BOWLING.

Waikato Times, Issue 12187, 23 September 1911, Page 5

BOWLING.

HAMILTON CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

There was a fair attendance at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Bowling Club, at the old Borough Chambers, last night, presided over by Mr H. T. Gillies, president of the Club. SPECIAL MEETING. In speaking to &n amending motion to the Club's rule relating to the appointment of president and vicepresident, at a special meeting had prior to the annual one, • Mr Darke said his desire was to see the position of president a fixed one, and those of vice-presidents honorary life positions. Under the present system a new president was chosen annually, the senior vice-president stepping up to the position by right of seniority. There were very few men in any club who would make really good presidents, and he considered they should choose whom they thought the best man for the Position, and retain him to that position, while each president on retirement should tiecome a vice-president for life.

Mr R. Parr saw no need for the proposed alteration, but Mr McLeod thought it a desirable amendment, as under the present system they ran the the risk of getting men who might not make suitable presidents. The motion was carried unanimousiy. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. In presenting his annual report, the president expressed pleasure at l>eing able to state that last season had been a successful one. The membership for the year was 55, or slightly lest than last year. All club competitions arranged at the beginning of the season, he said, were successfully carried out, the result beinir as follows :—Championship, A. G. Fookes ; handicap singles, A. C. Fookes ;. handicap pairs, Wheeler and Dixon : first year players, J. H. Salmon. Tne green was good throughout the season, a nd the grass in better condition than heretofore, much of the credit for this being due to the caretaker and to Mr Darke. The team which represtnted the club

at the South Auckland tournament was a good combination, but unluckily they just missed winning the penant by' a small margin in the final game. The team sent to Auckland t 0 defend the Auckland Provincial pennant, which the club won last year, was. he was sorry to say, unsuccessful in retaining it for another year, Ponsonby being the winners. Tne financial year this time was a very long one. amounting to 16 instead of 12 months, still by reference to the balance-sheet, it would be seen that the expenditure had only been £lls 19s Id as against£ls7 la 5d last year. The Bank overdraft at the beginning of last season was £9B 17s ftd, and this had been reduced to £O7 lis sd, the net profit being £3l Cs 4d, which the committee considered showed a very successful season financially. The thanks of the club/ were due to the following for donations of prizes :—H. T. Gillies (silver water jug), Distillery Company (pair of bowls in case), Mr Kahn (set of bowls), and Mr Main for a promise of a donation of £5 towards trophies for this season's competitions.—The report and balancesheet were adopted.

The chairman made special reference' to the untiring efforts of Mr Darke, not only by his attention to the clerical side of the work of the club, but to the great amount of time and labor he had put in on the green, where during the season he was to be seen at all hours of the day, with the result that the green was, with only two, or at the outside three exceptions, the best in the province. He was sorry to an nounc e the lost to the club of their excellent skip, Mr Fookes, but he understood they had one or two good men taking up residence in the town from outside, and he trusted that the coming season would see Hamilton holding not only the provincial championships, but if Mr Wilson took his team to Wellington, of him bringing back the N.Z. championship also. The speaker remarked upon the lease of the club grounds, which was running out, ami advised an early renewal. Mention was made also of the' inter-club' tournament, which proved very successful last season, and which be understood was to become an annual fixture. The South Auckland tournament would be held at Hamilton this year, and special provision would have to be marie for the entertainment of visiting bowlers.

DELETION OF COMPETITIONS

Mr Gillies mentioned that it was considered by some members that too many competitions were held during the past season. He invited discussion on the matter.

Mr J. W. Warren thought the handicap matches should be deleted, and that it should be made a rule that all competitions be played at the conclusion of ordinary matches. Members attended at the green for the purpose of enjoyment, which was hindered somewhat by the competitions.

Messrs English and McLeod considered that the competitions were almost an essentiality to new players by reason of the coaching they received therefrom. Mr Gillies thought far more coaching was to be had from full rink playing; than pairs, and that for sociability and enjoyment the full game was undoubtedly the best. The championships and th»? bindicap singles, in his opinion, should be retained and the pairs deleted.

An amendment moved by Mr Wheeler that the singles be deleted was lost, Mr Warrrn's moticn teing lost also.

A further amendment by Mr Fry that all competitions excepting the first year's and the championships be deleted, was carried by a good majority. INTER-CLUB MATCHES.

Mr Gillies suggested a larger number of inter-club matches, especially with the local clubs.

Mr Wheeler supplemented the chairman's remarks, considering that inter-club matches were the soul of bowling, and said that during his presidency he would endeavour to- arrange as many as possible.. It was decided to call & mfetvng, of delegates from neighbouring clubs to discuss the matter. Messrs Rankin and Fookes were appointed delegates to the Auckland Association, and Messrs Gillies and Manning! delegates to tfofi Smith Auckland Association. OFFICERS. Mr W. W. Wheeler was unanimously elected president, the following officers 'being also appointed: Treasurer, Mr I F. W. Wilson ; secretary, Mr J. Var-

ney ; green superintendent, Me M. Darke ; committee, Messrs McLeod, I Fry, Parr and Warren ; auditor Mr j G. Edgecumbe. The matter of entering- a team for ! the Cambridge Easter tournament j was mentioned by Messrs Warren and Chappell, and referred to the committee for favourable consideration. A VOTE OF THANKS. A vote of thenks was accorded Mr C. Houghton for the offer of a donation of a pair of bowls in case for first year-players, and to the retiring presidemt for his eenices to the Club-