CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1926, Page 15

CORRESPONDENCE

A MOUNTAIN BOWLING GREEN. (To the Editor.) Sir.—On FYiday, after an absence of some years from this district, I took the opportunity, together with some friends, to visit Mount Egmont. We were all charmed with our visit, and consider it one of the finest of places for a holiday, be it of long or short duration. In the course of our day we saw the site for what is to be a tennis court (or courts) in front of the old house. Certainly the idea is quite laudable, but just why tennis courts are desired in a place where so many other opportunities of utilising the latent energy required for tennis are available we could not quite understand. Tennis is played by those whose activities are unimpaired by increasing years or some physical disability, and we are quite sure that those in the two categories also visit and stay on the mountain, and it is right that they should, and be further encouraged to do so, but it is possible that during a stay they might at times find time ‘hang,” simply because they could not spend that time climbing or exploring. Now, sir, in all seriousness, we suggest that the tennis court be either enlarged or turned into a bowling green. If this were done we are quite sure that it would do far more to popularise the mountain house as a holiday resort than a tennis court can do, for the simple reason that it would provide a suitable recreation for the causes previously mentioned. You are, no doubt, well aware of the very strong hold a game of bowls takes of men, and now that winter play is possible as well as summer, it is often quite impossible to prevail on these devotees of the game to join in a holiday on the mountain, so that were their pastime available up there they would go there. Then the house would benefit, not to mention the wives and daughters who could go because “Dad” would, and also have his game of bowls. In conclusion, I seriously commend this to those responsible.— I am, etc., MOUNTAIN LOVER.