BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 49

BOWLING

DUNEDIN BOWLING CLUB. ITS JUBILEE YEAR. AUSPICIOUS OPENING CERE- | MONIES. | This is the jubilee year of the Dunedin ; Bowling Club vvhien Holds the distinction < of being the pioneer bowling club in the South island and the second oldest, in the ; dominion. Beautiful weather favoured the i club for its official opening ceremonies ' which took place on Saturday afternoon, i The club’s grounds were taxed to their full capacity by the large number of visitors ) who gladly accepted the club’s invitation to be present on that very special occasion. 1 Hie buildings and grounds were gay with bunting and with banners bearing devices of welcome, and groups- of flags strung high across the green signalled the words “Fiity years.” Visitors as tney arrived were cordially greeted by the president (Mr C. Fraser) and Mrs Fraser. Neat souvenir illustrated booklets outlining the history of the club were freely distributed, and many present wore the handsome souvenir badge m the club’s colours. Among those specially invited were representatives of the Dominion Bowling Council, of the Dunedin Centre, and ol sister clubs and past members. Bowling in South Otago was well represented among the visitors. A specially j prepared autograph alburn was kept busy among the visitors all the afternoon, and is to be preserved among the club’s I treasures as a valuable memento ol ihe j occasion Flint’s band was in attendance, and the formal part of the proceedings was opened by it leading the singing ol the National Anthem. lue president (Mr Fraser), who had called the members of the club round him on the green, then addressed the gathering. He thanked them most sincerely | in the name of the club for their attend- j anee on that auspicious occasion, and wel- | corned them cordially to take part in this j function which was a. most unusual one so I far as bowling clubs were concerned, rio j far as he knew the Dunedin Club v,as the ! first, in New Zealand to celebrate its j jubilee, though lie believed a club in Aurk- i land had been formed earlier. Whether it I had been continuous or not he was not i sure. It was very gratifying to members j and everybody concerned to find that, friends were prepared to rally round them and do everything possible to assist in making the ft me tion a success. Speaking of the history of the club, he said that bowling was introduced into Dunedin very shortly after the discovery of gold at Gabriel’s Gully. Mr Geo. Turnbull, when he came to Dunedin brought with him 16 pairs of bowls. Alter tlie gold fever had died down somewhat, his friends and he used to play with these bowls on private lawns and at the Asylum Ground. It was owing largely t.o the persuasion of Mr Thomas Caliend ,w, who had learned the game at Home and was a. very keen bowler, that they came to the conclusion that very much greater pleasure could be obtained front playing on a specially prepared green. It. was that that led to the formation of the Dunedin Bowling and Q,toiling- Club in December, 1871. at a meeting over which Mr D. F. Main, then a. member of the House of Representatives, presided. When these gentlemen formed the Dunedin Bowling Club nearly 50 years ago they started to make traditions for bowling in New Zealand and they set a very high standard indeed, a standard which the members of the club had ever since been striving to maintain. W hen members looked back tit the close of a season and recalled the pleasures and friendships of the green, they realised that they were under a deep debt, of gratitude to all those who fostered the game of bowls in Dunedin, and it was deemed fitting to make sonic recognition of this fact on entering their jubilee season. There were 92 members who constituted the first Dunedin Bowling Club, and of that number only four now survived —Mr Percy C. Neill, who had sent him a letter that morning regretting liis absence, the Hon. Sir J. R. Sinclair. Mr A. Bathgate, whom they all knew as one of tlie beautifiers of Dunedin, and Sir James Mills, at present in the Old Country. They would understand what thoughts had animated the club in inviting them that day to pay a grateful tribute to those who constituted the early members of the club. Bowlers were often elderly men, and it was nothing surprising that a considerable number of these had passed away; but it was rather surprising to find that of their 43 presidents, 19 had been called upon by the Great Reaper, Death. It was therefore with a certain feeling of sadness that they assembled there. He recalled the names of the deceased presidents, beginning with Messrs Thomas Callender, G. Turnbull, and John Hyde Harris, and referred also to such prominent and important men among the original members as Messrs James Rattray, J. L. Butterworth. George Gray Russell. J. M. Ritchie. J. T. Mackerras, George Bell, A. Burt, and T. Burt. Among other early, though not original members mentioned were Professors M’Gregor. Shand, and Gilray, Drs Burns and Batchelor, and Mr William Ilarrop. The assembled company stood in silence for a miifute in tribute to the memory of these, and then Bugler Napier sounded* the “Last Post.” Continuing, Mr Fraser said they were extremely gratified to find that a number of the descendants of these early members had been good enough to accept their invitation to be present that afternoon. He mentioned some of these visitors whose familiar names recalled memories of the founders of the club. He welcomed also Sir John and Lady Roberts and Sir George Fenwick, who had rendered notable services to bowling, and ihe Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas). lie further made reference to past presidents, who were present with them. He drew attention to the fac-t that their good bowlers had also been good business men, and mentioned that eight of Dunedin's Mayors had been members of their club. They had never gone in for prize-hunting in any kind of way, though they had accidentally won a few. Their great aim was to provide their opponents with a good, hard, clean game, no matter who won it. Mr W. Nicholson, president of the New Zealand Bowling Association, said he 1 esteemed it a great pleasure and privilege 1 to be present on such an occasion. There was only one bowling club in New Zealand older than this one, and that was in Auckland. The name of the Dunedin Bowling t Club was synonymous with good games, t good fellowship and a hearty welcome for visitors to Dunedin. He heartily congratu-

