NOTES ON THE TOUR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9212, 15 April 1908, Page 1

NOTES ON THE TOUR

[From Ocn Special Corrtsspondent.] HOB ART, April 3. Aorqss the Tasnian Sea nothing but heavy weather and high seas were encountered, and instead of Hobart bej ing reached on Thursday afternoon, it ; was late on Friday before that port was j made. It had been intended to rigorously practise the bowlers' war-cry written by Mr O. R. Parata, of Dunedin, but the only occasion on which sufficient of the dominion team could be got together to sing the verses and to rehearse the necessary facial gestures and actions was while the Maheno was anchored at the Bluff. Some idea of the, 6OT«sty^of,,,;tihe passage., may bo 'gauged froiM the fact that deck quoits and cricket' had to be abandoned, while eren the customary "sweep" on the daily run wa6 not attempted, notwithstanding that the ship's complement included, in addition to the Blue Moon Company and the bowlers, such wellkuown sportsmen as Sir James Mills, Mr J. B. Reid (Christchurch), and Mr J. A. Cook (Dunedin). On Wednesday forenoon a sensation was provided by a (steerage passenger (Arthur Rollason, of Hastings) being found on the promenade deck in a pool of blood with his throat cut. The services of a " round " passenger, Pr Williams, of Sydney, were requisitioned, and his efforts resulted in the man's life being saved. When Rollason regained consciousness t he confessed to the ship's officers that he had tried to take his own life owing to family troubles. He is a single man. In the evening the ertorm increased. One sea carried away the ventilators and flooded the stewards' quarterSj while another stove in a window in the social hall % and the water pouring in found its way into the Broadwood grand piano, which was open. The hatches also had to be battened dowUj causing the Maheno to be hove to for a couple of hours. When the mileage was posted at noon on Thursday, it was found that only 212 knots had been registered for the twen-ty-four hours' run.

MELBOURNE, April 6. The departure from Hobart took place at 11 p.m., and immediately thei^eafter the bowlers assembled in the Maheno's saloon for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr Allnutt (Dunedin), it being the anniversary of his silver wedding and also the twentyfirst birthday of his second daughter. The presentation took the form of a pair of silver candlesticks, Mr Ham acting as spokesman. In the course of a feeling reply, Mr Allnutt mentioned that hie wife and himself were both educated at Talbot, and they were go~ ing back to Victoria to the scenes of their childhood and courtship. The run to Melbourne was -made under the most favourable conditions. On reaching Williamstown Mr Thomas (of Ashburton), who was seriously ill from internal hemorrhage, had to be taken to a private hospital. Mr Hannah, secretary of the Victoria Bowling Association, officially detailed the week's arrangements. On Monday forenoon the visitors were formally welcomed by Mr Charles Wood, president of the Victorian Bowling Association at the Town Hall Hotel, and he produced enthusiasm by stating his intention to take a team of Australian bowlers to New Zealand next year. Acknowledgments of the attentions of Victorian bowlers were made by Messrs Waddell and Ham.

The first game was played on the Victoria Bowling Club's green in the afternoon. This is one of the oldest clubs Jn the State, having been formed in 1876. It numbers seventy members, and during the last eighteen months a new pavilion has been erected at a cost of £650. The green is 140 ft by 160 ftr — of greater lengiih than those in use in the dominion. It is reached by tram from the post office in five minutes, faces the Melbourne University, and is possibly the most convenient green in Victoria. The club extended a hearty welcome to all visiting bowlers. The game was a six-rink match, and Victoria won by 147 to 140.