NEW PLYMOUTH BOWLING CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81884, 10 November 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH BOWLING CLUB.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. Despite the weather being miserably cotd and wet on Friday afternoon, about 50 members of the New Plymouth Bowling Club with tho r it tends a-sembeel at the paviI'on for the formal opening of the green for the season. Afternoon •ca was provided in abundance by Airs R. Cock, and dispensed by lady 1 fends of the members. p r . m - to the refreshments Mr R. Cock, vice-president, made a cap ta. speech. He mentioned that at the recent annual meeting of the club, die late Mr James Paul had been unanimously re-elected president. At the same meeting Mr Govett and lumself had been elected vice-presi-dents. Subsequent to the r late president's dem'se, the committee had asked the speaker to act as president until the next annual meeting, a position he had accepted with regret under the circumstances. The fact ■ha. that day, continued the speaker, was the anniversary of tne club antt also the day on which the club had attained Ms majority (21 years), made die pos tion a harder one for him to take. Continuing, Mr Cock staled that the late Mr James Paul was recognised as the father of bowling in the Taranaki provnec. It was ■lirough his (Mr Pauls) instrumentality that bowling clubs "had been es-tab-ishcd all around the mountain and Wangamii. The dub was greatly indebted to the late president for many acts of kindness, and whiM he had been espec ally beloved by aft classes of the community, especially so was he by the bowlers. His last knoness to the club was the fitting up of the social room on the upper floor of tho pavilion. In that room might be seen the trophies, photographs, mementos, and history of the club. Mr Paul had also placed a large framed photograph of himself at the end of tne soe'al room. Mr Cock went on to say that he hoped the whole of the members of the club would help to procure a memento in the shape of a memorial tablet to the memory ot iheir late esteemed president. Comment.ng on tho club's operations for lne future, Mr Cock regretted that he had not the knowledge of the game that was possessed by the 'ate Mr Paul, but he would be pleased to do what was in his power to further the club's interest. A large Taranak' prov nciai tournament was be ng arranged for the Christmas holidays, and it behoved members to put in plenty of practice so as to uphold the mana and add to the laurels of ihe cub. After commenting on the position of the club, the speaker called upon Mrs Cock to throw the "jack'' up the green, which was accomplished amidst the plaudits -f the members, Mrs Cock declaring the sea-'on open., and wishing the club a prusperqus and enjoyable season.