BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 59

BOWLING.

Secretaries are requeued v ronrard particulars «r came* pUrei >sd -of ftrthcomiDg axusha.

Bf TOUCHER.

The Dunedin and Caversham Clubs still remain playing, the former intending to close on May 24-, while the latter have not a3 yet decided the date for closing. The St. Kilda Club, although closed down, played last Saturday, when many availed themselves of the opportunity of having a final roll up. Mr Green, president of the Roslyn Club, informs me that the new grass is up fully an inch on their green, this club having started to top-dress in the early part of ApriL

Mr Mitchell, of the St. Kilda Club, has the work of top-dreS3ing in hand, during the absence of Mr Dobb, who is on a wellearned trip to the Mother Country. The St. Kilda Club held a smoke social and, the presentation of prisss on Friday evening in the Town Hall, which was crowded by members and visitors. Cards were played during the early part of the evening, a" match President v. Vice-presi-dent ending in a win for the President by the small majority of two games. Mr Allen, St. Kilda, sang a Tather humorous song, in whicb he made hits on the majority of the members, and also- on the president of the association. Mr Potter, of the Phoenix Green, Oamaru, was the first singer to introduce a topical bowlers' scng, and Mr Allen is the second. No doubt at the annual meetings of several of our clubs to come a topical song will be a feature of the programme. Mr Payne, in replying to the toast of " The Association," said all bowlers were pleased to see the strides the St. Kilda Club had made, and if some of the other suburbs were to take a leaf from the Saints' book there is no reason why they should not make progress in a similar manner. In most instances they were y*oußg' players, and would have to be reckoned? with as the years rolled by. Mr Hancock proposed the toast of "The St. Kilda Club,' and in peaking to the toast congratulated the numbers on the success they . had attained in securing one of the finest properties and pavilions to be seen in the Middle Island. Mr Gallaway, the president of the St. Kilda Club, replied to the toast in a felicitous manner. He had, he said, overheard Jie remark made by some bowlers assembled on the St. Kilda Gxeen at the commencement of the season to the effect that the green compared with a. ploughed field. If those bowlers were to pay the green a visit at the present time he was sure they would wish ifcey l»3d not made such an unsportsmanlike remark. He would take this opportunity in commending the manner in which their caretaker (Mr Mitchell) had improved the sward since he had taken the duties of the- position in hand. Mr Marlow, in presecting the -prizes, made reference to the manly spirit in which the garr.es had been contested, and remarked that in soiic instances the play was of a very high .standard. Indeed, when the finals of two of the matches were being played, though an mterdub match was in progress, the members playing were oftener to be seen watching with interest the finals instead jf the game they were playing. Mr Taylor, the champion of champions, in reply to Mr Marlow, remarked that "'E did not know were 'c are," but was pleased indeed to hold the position he did that night as their champion; and no doubt many in the hall would like to be in his position. He remarked about being runner up last year, and said that next year he was going to try and occupy the game position. — (Applause.) Tco much credit could not, he said, be given to Mr Jaoobson and Mr Robinson for the manner in which they had made all necea£ary arrangements ia connection with the St. Kilda smoke concert.

Mr Payne and bis co-delegates have returned from their visit to Christchurch in connection with making final preparations for. the Exhibition tournament. The suggestions made by the N.Z.B.A. were carried in toto. Many objections were brought forward witl respect to the Doubles being played on the "sudden-death" principle; but on ascertaining that the number of rinks available was only 54-, there was nothing else but to fall in line with the suggestion brought forward by the executive. At our last tournament in Dunedin wa had 72 rinks, Christchurch $ius showing a tleScicncv af 18. I submit that it would be' impossible to play the Doubles on the progressive principle, as was done at the last tournament, for maey had to be balloted out, and the same thing would have to-; be done in Christchurch, and wo don't wish to see that take plaeo again. I must admit that I had been, wrongly informed is to the number of rinks available. However, no doubt the information' regarding the 54- is correct, and out of that number half of them are in reality new greens. I am pleased to see that all Tinks contestinor in the Exhibition tournament will have to charge from old greens to new greens, or vice versa, and therefore no grumbling is likely to be heard, such as was noticeable at the last tournament. Another idea to be commended is the intention to issue a programme for all participating at the tDxunamec!; 10 days prior to play commencing, showing whom one has to meet, and the green and number of rink. The evening meetings will to 6Ome extent be avoided, thus giving players a chance of visiting the Exhibition and more time to sec friends.

Mr Barlow, of the Canterbury Green, has consented to take the office of president for the year 1906-7, in lieu of Mr Brown, who T^sisn-ed on account of boisin«ss i*ot allowing him to devote the necessary time to the duties of the office while the Exhibition tournament is in progress. Mr Taylor attributes the success attained "by him in the St. Kilda Club as "champion of the champions" to quoit-plavinsr, he naving also held the position of champion* in that game. "Anyone who has played •both games," he remarked, "knows that the strength of the bowl or quoit is the chief point. I have studied the fine points of both, and to anyone in/ the room who desires to acquire a similar position, that is the lesson I give him." Mr Taylox is without doubt as great an enthusiast at the game of- bowls as it has been my good fortune to meet, and no doubt, as he -said at t.he Oansaru tournament, h-3 .viil have to bo reckoned with.

