BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 55

BOWLING.

Secretaries are requetted to forward particular* of game* played and of forthcoming matches.

ROTES BY JACK. The cat is out of the bag at last. The Council' of the Dominion of Now Zealand Bowling Association is to take full control, financial and otherwise, of the annual tournaments. The work of years ha,s been undone, and although the Dunedin and Christchurch Centres have conducted the annual tournaments for the past few years better than was over done by the executive of the association, the council, having got the power into its hands, has pushed the centres to one side, and will resume the control of which a similar body was deprived by bowlers generally only a lew years ago. It was foreseen when the proposals for amalgamation were in progress that the getting back of the control of the tournament was one of the objects aimed at. As was remarked in this column at the time, the thing was done “ quietly, secretly, and surreptitiously.” In the drafting of the constitution of the new body the word “may” was substituted for ‘‘shall” in clause 10. With two exceptions every member of the council of the N.Z.8.A., when spoken to, declared that they had no idea that any such change was made, and that certainly their attention had not boon drawn to the far-reaching effect of the alteration.

Clause ID of the constitution as it stands at present “unci may delegate” ole., implies that except for good and sufficient reasons the council should delegate the control and management of the tournament to the Dunedin Centre, and it should be the duty of the Dunedin Centre—in its own interest and in the interests of other- centres — to ascertain what are the good and sufficient reasons for departing from what has been obligatory for the past few years. Can the council advance any reasons? Why is what amounts practically to a vote of want of confidence passed on it this year. Perhajis Mr Marlow, the president, who as a delegate of the St. Kilda Chib, fought strenuously in past days for giving the control to the centre, will explain Ids changed attitude. Has Mr C. R. Smith, who. as a prominent official of the centre, took an active part in running the annual tournament, found reason for declaring that his work and that oi his colleagues was inefficient now that ho is a member of the council?

The following are the results of the Dun edin Centre’s Lnterclub mate-lies on Sai.ui day:-

—Association Section. — Wakari 69 beat Kaikorai 40. Green Island 86 boat N.K. Valley 57 Dunedin 57 beat Fairfield 48. St. Kilda 58 beat Taiori 53. Caledonian 75 boat Outran! 64. —Cent rc Sect ian. Caledonian 87 beat Caversham 84. Balmacowcn 62 boat Kaituna 41. Taieri 64 beat St. Kilda 60 Mornington 78 beat Wakari 53. N.E. Valley 64 beat Green Island 54. —District Section.— St. Kilda 60 beat Taieri 56. Caledonian 92 beat Caversham 70. Mornington 56 bent Kaikorai 53. Dunedin 62 boat Fairfield 50.

Caledonian won all throe section, Dunedin and Mornington won in the two sections in. which they were playing, St. Kiic.i won in two sections and lost in another, Baimaeowen won in the section in which they played; Wakari, Green Island, and N.K. Valley won in ono section and lost in another; Taieri won in one section and lost in two; Outran! and Kaifuna each lost in the one section played; Kaikorai, Caveisham, and Fairfield each lost in two sections. The liret match for the Holmes Feathers was played on Saturday evening after the interclub match. The mist which prevailed in the afternoon had increased to a drizzle when play commenced, and before the game concluded there was a steady downpour of rain. The Dunedin Green, on which the game was played, was in beautiful order during the afternoon, but as the wet soaked in it became heavy. The conditions altogether were unfavourable for a really good display of skill. The team selected by Mr Holmes, the donor of the gold feathers, to defend them had had twice maintained their right against club mates. J. G. Bentley skipped the Dunedin rink and H. Mann captained the Fairfield team. The defenders had a slight lead for most of the time, and at the nineteenth head had an advantage of 3 points. The twentieth head saw the scores even, and it was not until the last bowl was played in the final head that the fate of the feathers was decided, the Fairfield team becoming the holders. The itinerary of the Australian team which is to visit New Zealand in December has not yet been definitely arranged. In order to enable tile visitors to spend their time equally between tire North and South Islands, tile itinerary submitted to Mr Whitehouse, of New South Wales, kept them to tile North Island Trunk line between Auckland and Wellington. Air Whitehousc lias intimated that the team wants to descend the Wanganui River and pay a visit to Taranaki, to return the visit paid to Australia some time ago by a team from that district. This will mean that the team will bo at least 18 days in the North Island, and that they will not be able to visit Invercargill if they return to Wellington in time to catch the steamer arranged. The team will be in Dunedin on the Bth and 9th January, which is the week end immediately preceding the association’s tournament.

