VICTORIAN BOWLERS WELCOMED TO CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18393, 20 February 1928, Page 3

VICTORIAN BOWLERS WELCOMED TO CITY.

SOCIAL FUNCTION HELD AT SUMNER GREEN. The Victorian bowlers were formally welcomed by the Christchurch Centre at the Sumner Bowling Club's pavilion on Saturday evening. After dining in the city, there were motored to the seaside by Christchurch bowders, arriving at the green just before eight o’clock. The party, which included the lady friends of the visiting bowlers, were welcomed by Mr J. M. B. Crawford, the president of the Sumner Club and Mrs Crawford.

Mr F. J. Good, the president of the Christchurch Bowling Centre, extending a welcome to the guests, said that recollections of similar visits in the past made it a great pleasure to him to receive them on behalf of the Canterbury bowlers. While their visit was all too short, he thought that by taking them off the main transport tracks, they would appreciate the beauty of parts of Canterbury. The Victorians had a reputation for keenness, and their love of true sport. New Zealanders retained pleasant recollections of visits to Victoria, and they were anxious to show their appreciation in the short time available. Mr Benzie welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Dominion Association. He wished visits could be exchanged more often. There was a wonderful feeling between the Australian Commonwealth and the Dominion of New Zealand. It was alwa3's exemplified- in the bowlers, and actuated the hosts when New Zealand visitors received the hospitality of Victorians. Their stay was too short, but in that time the hand of fellowship would be warmly extended, and they would do something to show how much they appreciated the spirit of their visit.

Mr J. M. B. Crawford, the president of the Sumner Bowling Club, congratulated the Christchurch Association in getting the bowlers out of the city as soon as possible. It was a great pleasure for the Sumner bowlers to have the honour of receiving the visitors. Victoria and the South Island had been intimately connected. It was the Victorian gold diggers and the Victorian graziers who, with grit and tenacity, invaded Otago and dared to hope to succeed amongst Scotsmen. New Zealand was insular, and therefore prejudiced politically, socially and commercially. He hoped they would have a very happy time, and would advise them in confidence not to forget to tell the city folk how English their town was.

Mr W. Lyon, the manager of the Victorian team, replying, said that his team had been referred to as overseas cousins. If they could give such hearty welcome to cousins, what would they do for bowling “brothers.” They were impressed by the welcome, and hoped to merit the honour conferred. They had already had some real good lickings, but. unlike the visitors to Victoria, they offered no excuses. They had met better bowlers. Still they were not weary; not dejected, and not tired. From Invercargill the country had been new to them. It was strongly reminiscent of ‘‘the land of shaggy wood and heather.” Still he would not forget to say that Christchurch was very English in appearance, and further, in Scotland, it. was mtich better known than either Sydney or Melbourne. In conclusion, he thanked them for their generous and cordial welcome, and called for the “Bowlers’ Song,” conducted by Bowler Leggo. Refreshments were then served, and a social half-hour spent. Private comment amongst the visitors showed that they considered the game as played in New Zealand very keen indeed. There was more driving and burnt heads than in Victoria, but the mat rule (two feet for delivery) was not observed. They were struck by the intensity of home life in New Zealand, and the general prosperity. Some of the motor driving in Otago, as compared with that on the long, level roads of Victoria, was fearsome to experience. The beauty of the rocks about Sumner was much admired, as well as the good road. The visitors were entertained with the antics of a set of bowls which had been recently overhauled and officially stamped. Their erratic movements were unique. Starting with the best delivery possible they always turned “magpie” at the half length, and after jumping at spasmodic intervals, turned either way, and fell short. The Victorians put their best men on to these but the result was always the same; and, though nonplussed, the visitors enjoyed the novel experience.