BOWLING SPASMS

Observer, Volume XXX, Issue 38, 4 June 1910, Page 22

BOWLING SPASMS

By "The Ditcheh."]

t< J ,•■■■.. ____—_—_ >' « A GLORIOUS vind-up, indeed, , ' A--was the unanimous verdict of V all engaged in the Executive r) 'Tournament on Empire Day. The s ' day was fine, but lowering ; the rinks ii were fully manned ; and Caretaker ■ Smart excelled himself in the smooth t- sward he gave the bowlers. The games were started at 8.45— r -' not a second too soon as it turned v> out. The arrangements generally i i reflected the greatest credit on all J concerned. Secretary Bryden aid - _ his co-workers were alive 1« their 1' i duties, iand' the caterer deserves ' great praise for his complete arri is'e- - ments and for the quality of the ' viands. . '■-.-. ' The health of the Present v\-as pioposed by Mr A. M. Myers, and was very warmly • received. . Tns "' President, in a few happy viOids ' thank his fellow-bowlers for thpi> reception. This was the only ron'st \ At two o'clock the invited <jcmf ts r arrived, and a goodly number of fair ladies and their escorts graced the Auckland, grouftd. A nice string " band enlivened the proceedings. All thoroughly enjoyed their outing, and numbers stayed till night spread her luaritle. -' • \ ; - The Stanley Bay Club put up a > fine record _ for•' 'their day's work at the Executive Tournament. Their ■. scores for the day-were : For, 76 ; against, 36. This, n ith „ % the scores of some of the clubs—even the winners—is really splendid. Ponsonby, the winners, put up 63 against 44. Epsom did well, getting 68-32 This club lost the tie to Ponsonby by 1 point Ola one head. It was a pleasing eight to see the hard-'Borkers of the many clubs - sociated with the A.P.B. A. joining in a friendly bout. A good game Tike this is some small* recompense to those that put so much time in to supply fun for others May 1 toe spirit that exists at present continue. * . Mrs 0. Nicholson, and the ladies assisting her at the President's , ' afternoon garden party at the AuckV land green, had a busy time. . But ,- a lot of willing hands make light work, so everyone got a nice cup of steaming tea and all the choice confectionery delicacies of every possible - kind were handed round to all and sundry . Mrs Nicholson was assisted , by Mesdames Elliot j. Gribbin, Keesmg, Blenerhassett, and the Musses Nicholson. Ponsonby was represented at the A.P.B.A. Tournament by P. Harris, ' Crabtree, Snedden and V. Lan<*sford. Their win was creditable, the Dkip winning the game on the last head with his first bowl, drawn in total darkness, about 14 inches from kitty. . , . , The curtain was rung down on Saturday at Epsom, after a great year. ' The condition of the rinks has been s satisfactory in the extreme. The final games were fought while daylight \ lasted. Onahunga favoured Epsom ", by a farewell call. A nice rink -of players, Schnaeur, Ramsay, E. W. r, Wrigiht and Molntosh, played McGowan, Foubister, Watldns and ', Eagleton in a 28-head go, Mac and his merry men getting . hornev by 5 c * after a really nice game. Some - great heads were put up, all playing / well. , The ground will now be put .- » in' form-for the" next season, . and ." Mondiay will see tlhe whole of the l t - rinks tranßmbjgrified. . i?" Oarlton Jwinter green was again [v busy jon six rinks ~,t; at. it: Tb& usual fun ;was 1?\ &>% out ; oi thie i?*:; ofe the games were well contested. %<' The King'si Birthday will be taken up jf:^ witJr ;^j.:.full : i day's'; tournament, ,the

This week will close "The Ditcher's ". spasms for, the season, and I wish my esteemed readers au reyoir (not good-bye) '■ till, we meet again. Our bowling column will be made even more interesting during the next season. The'final of the Epsom Pairs was concluded on Saturday. Clark and Walton met Brook alid W. Smith. The game was never in doubt, the fine leading of Brook (who ie considered to be the best lead in the club) being a fine performance. His vie-a-vis Clark was also in fair form, but was left badly by his partner, who was outclassed by the opposing skip. The gam© finished- 32 to 7. Better things were expected in the final, but the knowing ones were doomed to disappointment.

