BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1925, Page 2

BOWLING.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. PAST YEAR S ACTIVITIES. The various activities and accomplishments of the New Plymouth Bowling Club are reviewed in the report which is to be presented at the annual meeting of the club next Thursday. The report states inter alia: The committee, in presenting the forty-first annual report, have pleasure in recording another successful year. The present membership of the club is 155, and it is hoped that this will be increased to 200 next season. There is ample accommodation for the larger number, and members are earnestly urged to lose no chance of enrolling new members. The club this year has considerably improved its financial position. All accounts have been paid to date and, as will be explained at the annual meeting, substantial progress has been made. In October last the freehold of the club’s property was acquired, and little difficulty was experienced in finnancing the purchase. In addition, all the old debentures amounting to £255 have been paid off, and the clubs debt is now consolidated into one sum owing to one body. The price paid: for the land was £l7OO, and, having in mind late sales of sections in the neighbourhood, it is safe to say that the value of our land has at least doubled itself since the time the agreement to purchase was entered into, and, with the rapid growth of the town, the value of the property must become proportionately greater. It is with deepest regret that your committee has to record the passing on of two of our oldest members, Aiessrs. John Avery and William Luscombe. By their lovable natures they had endeared themselves to their brother members. Mr. Luscombe, for a number of years, rendered very valuable assistance to the club in his capacity as honorary warden, and Mr. Avery has left behind a beautiful trophy for competition among the winter players. To the bereaved relatimes suitable letters of sympathy were forwarded.

When the freehold of the property was acquired, an application was made to the Valuer-General to have the land re-valued as a sports area, and this was at once done, and it will have the effect of reducing the club’s rates and taxes by one-half, which is a substantial benefit. Considering the importance of having these beautiful breathing areas in the centre of the town, the above is a consideration which the committee had no hesitation in applying for. Winter play is now being indulged in and there is a winter membership of 35 at present. The subscription this year has been fixed at £1 for the season or Is per game. The competition tor the Avery trophy last year had to be abandoned, but it is hoped that a keen rivalry will be evinced Iby the several town clubs for the honour of being the first winners of this handsome gift. The croquet membership stands at 42 and the establishment of this branch of sport in connection with the club’s activities has fully justified itself and has provided recreation for our ladies, of which they take full advantage. The standard of play shown is rapidly improving, and our members are now opponents worthy of the older clubs’ best players. Thanks to the generosity of a number of the bowlers, both in monetary assistance and giving their labour, a great Improvement has just been completed Iby increasing the playing area of the croquet lawn, and so bringing it up to a full-sized green. This was effected by removing the hedge that separated the lawn from the bowling greens and cutting away a large portion of the mound upon which the hedge grew. An iron fence is required on the western boundary of the croquet lawn, and the committee hope to have this erected at no very distant date. The efforts made by the ladies in augmenting the club’s funds are most gratifying and have been of great assistance. During the past year Mr. Thomas Avery very generously presented a handsome seat, suitably inscribed, in memory of departed bowlers. (Subscriptions have come in very well this year, and, as these are our main source of income, it must be obvious to members how greatly the prompt payment of their subscriptions assists the committee in its work. Personal canvassing for these dues should not be necessary, and is a task very distasteful to those who have to undertake it.

The option for the purchase of Brooks’ property having expired, the committee has secured a further option for five years on the same terms. This will expire on April 27, 1930. It was a pleasure to welcome the Auckland touring team, and suitable entertainment was provided for them. The interchange of these visits is one of the greatest sources of enjoyment experienced by bowlers during the season. To the honorary warden, Mr. C. N. Johnson, and the caretaker, Mr. W. Barnett, the club should be most grateful for maintaining such excellent greens for play. The former, the committee deeply regrets, finds that he cannot in future spare the time to continue his valuable work of supervision. He may be assured of the club’s warmest thanks for his past services, which were always enthusiastically and readily given. Winter socials are again (being held this winter, and promise to be very successful. Those who attend may always be sure of a very jolly evening. This report would not be complete were the committee not to record its sincere gratitude to the Press for the full reports of matches played and the publishing of teams. Reference is also made in the report to the winners of the various competitions and tournaments, full accounts of which were published in the Daily News when the matches were played. The balance-sheet shows that the total receipts (including £177 18s lOd surplus from loan) amounted to £lOl5 15s 2d, the chief items being: Subscriptions £491 19s fid, cupboard £127 5s lOd, croquet £7O 3s Bd, debit bank of New South Wales £79 17s 2d, competition fees £27 19s fid, donations and trophies £25 7s. Wages .( £3OO 19s) accounted for the largest item in the

expenditure, other payments of importance being: Debentures, paid £244), interest and rent £154 2s lOd, cupboard £33 5s 3d, maintenance £B6 14s 2d, insurance and rates £65 12s lid, centre fees and tourneys’ £22 19s 9d, honoraria £l5 15s, petty expenses, ’phone, eto., £ll 12s 9d.