AUCKLAND VISITORS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1935, Page 10

AUCKLAND VISITORS

AN ENJOYABLE TOUR MATCHES IN SOUTH TARANAKI. DRY WEATHER AFFECTS GREENS. A brief outline of the trip of the South Auckland bowlers until they reached Hawera was given by Mr. P. Rowe, president of the South Auckland Centre, to a Daily News reporter on Saturday. The hospitality extended them wherever they had been was wonderful, he said, and the weather had been favourable. Many of the party had never visited the country through which they had travelled, so they were interested in all they saw. Many of the greens on which they had played showed evidences of the recent dry weather, but the greens they had so far seen in Taranaki were in excellent order. The South Auckland Centre embraced a large area from Raglan to Waihi and from Huntly to Te Kuiti. A fair number of the 34 cldbs in the centre were represented on the tour. It was a week since they left Hamilton for Napier. They had played at Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Dannevirke and Woodville, reaching Palmerston North on Wednesday. That afternoon and on Thursday morning they played at Palmerston North, travelling to Feilding to play in the afternoon bowlers representing Feilding, Marton and Bulls. Friday was spent playing the Wanganui clubs, and on Saturday morning they reached Patea, where they were accorded a welcome to Taranaki and to its most southern town. The tour was a strenuous one, but all were enjoying themselves and for many it would be the forei-unner of other happy tours, said Mr. Rowe. He hoped Taranaki bowlers would soon honour South Auckland with a similar tour. The visitors were entertained ai morning tea by the Patea club. They were welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom), president of the Patea club, and by Mr. R. G. Scown and Mr. F. E. Clarke on behalf of the Taranaki Centre. Three rinks remained at Patea and the other nine rinks and the rest of the party motored to Hawera. Both the Hawera and Park greens were the scenes of friendly rivalry between members of the clubs and the visitors. The weather was ideal and the greens ■were in excellent order. Although in both cases the aggregates were in favour of the Taranaki clubs, many of the heads were very closely contested. The visitors were officially welcomed on the Hawera green by Mr. A. H. R. Amess, president of the Taranaki Bowling Centre, and Mr. D. McCormick, president of the Hawera club. Mr. Phil. Rowe, president of the South Auckland Centre, replied and at the conclusion of play expressed thanks. At the Park green the visitors were welcomed by the president, Mr. J. Goodwin, and a reply was made by Mr. W. Maingay. Results of the games on the Hawera

VISITORS ENTERTAINED. In the evening the women members of the party were entertained' at the Hawera Opera House and the bowlers attended a smoke concert in the Hawera club’s pavilion. Among those present were Messrs. Amess (chairman), P. Rowe, J. T. North (past president), W. Maingay, member of the executive, E. Dingle, member of the Dominion council, E. T. Petty, member of the Taranaki Centre, A. Adam, secretary, and E. K. Cameron, deputy-Mayor of Hawera. A welcome to the visitors to Hawera was extended by Mr. Cameron. It was an honour to Hawera to entertain them, he said, and he hoped they were having an enjoyable trip. He likened them to ambassadors of friendliness and good sportsmanship. The new Stratford-Main Trunk railway had brought Taranaki into closer contact with Auckland and the Waikato and he hoped the visitors would during their tour take the advantage of familiarising themselves with Taranaki’s wonderful potentialities. He hoped that their associations of the next few days would result in the making of close friendships and send them on their way with a greater appreciation of Taranaki and its sentinel, Mount Egmont.

He hoped that the present visit would be only a forerunner of many more, said Mr. Amess, in proposing the toast of the South Auckland Centre. The relationships in the bowling world between Auckland and Taranaki had always been most cordial, Auckland having been largely responsible for the introduction of bowling into Taranaki. He hoped they would enjoy their trip, particularly their trip to Mounf Egmont. It was eight or nine years since their first toux- to Taranaki, said Mr. Rowe, in reply. The tour was their fourth, and it was growing to such large proportions that they would have to enforce a quota. There were 18 bowlers on the last tour, but on this occasion there were 48, in addition to a number of young men and women. Wonderful hospitality was always extended to them, and many recalled with pleasure their experiences on the occasion of the Hawera jubilee some years ago. Their desire to see the flood damage in Taranaki had interested a number in making the trip. In conclusion he expressed the hope that a large contingent of Taranaki bowlers would return the visit.

The importance of his toast was an honour to him, said Mr. North, who proposed the toast of the Taranaki Bowling Centre. The burdens of the centres were very considerable, but were carried out by members to the best of their ability. The speaker and his colleagues felt at home in Taranaki and appreciated very much the friendships they made. He assured them that there was a bond between the Taranaki and South Auckland that would never be broken. He assured them that there was a bond between the Taranaki and South Auckland that would never be broken. He wished the Taranaki Centre prosperity. He took some credit for the first tour of Taranaki bowlers in the Waikato district, said Mr. Petty, who replied on behalf of the Taranaki Centre. He recounted incidents of early tours. He Was pleased that the visits were continuing so successfully and with such increasing numbers. Other toasts honoured were the ladies

(Mr. J. W. Thomas-Mr. H. S. Maslin), the Artists (Mr. J. Foy—Mr. R. Maunder) and the Press (Mr. D. McCormick). Items were given by Messrs. R. Maunder, A. E. Morris, W. G. Simpson, G. Gibson, F. E. Clarke, M. R. Jones (songs), W. W. Thomas, D. McCormick (recitations) B. Barnett (humorous items) and E. K. Cameron (exhibition of magic and conjuring). Accompaniments were played by Mr. Maunder. Yesterday the visitors were entertained at Dawson Falls by the Taranaki Bowling Centre. A large number of cars containing the visitors and a large contingent of South Taranaki bowlers and their friends made the trip.

greens are:- S . A . H . Sims, Chegwidden, Hedge, Finch 12 — Edwards, Robb, Rudge, Maslin .. — 35 Davis, Booth, Rogers, North ..• Campbell, Spratt, Murray, Me20 — — 23 Lowry, Masters, Redpath, Rowe.. 27 - Hobbs, Smart, Clarke, Amess .. Nobles, Roberts, Cobham, Hen- — 25 17 — Colclough, Bardsley, Foy, Squire - 23 Wood, Bowden, Wallace, Taylor 20 - Velvin, Fletcher, Adamson, Winks — 32 Total 36 138 Results of the Park green games are:— S.A.Pk. Dolman, Pooley, Dr. Todd, Pearce Jellyman, Cummings, Butler, 16 — — 21 Parr, Brockett, Margison, Land . 12 - Cropp, Neilsen, J. Thomas, Smith — 31 Matuschka, Gifford, Hyde, Main20 — D. Goodwin, Ure, Villars, J. - 14 Raven, Barrard, Barnett, Frank18 — Cran, Gilligan, Hotter, Quin .... — 29 Total 66 95