NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 64

NOTES BY JACK.

We are on the eve of the annual tournament of the New Zealand Bowling Association, which promises to be the largest yet held in the Dominion. The secretary of the centre informs me that entries for the Rinks and Doubles are coming to hand freely, and that all 'that is wanted to make the meeting an enjoyable one is fine weather. On Monday next about 400 •bowlers will be, hard at _work "trowling the merry bowl " and describing all kinds of antics and capers as the bias begins to exert its influence on the wood 1 . Only those who have played the game know the thrill of- satisfaction and pride which the bowler experiences as he watches his bowl curl round an obstruction and, like a sentient being, gracefxilly approach "kitty," and with a touch as gentle as that which a lover "imprints a' ealute ,on the brow or cheek of' his lady love, 6oftlv move the "'white" _ among a nest formed by the bowls of his colleagues. "What other game could collect from all parts of the colony 400 devotees strenuously striving " from early morn to dewy eve " to gain a trophy for the watch chain, or to adorn in the shape of a brooch the wifelof One"s bosom. The players are not the lusty youth sedking to get rid of surplus energy, but : as a rule staid, respectable citizens, men of " weight." — from the minister of grace and the Minister of Labour, the prosperous merchant or lawyer, throueh every trade and profession. "Without doubt bowling ie : the most democratic game played. The merchant has no hesitation in placing him_self under and obeying the commands of his junior clerk; while the owner of many broad acres will cheerfully submit to be bossed by his groom, always provided the' inferior .in a worldly sense is the belter player at bowls. The designation by Mr Allnutt of the presidency of the N.Z. Bowling Association on the very eve of the annual tournament | can only be classed as a regrettable incident. I do not intend to offer any comment .on the matter beyond venturing on the opinion that with other members of the old executive he 'had failed io realise that a peaceful -revolution had taken place iri~ the government of bowling. He had the ball at his feat, and had he grasped the situation and assisted the newly-created centres in a whole-hearted .manner to overcome the many difficulties they , encountered when ', trying to make bricks without straw, they were quite, prepared . to •£ ollow his lead. I regret his ia^tion as ill-advised,^ and feel extremely .sorry that, one who has been .so long connected -with the game should now ' <find himself out of accord with tihe. new order of things. " >. - I congratulate Mr' Waddell on his election as president*©f the association. He is an old bowler, and has done;a great deal in. Oamaru to promote -jbhe game. A, good player, he has attended a very Jarge^number of tournaments without "Dame (Fortune smiling upon him to any great extent. On this occasion he is standing out, and will be-able to devote some time to the details oonnected with the tournament. The selection of Mr- Gray to fill the -vacancy caused by Mr Waddell's promotion goes in the direction of making the council a" representative body, and the country clubs have' now a memper "of the upper house who should be able to look closely after their ; interests." Mr Alloo as secretary has yet to win his spurs in that position* * ' A very keen finish was -witnessed in the match Outram v. St. Kilda. On the last head the scores were 93 all. On the skips — J. C. Cameron,. Jun. (St. Kilda), and , F. Hartley (Outrara)- : -crossing over, Outram J were lying two shots. The Outram skips,; first ball- went back for position. Cameron ] failed to improve matters with his first-; | ball, and his second shot a yard strong. , [ slipping through a narrow port, leaving j Outram victorious on the aggregate by 2 j points. , , , . , The BalmaceWQu Club has lost- a good : player and. genial mate in Mr A. "W. Martin, whose professional duties took him j north last Monday. His fund of Irish ■anecdotes was as inexhaustible as his manner-of recounting them was unapproachThe four Oamaru bowlers— Messrs Waddell, Martin, Bee, and Patterson— who journeyed -to Invercargill and back by motor car had 1 a most enjoyable trip. At Milton they won, aganist a rink stopped by Mr. Moore by 1 point only. At Gore two* games were . played. The tourists, when skipned by Martin, went down before Bust by 32 points to 13 ; " and when skipped by Waddell were defeated in a game of 18 heads by. 28 "to 9. At Mataura the tourists defeated" a rink skipped by D. Holmes by 24 to 23. ' Three finks from Palmerston are cxi pected to take part in the tournament. D Bust, the president of the Gore Club, j appears to be in rare form this year. He i played a great game against the Dunedm ] Club on New Year's Day. His team has j won the club rin> match, and with Turnbull as his lead he won the club's Christmas Doubles. . ■ The improvements now being carried out at the Caledonian Bowling Club s pavilion are nearing completion, and everything wiU ; be ready for the tournament, which com- ; mences next week. The Caledonians are ! exceptionally fortunate in having a president ; such as Mr C. F. G-reenilade, whose - chief j delight appears to be the giving pleasure to, members of the club and providing them -with j every comfort. The 1 imiproyenlenis, which j have been carried out by Mr Forrester, architect, comnriee the raising of the whole pavilion some sft~abo.ve the level of the banks of the j green, the building of a new bowlhause on i the same level to correspond 'in desijgn with J the pavilion, providing new approaches to both the pavilion and bowjhouse, and supplying up-to-date internal fittings. Everything i has been designed with an eye to providing* J for the -wives and lady friends of members, as well as of members ihenirelves; and hence- ; forth the ladies, will -be able in. fine weather to go to the green with thn.ii; knitting, their f ancywork, or a book to lead, and wh.il© S9ated in a comfortable chair on the verandah keep ■an eye on the game «n*the green, of which they will have a cominanSimg view. Should the day be a*|riflo cold, they can adjourn to the room, specially provid«4, ancl bi!sw a dish of iea, which they can eajo^ while stiji watch4gg t*ie p"!ay. At the eoiiihei'n end is a hall 32rt by l^ft, which can be used as a concert room, cnrQ room, or dining room, as occasion requir«3. Next to this is the ladies' r<3om already mentioned, provided with gas stove and heater, and a, reoess with water laid on fox ■wft&hing up dishes, etc. Then conjeß the bowlhouse proper, of the same dimensions

as the concert room. It is reached by a separate siairsvay, soj that players passing in and out will not disturb the ladies or onlookers. Immediately xn front of jKhe dooTway there is to be placed a large notice board, on w&Aah all notices will be posted. Round three ■sides are to be placed the lockers for howls, slippers, etc. A re*ess is provided in which water is laid on, with a large basin let in, where the hands can be washed. On the left-ha.nd side of th& doorway when entering is a recess for the secretary, and here he can keep his books and papers. Possibly there may be more elaborate and ornete pavilions than that on the Caledonian Green, but for comfort, convenience, and up-to-date fixtures • it will be hard to beat. With his accustomed generosity, M% Greenslade is defraying the whole cost of the alterations, which will total at least £300. Mr GxeensCade jis making elaborate preparations for providing tea, cake, end other refreshments for (hose players in the tournament who have the good fortune to be drawn on the Caledonian Green.