BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 64

BOWLING.

S?cratari«i ar» requested to forward particular! of game* p:ayed and (rf forthcoming matches.

! *OTES BY JACK. ' With the object of ascertaining the views I of bowlers in the Dunedin Centre in the ; matter of a local tournament at Easter, the ho'dino- of a tournament in Dunedin at Christmas in the season when the association tournament is held in Christchurch, and the question of holding the association tournament so early in January, Mr U. Russell Smith, the Otago Club s delegate to the Dunedin Centre, has addressed a circular letter to the various clubs in the centre inviting an expression of opinion by submitting these matters to the annual meeting* of clubs. Dealing with the subject o f holding a tournament in Dunedin at Easter, Mr Smith advances the argument, that the progress of bowling has been so I marked that the making of provision for ! meeting the growing requirements ol i players should be carefully considered. ! Easter is the only time of the year when j all bowlers are able to get three clear I days off to play at bowls. A difficulty in | connection with the Oamaru and Inveroarj gill tournaments is the matter of time. If- \ is impossible for a player to go right j through and get hack in time to resume j business on Tuesday morning. For this ' and other reasons some 800 or 900 bowlers are left in Dunedin with nothing to do. Mr Smith suggests that at the annual meetings of clubs a vote should be taken on the following three questions: 1. Should an Easter tournament be held in Dunedin? 2. Should a Christmas tournament be held in Dunedin in the same season as the association tournaineni; is held in Christchurch? 3. Should the date of holding the association tournament be altered, and, if so, when should it be held? Mr Smith concludes by remarking that if delegates receive their instructions from : their clubs on these points a great deal of j time will be saved, and bowlers will have a j better opportunity of having their desires ! given effect to. ! Without doubt the course adopted by Mr i Smith in circularising the various clubs ! should assist in arriving at a conclusion as I to what is the real opinion of bowlers. I There is a certain amount of selfishness in I the first two proposals if they are adopted, I and the Christchurch, Oamaru, South Otago j and Invercargill Centres will feel sore about j them. It is a step in the direction of each ! centre holding its own tournament that will j ultimately result in only the winners at | these functions taking part in the associai tion tournament. There is much to bo ; said on various aspects of the proposals, I but this can be deferred meantime. But the Invercargill Centre should lose no time | in arriving at a decision as to whether it I will continue to hold its tournament at | Easter or bring the date forward. That | centre's decision may materially affect the voting on the questions advanced by Mr i Smith.

The fact that Mr Smith finds it necessary to approach the various clubs in the centre suggests that there is still a link wanting between the clubs and the executive of the centre. The proposals should have come through the executive, or from those who aspire to office next season, and it might be suggested that each year the vice-chairman —who in the ordinary course of events will be the chairman of next season —should approach the clubs by circular outlining his ideas so far as possible of what should be the centre's policy for the coming year, thus giving clubs at their annual meetings an opportunity of discussing these and instructing their delegates. Perhaps Mr Keast, the present vice-chairman, will see his way to take action. Kaituna, Balmacewen, Otago, Wakari, and Green Island greens have been closed. The four first-named greens have been topdressed, and the grass is coming away well on both the Kaituna and Otago greens. Green Island Club was the only one to hold a closing fixture, the members on Saturday playing a match between those residing at Burnside and those living in Green Island proper. The result was a win for the Burnside players. The first portion of the game proved most enjoyable, but the cold wind which sprang up caused some of the spectators to leave before play was brought to a conclusion. The club ties of the Balmacewen Club this season resulted as follows: —Champion Singles. C. A. Wilson; Rinks—J. A. Tipping, H. J. Nioholls, A. J. Butterfield, C. A. Wilson (s); Doubles. T. T. Paul, E. Pinder (s); Maiden Singles, E. Pinder.