Our concluding portrait this week is one of Mr J. -Roes, the original constructor of the Auckland bowling green in the year '61. Mr Ross arrived in this country in 1860 from bonnie Scotland, and, looking round . for something to do, he met Mr Chalmers, the first domain curator, who bad been asked by Mr J. McFarlane to make a bowling green, but at the time had too much in , hand, Mr Rose came to the rescue/ and took the affair out of his hande. ' In the early '50's this site was known as Couligan's Dam, and was a very soft corner. The stone dam pipes and other solids that have been tipped in tihat piece of land would astonish us if we could see them. However, after cutting raupo: cutty grass and other water-weeds down, a start was. made. Sods from Bishop Williams's neighbouring allotments in Carlton Gore Road were carted down, and a very respectable %urf ace was made. The work was done by day labour, and was very slow, owing to the etorm water covering it several times. The first game was played on May 24, 1862, and was soon closed, as the water was more troublesome than ever.V A deep ditch was made, and helped to carry away the worst of troubles. The original members—T. MoFarlane, Tom Henderson, W. Greyham, Watkin, G. Webster, R. Patterson, J. W. Harrop, J. Smart, G. McGuffie, and J. Ogilvie (the last-named being secretary )— have, all passed over the Great Divide, with the exception of Mr J. Smart, who is aJive-and well. Mr Ross loves to talk over the little incidents connected with the old, handiwork of his. This geatU-man is in his 84th year. l . A very pleasing ceremony took place at the Executive Match on Empire Day, when the popular, and enthusiastic f-ecretary of* the A.P.B.A. was the recipient.of a valuable dinner set. The President gave it as his opinion that the A.P.B.A. had been, very fortunate in their choice of secretaries since' its in-' ception, but the last rr-Ti of their choice topped them all, and in making the presentation he assured Mr A. M. Bryden.that the present was only- a minute token of the thorough appreciation of his services. Mr Bryden', replying in his usual unselfish way, said his co-workers deserved as much praise as himself, and, alsQ that as; long as he* was able, hie

time and talents were to be devoted to bowling. y The assembled bowlers gave him -three hearty 'cheers, and wound up, by singing "For he's a jolly good fellow." A crowded meeting of the Rotorua Bowling Club was held, the other night. The matter in discussion was a change of colours—the brown and white being condemned,* the chocolate being of every shade from red to dirty brick colours. . After a' lot of korero, green_ and white blazers, with white facings and a red monogram was decided on, and, a emoker to wind up the season was also fixed on. - This club is thoroughly alive these days, and the' President (Mr Urquhart) is a good sample of the man that should be behind the gun. While talking about colours of clubs, committees should insist on the colours being correct and presentable. To see the dingy and faded ribbons that numbers of playere don would bother a sea lawyer to say what they were. A new hat band every season would not be expensive, and . would look as it should. The sun will fade the best colour that; was ever worn. Also, ; a little more uniformity as to dress on the field would be worth considering. I will admit that has been a vast improvement in this direction, but still there is room for a further reform . # It is a pretty sight to see a club out in its flannels. The comfort alone should recommend it.. Mt. Albert arid Carlton winter greens are having an all day tournament ori~King's Birthday. ..The' lists are full, and no doubt there will be a good day's bowling to tickle the pallets of the favoured. Miss Lydon proved to be too clever for her doughty opponent at Victoria Park green. She. had no losses, thus winning Mr M. Casey's handsome trophy. Mrs Lye was runner-up, which was a good performance. The Mayor,, Mr L. J. Bagnall presented the .'prizes to the lucky . winners in - each pate. The whole affair was originally arranged by Mr A. Eagleton, who was unable to be at the function owing to an accident, having sprained his ankle. Mr Somers won the prize for the gentlemen. Waitemata had a clean up day on Saturday. The final of the Skeates Cup went to Shepherd. He beat Low by 6. In the President's bowls, 'Redgrave dumped out H. Frith. The last-named looked a snip, but failed at the critical moment. Otahuhu held an enjoyable social the other evening, and the good attendance showed that it was agreeable to the bowlers. A happy two hours was spent in harmony, and it is the resolve of the old committee to have a few concerts during the winter months. President Harbutt was all out and filled the chair with dignity and with an" eye to the general entertainment of the assembled guests. Song and story occupied the company till the comet appeared