lated the club cn its jubilee, a-id expressed the wish that, if might, long continue to uphold those ideals of friendship and good fellowship that had so distinguished it in the past. Mr A. Peters. chairman of trie Dunedin j Bowling Centre, said he belie'ed be bad with him every member of tit'.- executive to pay honour to the senior club. The foundation laid 50 years ago been an . asset not only to tlie D.ined’n Bowling Centre but to the town of Dunedin. Tlie Dunedin Club had led the way for 59 years in having a greater membership than any other, in haring a higher standard of play, by its fine pavilion, and by showing to others how to extend hospitality. The Mayor (Mr J. 5. Douglas) said he was there in a double-barrelled position, both a s a member cf the club and as Mayor j of the city. He extended the eongratula- j tion.s of the city to this club, and ex- I pressed appreciation of the influence of I bowling c-lubs in forming good citizens. ! Mr A. Bathgate, one of the original j members of the club, said he understood he was the only one of the four survivors who was present. He was ashamed to say, nevertheless, that he was not a- bowler. Ho made reference to reminiscences of bowls as lie saw it played in bis boyhood’s days in Scotland, and described the formation of the Kaituna Bowling Club and his early association therewith. He joined in* the congratulations that had been tendered to the eiub. and trusted that they might be ; all spared 10 commemorate its diamond jubilee in 10 years' lime. M iss Callender, daughter of the club’s first president, and Mrs Fraser, wife of the present president, then sent down two jacks and delivered the first two bowls of the season, to the accompaniment of hearty cheers. Mr Fraser presented Miss Callender with a gold bowl brooch in the club’s colours as a souvenir of the occasion, and Air \V. H. Adams, tlie retiring president, presented a similar handsome memento to Mis Fraser. Mr Adams said the club desired to give these Indies some slight token of their esteem and gratitude, and assured Airs Fraser of the esteem in which he husl band was held by his club. All joined in j singing “For they are jolly good fellows.” j Ihe gathering then became more social land inform'd, sad afternoon tea and rej freshme ns were distributed on the grounds : or enjoyed in the pavilion, tastefully decori ated by Mrs W. AL Hogg, the wife of a ! member. Hie official photographer had a 1 busy time collecting various interesting and historic groups of original members and descendants, ex-presidents, presidents of other clubs, and so forth. Afterwards eight of the rinks were occupied by a rink from the New Zealand Council, a rink from the Executive of the Dunedin Centre, and six rinks from the oldest officials and members of other clubs pitted against the oldest available past and present members of the ! Dunedin Bowling Club. Telegrams conveying congratulations and | good wishes were received during the morning from the Alexandra. Roxburgh, and Hastings (Hawke's Bay) Clubs, and letters from ihe presidents of clubs from practically all parts of the dominion. Numerous letters of apology were also received from many who had been invited, expressing regret at being unable through other engagements to attend personally. THE DAY’S PLAY. The game playecl was arranged between past members and past presidents of the club and visitors from other chibs: 1). V. C. Tilbnrn, J. A. Hopcraft, A. Gillies, T. Mootlie 8 Knight, Morrison, Smellie, Barton J. Smith. G. Swift, W. D. Wyatt, W. A. Scott „. 18 - CapL Sundstrum, Hayward, Tonkin, Fynmore Pryde, GrincUey, Hogg, Austin 10 Goodlet, Duncan, M‘Donald, Calder J. C'. Whitelav. W. Watson, J. Rennie, P. Walker 5 J. ,’J. Marlow, J. R. Glover, J. 11. Hancock, AY. Ndc-olson J. F. Peake, J. 0. Cameron, J. Barnes. J. White 11 R. Hanning, AY. Connor, AY. Jacobsen, I. A. Poters W. Forrester, R. M. Marks, AA. Wilson, Yeung 17 Kin*, Clarilge, Harraway, Allmitt AY. M‘Laron,'T. Neill, Ay. P. Gale, P. Miller 12 Wright, AA'ood, Thorn, Simpson .. Totals 81 110 AVAKATIPU CLUB. At the annual meeting of the AVakntipu Bowling Club on the 22nd tilt, (writes our Queenstown correspondent) Mr 1). C. Brown was elected president fur the incoming season. The chib has decided to affiliate with the Otago Central Sub-centre of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, as it is more in touch with the Central Club than with Southland, to which it lias been attached hitherto. The opening day has been fixed for Labour Day, October 24. NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS. SUMMARY OF BRITISH TOUR. The team of New Zealand bowlers con eluded the tour of the British Isles in July. From time to time results of matches have been cabled to New Zealand, but full details have not been available. Air J. D. Sievwright. the secretary of the team, who is returning- to New Zealand by the Niagara, has summarised the results and forwarded them to Wellington. The New Zealanders played altogether 55 matches. The scores in the aggregate, were: For New Zealand, 6385 points; !•*" England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales. 6120 points. The lead for New Zealand was thus 265 points. Of the 55 matches played. New Zealand won 34 and lost 21. the balance being 13 wins in New Zealand’s favour. 1 The following is a summary of ihe skips play : G. S. Gordon (Wanganui)—44 games. £7 wins, 17 losses. 1 d. D. Sievwviiiht (Wellington)—4s games, 1 25 wins, 17 losses, ties. _ T. AL Stewart (Dunedin) —37 games. 22 1 wins, 14 losses, 1 tie. A. P. London (Wanganui) 39 games, 22 wins, 16 losses, 1 tie. F. J. Barlow (Christchurch)—3s games, 1 20 wins, 14 losses, 1 tie. H. Rankin (Auckland) 32 games. 17 wins, ; 13 losses, 2 ties. J. H. Bray (Auckland)—l4 games, 8 wins, 5 losses, 1 t le. W. Efford (Rangicra)—2l games. 9 wins, ‘ 12 losses.