The Riverton Club has held its annual meeting, and the financial position of the year show 3 a credit balance of £10 : a vp rv good result for so young a club. The- following were prize-winners : — Messrs A. K. Wellitt. S. It Beer, J. W. Instone, and J. jPetchcll. AJ. a. cnci'aJ (lathering, when a game of

bowls was being "played over again," a non-bowler remarked to his friend, "Do you play that old man's game?" "Yes," said his friend, "and if you will come down to the green and have a roll up, I am sure the silly idea held by you a3 to the nature of the game will be removed from your mind, and you will be asking yourself, Why did I not "take it up 10-g ago?" One has only to visit any of our greens to-day to recognise that the junior element will shortly be seen more prominently than the senior.

THE EXHIBITION BOWLIXG TOURNAMENT.

Mr C. J. Pajne (president N.Z.8.A.), who returned from Christchurch on the 9th, after Laving piloted the Exhibition tournament programme through, informed me that although the North Island were not represented there was no question as to the Northerners being in perfect accord with the original rrogramme as laid before the meeting of eiolegate? at Dunedin a week or two ago. Canterbury Centre, too, was not only willing but anxious to assist the Dunedin delegates, and the meeting was most harmonious. The following clipping from. Wednesday's Pr-ses will give bowlers a general idea as to what took plaeD : — Messrs- A. Saxton F. J. Barlow, J. Greig, G. B. Dsnnv. E. Chegwin BL S. Hellyer. W. Jacques. M. S. Brown, A. V. Bishop, and Dr Thomas represented Canterbury Centre. Mr Payne, who occupied the chair, explained that it was the desire of the association to meet representatives of the North Canterbury Bowling Centre, and to obtain from them any suggestions and 1 recommendations they might care to put forward. He also read a letter from the Northern Bowline Association, stating that it was well satisfied to leave the entire management of the prorcosad Exhibition Tournament in the hands of the New Zealand Bowling Association, and was prepared to afesi-t in makin? it a success by inviting sh-e hearty support of all affiliated clubs. Some discussion then ensued on the management of the tournament, in the course of which representatives of the Canterbury Centre expressed themselves as perfectly satisfied with the arrangements that had been made. — Mr Barlow raised the question of expenses, stating that the number of visiting bowlers would be very considerable, and it would devolve very largely on the Canterbury clubs to entertain them. He also outlined the manner in which the centre had been formed, and expressed the opinion that it should be the medium of communication between the Canterbury bowlers and the association. — Mr Payne said that as the New Zealand Bowling Association had assumed the manageof the tournament, it felt that it must also undertake the financial responsibility, and that it could not ask the North Canterbury Bowling Centre to bear an equal portion of the cost, but he would be glad to hoar if tho centre had any suggestion to make on the matter.— Mr Wheeler remarked that it was the intention of the ■executive to regulate the entry fees, so as to cover the expenses of the tournament as far as possible. — Mr Barlow gave an assurance that the centre was prepared to assist the association in every reasonable way. It had power to make a levy on clubs, if money was required to be raised for the entertainment of visitors, but he thought the assistance it was prepared to give would be satisfactory to the association. — Mr Payne said he thought that in the case of visitors from England and Australia, they should be sent to Rotorua or to the Lakes district by the association. — Dr Thomas: The Government will do that. — It was eventually agreed that if necessary a levy on the various clubs should be made by the association. The proposed date for the opening of the tournament (January 14. 1907) was approved, it being explained that this was most convenient to the northern clubs.

Mr Payne then explained the system of play under which it was proposed to carry on the rink tournament. This involved splitting the entries into two divisions, lettered respectively A and B. Each division was divided into sections of eight, and each rink played every other rink in its section, which meant that each rink would pay seven pames. It was intended to give first, second, and third prize certificates in each section, which would tend to keep up the interest of the players till their final game was played. It would also mean that, although a howler lost two games right off. he would still have a chance of a prize. The play would be arranged «;o that rinks would be played on a different green each day, and no competitor would be able to say that he had had a monopoly of an inferior green. It would be the object of the association, however, to restrict the actual competitions as far as possible to good greens, and before any green was utilised for tournament purposes it would be pas-ed by the executive. Mr Wheeler said it was also intended, in order to prevent mistakes and confusion, to close the entries 10 days Before the tournament opened. Thts would enabie the executive to get out a printed programme, which would contain the names, addresses, and clubs of all the players, the rinks upon which they were to meet, the hour of play, and all particulars concerning their respective games on every day of the tournament. The rink tourname.it would probably take a week to play out. Some general discussion ensued, and the system as outlined was unanimously approved. Mr Payne then stated that it was proposed to play the Doubles on the " suddendeath " principle. The executive was not wedded to it. however, and would be glad to accept, any alternative method whioh was practicable. Several representatives of the centre were inclined to object to the pioriosaJ. but stft^r soinz into the matter, it was agrreed that the system suggested was the only way to get through the tournament.

CHRISTCHURCH. May 8.

Delegates from the New Zealand Bowling Association met representatives of the Canterbury Centre to-night, when arrangements for the Exhibition tournament were discussed. The proposals of the New Zealand Association's delegates were practically agreed to. and it was left to tb<* Canterbury Centre to arrange for a ladies' day. The centre also undertook to pive what financial assistance it could to the executive of the association, and to do what it could to make the tournament a success.