BY TOUCHES

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 59

BY TOUCHES

Mr C J. Payne, since his return from the Empiie City, ha-s caused the bowling spirit to bo again in full swing- by tho senior clubs, trying to get rinks to make the tourney to the tournament to be held in Wellington on January 8. Two rinks are, I hear, going from Kaituna, skipped by Messrs Payne and Sneddon, and the Dunedin Club are. I believe, also thinking of sending two rinks. Indeed, Mr Payno expressed the ojiinion to me that probably a round dozen rinks would go from Dunedin .altogether. I must congratulate Mr Payne on his attaining to the position of president of tho New Zealand Bowling- Association. lam quite certain that our worthy president will leave no stone unturned to make the tournament of 1906 a gigantic success. Mr Payne, I am oleased to note, spoke on the advisability of the association having a medal of their own pattern struck, instead of at present different patterns being .brought forward every year, some at times being very inferior in design. Mr P. Miller and others commented on the North Island Association, wishing the New Zealand BowJing Association to consider it in connection with the date of the tournament. I think the meeting did quite right in this connection. Now that the northerners avo comrceling in our tournaments we should consider them in every way possible, for anyone competing 1 at our tournaments must notice that they a-re increasing in importance year by year. Judging by tho remarks made in Ghristehureh on the management, one must conclude that the time is not far distant when the North Island Association will be adopting our mode of running a tournament. Now that we have' : secured their patronage, let us maintain °the present friendly feelings by all means in our power. Re Bowl Testing.— lt must be gratifying to all bowlers to know that the rule re bias has at last come into force- Alas! no more grumbling about pokers. The adoption of Mr Wheeler's motion, that the doubles should, in the future, be conducted on the progressive principle, will be the means of inducing many young bowlers to take part in our tornaments who are adverse to the sudden death principle. I am, however, at a loss to know how this ca-me to be passed at the meeting, as Mr ■YVhetter, in his remarks, distinctly said that 14- days' notice of motion should be given to clubs. I have spoken to several delegates, and they say their clubs had not received notice, so from What I can see this business re the doubles is informal. I hear that the matter is likely to be discussed at the executive's first, meetFrom what I can see of the executive this year it seems to me that the Dunedin Club pure and simple form that body. Looking over the list' of names we find Messrs R. T Wheeler, M. Sinclair. P. Miller, F. Peake, and J. Hoperaft, all Dunedin members. Ido not think it is a fair representation of the club3^in and around Diinedin. and if any, iriction is likely to arise amongst the members of this body it is through electing an .executive in the manner that is done at present. The Kaituna Club arc represented by the rest— viz., Messrs C. J- Payne, C. T. Paterson, and Captain Sundstrom. What are the bowlers of Dunedin thinking about to allow this state of affairs to be perpetuated year after year? There are 10 bowling "-clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Bowling Association, and still the executive of that body can only find' representatives in two clubs. I do not think Mr Balk has much chance of being successful with the notice of motion attached to his name, that newlyformed clubs should pay a nominal subscription of 5s for three years. I cannot ■see why the association should carry on its back new clubs for 5s a year, when other clubs, struggling year after .year, have to The motion brought forward by Mr Sneddon deserves the fullest consideration possible at the hands of the delegates. It is to the effect that the rinks at the annual New Zealand bowling tournament be played in like manner to the practice followed in the Oamaru tournament— (l) Champion Rink, first and second prize : (2) Provincial Rink (Otago or Canterbury), first and second prize; (3) Citizens' Rink, first and second prize; W aggregate prize to the rmk that finishes up with most points, irrespective of what section it might have been playing ill ; play to continue right up to semi-final ; prize-winners in the three above events excluded; if any ties to be played off by wins— i.e.. sudden death. , By this system^of play, every rink will have at least five good games, up to the semi-final ; prize-winners in the three first events one more game ; and if any ties in the aggregate, one or more games. This system, if given a fair trial, will, I think, undoubtedly provide a good enjoyable game to all players, and will encourage them to keep on playing their best right up to the last, knowing that they are still playing for a prize, instead of what we saw at Invercargill on the Southland green, where one club had no chance for the prize, and the winners were allowed to do as they liked ; and then, to the surprise of all. they had their game finished when the others had only played seven heads, and they left the green and journes'ed to their respective abodes and had their dinners, while the others had to wait for them in order to start thier game. Under the system played at Oamaru there would be no allowing a rink to win. as all rinks would be playing for a win. and all would be cntitld to a prize up to the semifinal. I trust clubs will give this matter their fullest consideration, and instruct their delegates how to vote. The InvercargiU SoutbsaE|nd Club intends opening its green on the 27th ; the North End the week following. By all accounts both greens are lo&king well. Both clubs have had their membership increased this season, which proves that bowling is making headway in the southern town. The South End are unfortunate in losing a splendid player in Sir J. Porteous. What i* the South * End's loss, however, is Mr Portoous's gain, he ha-\ ing been appointed assistant inspector of Natnc schools. Mr James Manson. of Imercargill, recently impoited 18 sets> of bowls (not pairs), which he disposed of in Invcreargill in two days. I should imagine there will be many straight pokers for sale (for fiiewood), to be had chec'p.

The motion by the Sydonham Bowling Club is very good indeed, but where arc tho travelling expenses coming from? Last yeai's surplus was £16. A\ a committee meeting of the Caledonian Bowling Club, Messrs C. E. Keast and W. H. M'Leod were elected trustees of the Barlow Fund. Dr W. Tliomas, hon. secretary of the Chnstchureh Club, has arrived in London, and is on the lookout for athletic attractions. He also intends, it possible, to induce a team of bowleis to make the trip to New Zealand during the Christchurch International Exhibition time. 1% is to be hoped that the doctor will be successful in getting Dr Grace and a team to tour the colonies.

Mr T. R. Dodds, of the Caledonian Bowling Club, is able to be out taking walking exercise once more. Mr Dodds has had a trying time during the past year or two, and I sincerely trust his health may take a turn for the better during the bright summer days we are just about to enter on.