BY TOUCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 62

BY TOUCHER.

The weather was none too promising on Friday for the opening of the several greens. The Kaituna intended to open, wet or dry, and they were luckily blessed with a fine afternoon, and the president (MiTaylor) and the vice-president (Mr Thomson) left no stone unturned to make the afternoon enjoyable _for all who made their way to the green. The usual match, President v. Vice-president, was played, when the President won by 151 games to 146.

The committee put down pieces of canvas 3ft in length and 2ft in width on each rink, in order to save the greens. This was a capital idea after all the heavy rain that fell on Friday afternoon and evening. The green and surroundings looked beautiful, and the energies put into the work by the caretaker (Mr Hocking) called forth remarks of pommendation from all present.

Most of the clubs in and around Dunedin were represented.

The Roslyn green had a formal opening of its green, but the wet weather of Friday had made the green too damp for play. Mrs Green threw the first bowl of the season ; then the president declared the green open for the season 1905, when all adjourned to the pavilion to partake of the good things provided by the president.

The Dunedin green -ntend opening on November 9, but many grumbled on Saturday when they heard the opening had been postponed. It is better to wait until such time as the weather is settled Than to play on a damp green, and in all probability damage the sward for the rest of the season.

The Caledonian intend opening on Saiurday, the 11th, wet or dry. so as to enable The green to be declared open for the season. I might say that this green is looking as well as ever, and in my opinion will be again the best green in and around Dunedin.

The North-east Valley intend opening; on the 9th, when three rinks are expected from Palmerston to participate in the opening. I do not hear too glowing reports of the St. Kilda green, and in conversation with one of the members he expressed a doubt whether they will open this month.

The Port Chalmers Club opened its green in a formal manner on Saturday, when the president (Mr J. H. Grey) welcomed the visitors, and said he was sorry that the very wet weather had go interfered with the green that it was impossible to play. Mr E. G. Allen, M.S.R., and his formidable opponent (Mr Pryor) were present. It would have been a source of amusement to have seen the two candidates trying conclusions on the green. The, Green Island Club, despite the y^t

weather, managed to play the usual President v. Vice-president match. The president (Mr Blair) welcomed the visitors, and spoke in high terms of praise of the manner in which the ladies had worked to enable the bowling green to reduce the mortgage on their property.