The Dunedin Centre's interclub fixtures have not yet concluded, the Balmaeewen Club apparently being the only one that has played all its games, ita record being 9 wins and 7 losses. Caledonian, Dunedin, St. Kilda, Otago, and Taieri have each to play one match to complete their fixtures. These it Is hoped to play off next Saturday. Roslyn appears from the record 1 to have three matches to play—namely, Green Island, Wakari, and North-East Valley. As Roslyn, with only one loss, heads the list, it is to be regretted that all possible opponents have not been met. Kaituna has not met North-East Valley or Port Chalmers. All the other clubs not mentioned have not got through their list of fixtures. Of the Wednesday interclub matches Roslyn again heads the list with 11 wins and 2 losses. Caledonian has 7 wins and 3 losses, Balmaeewen. 9 wins and 4 losses, St. Clair 9 wins and 4 losses, North-East Valley 8 wins and 5 losses, St. Kildia 6 wins and 7 losses. These are the only clubs that have played all the matches arranged. Roslyn continued 'its succession of wins in interclub matches by putting down Taieiri in a six-rink match by 44 points. Carswell tied with Miller, each scoring 17 points, but the other five Taieri rinks were beaten. Campbell and M'Lecd were each 1 point down to Scoular and Wedderspoon respectively, while Stevenson, playing against R. H. Scott, was 2 points down. W. Allan did not reach double figures against Crawford,, and was 15 points to the bad, while Cousins, playing against Wilkinson, was in an even worse plight, as he was in a minority of 25 points. Dunedin put on a 97 points' win against Balmaeewen in a 10-rink a-side gam©, all the play taking place on th© Dunedin Olub'a two greens. The whole ten Dunedin rinks scored wins. Some of these were runaway victories, but ion, other instances the struggle was keener, and' only a. point

or two separated them at the conclusion of play. That between F. Peake and Armstrong was a case in point. The Dunedin skip got home on the last head, and thus made good his record of not having lost in any interclub match in ssrhioh be has been skip this season. St. Kilda met "both Otago and St. Clair on Saturday on the St. Kilda Green, and won both matches. In the thiee-rink-a-side game against Otago the Saints had the large margin to the good of 26, being successful in every rink. In the four-rink-a-skle game against St. Clair the St. Kilda team won by 21 points, threa of their rinks being successful, while Cameron's team tied with Hancock's. It was a close thing on Saturday between Wakari and N.E. Val!ey, the latter club just winning- by five points in a five-rink-a-sid© match on their own green. Tilburn, for Wakari. is to be congratulated on moire than holding his own against Thomson, the veteran, and ShaTiie on his win against Frame. The majorities. of the Valley rinks skipped by Abbott, and W. and A. Begg turned the scale in their favour. Caledonian scored a win_ against Port Chalmers by 72 points, having an advantage in ©very one of the six rinks taking part. The Lawrence Club brought the season to a close last week in delightful weather with a match Imported v. Colonial, in which the " old 'uns" accounted for the native-born in every rink, having a winning margin of 27 (points. Players and visitors were entertained to afternoon tea bv the president (Mr H. H. Leairy), and at the close of the game Mr. Jeffery, on behalf of the members, warmly thanked' the president and complimented him highly on the manner in which he had carriedout the duties of his office. The season had been one of the most successful in the history of the club, and the enthusiastic and capable manner in which Mr I#eary had looked afteir its affairs had in no small measure been responsible for this gratifying result. Te Rangi Green, Invercargill, was closed for the season on Wednesday last, with a rink tournament. Owing to darkness setting in the final .game could not be finished, and Raeside and' Harper's rinks divided the prize-money. The Southland Green closes this week. For the Longuefc trophies the rinks skipped by Reronie and Se'bo are left to play the final. The promoters of the new bowling- club at Oxepuki have taken up the thing with spirit. At a meeting a few days ago it was decided to call up part of the cash guarantee, and put the work of forming the green in hand at once. A Works Committee was appointed, the members of jvhieh at once set to work to select the site of the green in- the domain.