "beat Thompson and Gray (11) ; Booth and Maw <13) beat Wilson and Smith (7); Spencer and Pryor (19) beat Milne and Wright (13) ; Mitchell and Arthur (17) beat Milne anS Wright (12); Spencer and "Pryor (22) beat M'Laren and Wilson, jun. (7) ; Bootn and Ma-w v (16) beat Milne and Wright (11); Murray and P. Gray <16)- beat Thompson and Gray (15) 4 Spencer . «kT Pryor X 24) beat, Booth and Maw (8); •M'liaren and Wilson (13) beat Milne tmd Wr%ht (9); Thompson ana Gray (23) beat Spencer and Pryor (15) ; Murray and P. Gray (17) beat Booth and Maw (16); Cox and Begg (14) beat Thompson and Gray (11) ; Murray and - "" P. Gray (18) beat Milne and Wright (4) ; Spencer and Pryor (15) beat Murray and P. Gray (13) ; Wilson and Smith (24) beat M'Laren and Wilson, jun. (2); "Wilson and Smith (14) Beat Milna and Wright (7) ; Wilson and Smith <13) beat Mitchell and Arthur (9); Booth and jMaw (15) beat. M'Laren and Wilson, jun. (7) ; 3l'Laren and Wilson, jun. (12) beat Mitchell and Arthur (11); Spencer and Pryor (18) beat Cox and Begg (10) ; Thompson and Gray (14) foeat Wilson and Smith (4) ; Cox and Be°-g (29) bea,t Mitchell and Arthur (2); Cox and Begg beat Wilson and Smith and Milne and •Wright by default. CLOSING OF THE CAI/EDONIAN CLUB'S GEEEN. j The Caledonian Bawling Club's green was closed for the season on Saturday, on which occasion there was a good muster of members and visitors. The latter included Mr C. J. : Payne (vice-president), Mr E. T. WheeJer .{secretary of the New Zealand Bowling Association), and some of the members of the Kaituna, Koslyn, Taieri, and Nbrth-East Valley Clubs. -weather was all that could be desired, but xaturally the green was a trifle damp. Sides •were selected by the secretary and treasurer, and a very enjoyable game resulted in a win for the treasurer, by 13 points. At the coniolusion of the game* Mr J. A. Kixby expressed gratification at having so many visitors present (to ring down the curtain, on the bowling season so far as the Caledonian Club was concerned. He mentioned that it was the last occasion on •which he would represent tho club a® its viceipresident. having cast in his lot with the Caver- „ chain Club, but he trusted it would not be the last occasion on which he would have an enjoyable game on the green. He thanked the visitors heartily for attending. Mr Payne replied in g i&wj Y/oxda en behalf of the a.slo^ia-

- j tion, referring to the pleasure it afforded r a player to visit the Caledonian Club, -whose ( green was undoubtedly one of the b&st in New > Zealand. He took advantage of the occasion | to refer to the excellent manner in --vhich the l Caledonian " colts " had played in the Invert cargill team. Had it not been that they were ' pushed on the last day to catch their train they might have occupied a higher position in • the prize list. Mr E. T. Wheeler also spoke 1 a few words on behalf of the association, and Mr J. A. Millar. M.H.E., replied on behalf of 1 the Eoalyn Club. After cheers had been ex- ; changed between members and visitors the • ceremony concluded. Players and scores : — S. T. ! J. Gebbie, D. M'Pherson, J. A. ! Millar, a E. Keast (s) .... 26 — E. C. Torrance, J. W«dderspoon, J. '. A. Kirby, R. T. Wheeler (s) . . — 21 J. Melville," J. 3?. Barclay, E. W. Davies, T. , Sanders (s) .... 22 ■ — 1 J. Soott,'J: North, D. Smith, B. Gbllett (s) — 12 J. Hogg, J. Foley. T. Callender, D. Mu'rchison (s) 20 — R. Powley, j. M'Lennan, H. " Smeaton, G-. B. Dall (s) .. — 22 E; Hogg, S. Orr, A. Evans, J. C. Evans (a) 10 — A. Waugh, W. Dyer, J. Sanders, Capstick (s) .. .. — 36 j Totals „.. 78 91 j . ST. CLAIB v. GEEEN ISLAND. A match was played between the St. Clair and Green Island Clubs at St. Clair on Saturday, afternoon, when the liome team's green was closed for the season. Thanks to the exertions of the Ground Committee and the caretaker (Mr P. Russell) the green was in firstclass order, and, as the weather was perfect, a very enjoyable afternoon was spent. An ex- . ceedingly good game, (the scores by no means j showing the play) was won by the visitors by i -a margin of 6 points. Before the players dispersed Messrs Bedford (St. dair) \nd Lindsay i (Green Island^ made speeches suitable to the occasion. The players and scores were as follows : — I ■ G.I. St. C. J. Stone. D. M'Donald, J. Aitchison, S. Harraway (s) .... 14 — "W. J. Love, W. S. Bedford, L. Pope, W. Dall (s) — 24 J M-ason, T. Campbell, J. Lindsay, A. Young (s) 23 — R. Duncan, W. H. M'Leod, D. S. Jolly, J. H. Hancock (s) .. — 20 W. Smellie, J. Blair, D. Waiters, W. M'Donald (s) 26 N. Riddle, J. M Gallaway, A. Glen, J. B. Dick (s) ....—. 13 Totals .*. .. 63 57 ST. KILDA v. CAVERSHAM. Three rinks from, the Caversham Club visited the St.. Hilda green on Saturday afternoon, and played sun enjoyable game. As both are new clubs, claiming no champions in their ranks, the. match was interesting-, and botJi j teams fancied their ohances highly, but the . Caversham men gained a decisive victory in kthe end. The game between Smith's and 'Meekison's rinks was close all through, two shot^ being the most scored at any end. Scores : — St. K. C. W. T. Carroll, "W. Vickery, "W. ] Taylor, R. B. Smith (s) .... 11 — E. W. Rutherford, W. Speight, H. Calder, T. Meekison (s) .... — 14 "W. B. Graham, J. Eunciman, A. I Morrison, T. S. Culling (s) ..21 — ' ID. Stevenson, G. M'Phee, W. I Mayo, A. M'Gregor (s) .. .. — 17 E. Broad. W. T. Brundell, J. M'Leod, G. Hodges (s) .... 33 — T. K. Sidey, T. S. Price, D. Forrester, P. Wilkinson (s) .... — 29 Totals 45 60 BOTYLIjSiG, TENNIS, AND CEOQUET CLUB. ' CHEISTCHUECH, May 8. Owing to the la«k of accommodation on bowl'"ng greens in this city, those interested in j bowling, tennis, and croquet have been looking ' about for a> suitable site for a new green on I which provision could be made for all three games. As a result of these inquiries, it was I decided to ask the Domain Board for about three acres and a-half in Hagley Park, close to what is known as Pilgrim's Corner, near the Eiccarton road. A deputation waited on the board to-day, and. the request was favourably considered, but it was stated that the board had no power to exclude the public. The deputation stated that it would be satisfied jf given power to protect any buildings it erected. A committee was set up to accompany the deputation to the site and report to the next meeting of the board. '■ i The Canterbury poultry depot was kept very busy last month, and put through 5395 head— 4374- for export and 1021 for ' . local oonsuumtion. |