NELSON CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

NELSON CLUB.

(From "The Colonist," Oct. Bth.) j There was a good attendance of members and visitors at the Nelson Bowling Club's green on Saturday afternoon, when the season was successfully opened. The Maitai and Wakefield clubs were well represented, improvements had been made during the recess, in- j eluding the painting of the buildings, and the grounds had an extremely attractive, appearance. ,

Mr J. Shields, president of the club, in his opening remarks, said he was | sure all present would agree %vith him I that it was a pleasure to meet once again after the lapse of five months. The ground committee in their wisdom closed the green for play somewhat earlier last season for the purpose of allowing the young grass to take a good hold before the frosts came, and the result was that the green was now in splendid condition, many of the old players asserting that the turf never looked better. Of course, there had been a most favourable close season—plenty of moisture with very fe%y frosts—but at the same' time Mr Walter Fieldes, the caretaker, was to he complimented on the perfect order the green and its surroundings were in, for he had been most assiduous in attention to his duties during the whole of the recessThe Dominion tournament was to be held at Dunedin this year, and the president hoped the .Nelson club would be strongly represented at it. It was, lie I said, gratifying to know that the club's j membership was still slightly increasI ing. They would shortly have to ooni sider seriously the question of obtaining I additional playing accommodation. [ Many of them had thought that the j war would have terminated before they started bowls again, but unfortunately it had not. In this connection he might refer to the untiving efforts of | the wives of some of their members, I who last season! were most zealous in 'collecting subscriptions for patriotic purposes, thereby appreciably aug-menting-various war- funds. The ladies would no doubt be active for the same cause in the near future.

A telegram from the Alotueka Bowling Club was read ? conveying wishes for a' successful opening of the JNeison Club's season.

The president having thrown a jack, Jli's Shields sent the first bowl across the green, amid the applause of the onlookers. Afternoon tea was provided by Mrs Shields, wife of the president. A collection was made by ladies for the Red Cross Fund, and £6 12s 7d was contributed. A match between sides representing the president and the vice-president followed, and was ■won with a good margin by the vicepresident's rinks.