BOWLING GREEN AND FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17244, 10 January 1924, Page 1

BOWLING GREEN AND FIRE.

UNEXPECTED WATERING. DAMAGE VERY SLIGHT. The fire which destroyed the Avonside schoolroom last night did not materially damage the Linwood Bowling and Croquet Club’s lawns, which adjoin the school grounds. No tournament play had been fixed for to-day. but had it been otherwise play woul i not Tiave been stopped in any way. A visit to the greens this morning elicited the fact that, although slight damage was done to the croquet lawn on the far side by water, the bowling green itself, notwithstanding that a number of people crossed over it. was in good condition. It was necessary fothe firemen in attending to the hose to cross the green, but in doing so every care was taken. At one time, when the spectators be came excited and started to use the green as a path, one of the members of the! club remonstrated with them, but to no purpose, and it was then that the firemen turned the hose round and forced the trespassers to beat a hasty retreat. Some of them tripped over the forms which are lined along one side of the green, and had their ardour slightly damped. The channel surrounding the green, having no outlet, became flooded and the water crept out on to the green, but the water soon subsided when the hose was removed. The green was not greatly trodden over by the spectators, as it was lower than the surrounding banks, and most of those looking on preferred as high a stand as possible, and many of them stood on the seats. This morning quite a number of large cinders scattered about the lawns were picked up. The paling fence which divides the church propertv from the green was partly destroyed by the fire. The tournament play fixed for tomorrow will go on as usual.