SOUTHLAND BOWLING. The game is in full swing down in these southern parts, and with beautiful 'weather and the greens in better trim than they have ever been before, players are becoming quite enthusiastic. The most important event so far was the pronounced defeat of the To Rang! Club by Northond in the eight-rink interclub fixture. Last year’s champions were without their mainstay, J. Findlay, who has done so much for the club, and who is still their premier player. This year a number of matches have been arranged for those players who have their half-holiday on Saturday, and theao game* arc carried out in the very beet of epiriU.

There is no trophy attached, and the victory ie by genera) consent to be ascribed to trio team that contributes most towards a merry, enjoyable afternoon. These Saturday games are beginning to bo keenly looked forward to, and it is quite likely tnat a good many of those who take part in thorn will gain the eye of the selector when centre matches are being Considered. It is to to hoped that the player? of Dunedin are keeping in mind the fact that they owe us something down here. If they cannot arrange to coma down to play an inter-ccntre match, at least we are expecting them to provide about a dozen rinks for our New Tear tournament. The committee has decided to play out four games on. New Year’s Day and that at no time wjli players bo called upon to move from one green to another, if one is sent to a particular green in tile morning he will remain there for that day while he is still in the contest. Mr A. E. Smith, the president, is making quite certain that every, detail concerning the conduct of the tourney it being carefully considered, and ccjr.pleta arrangements will bo made in order that the meeting shall bo carried out with smoothness and despatch. Everything in the garden is to bo lovely, so ye Dunedin bowlers, just remember us and come away down. Last Wednesday tho town teams went visiting. Southland played Winton, where, although the country club went down, ona rink skipped by the Rev. Webb put down T. D. Kingslund’s team by 29-15. Pretty solid that i Te Rang! accounted easily for Bluff, but here, too, one of the defeated got, homo by 7 points against a strong team skipped by Strang. Edginton was tho victorious B!u(! skip. Invercargill won comfortably against Woodlands, and Mataura simply wiped the floor with Wyndham. Northern! had a day off, which was devoted to club rink matches. DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. A meeting of tho Executive Committee of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association was held in the secretary's oflico on the 11th inst.; present — Messrs J. J. Marlow (president), C. Russo!! Smith, James Allan, W. C. Allmitt, and J. ET. Hancock. Tho Secretary of tho Auckland Centro wrote stating that it. had been decided to open the Exhibition tournament on February 24. —Date approved; programme to ba submitted for approval. The Secretary of the Christchurch Centre wrote stating that ho had communicated with Mr W. A. Scott asking him if ha could accompany the testing machine to Christchurch for tho purpose of testing bowls. They would supply an asaistanS, who would l,<?arn tho business and be their tester —Approved. The Secretary of the Christchurch Centra wrote stating that tho West Coast bowler# would like a game with tho Australian team. Tho Secretary of the North Otago Centre forwarded a similar request or. behalf of Oamaru. -Reply to bo sent that tho com‘milice regretted that, the time at the visitors’ disposal would not allow of tho visit, the Australians having already practically arranged their itinerary.

The Cromwell Club wrote applying for the colours dark blue blazer with gold facings.—-Approved. Mr A. J. Whitekouse, of Sydney, wrote enclosing the itinerary of the Australian team of bowlers, and asking that arrangements bo made for accommodation. Ho suggested playing Dunedin on January 8 and 9.—Reply to bo sent, that January 8 and 9 would suit Dunedin. Mr G. F. Gordon, of the St. John's Bowling Club, Wanganui, wrote inquiring if the use of composition bowls was prohibited at the championship tournament.- —The Secretary said he had replied that the only bowl recognised by the association wan a bowl made of lignum vibe or other approved wood, and marie by a recognised maker of bowls. Approved. Several accounts were passed for payment. It was resolved to hold a meeting of the council oti Thursday, December 9. to consider the suggested amendments to the constitution and rules and- laws of the game-