BOWLING.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15120, 16 December 1922, Page 16 (Supplement)

BOWLING.

(By “Toucher.”)

The recent tournament in Hamilton turned out a financial success. The alteration of the date and the elections were militating factors that could not be avoided, but next year the support will be much greater. The Dominion competitions will commence at Auckland on January 10 and 11 with the singles; pairs games will be played on January 12 and 13, and the full rinks will start on January 15. Bowlers will be taking part in the Dominion tournament from as south as Dunedin. Hataitai Club (Wellington) recently called a general meeting of members to consider a proposal to permit Sunday play. The matter was well discussed, and then turned down by a two to one majority, or thereabouts. Norrie Bell’s Hamilton team, the winners of the recent tournament here, went through with only one loss.’ That was in the opening game, when Frost’s Frankton team took the honours.

During the play of the local tournament there was one visiting third, who “magpied” every howl he put down. Although he registered some good drives, he seldom was able to draw a shot.

The Frankton team, skipped by G. Frost,; played very well during the Hamilton tournament. A leading success to the suburban club would be welcomed by all bowlers. Pilkington and Bell (Hamilton) and Scott, Harvey, and Land (Whitiora) have entered teams for the Dominion tournament.

A number of Hamilton bowlers intend taking part in the play at Te Aroha during the New Year holidays. This is always a popular outing.

The work of the various greenkeepers, viz., Ewen (Hamilton), Ingpen (Whitiora), and Crawshaw (Frankton) came in for much favourable comment during the tournament. Considering the vagaries of the weather, - the way the surfaces rolled out was a credit to the efficiency of those in charge.

“Ted" Crowley, of Tauranga, will be found among the ranks of those trying for high honours next month. I understand that the East Coast side will be a strong one.

Ngaruawahia will be to the fore in Dominion bowling circles next month at Auckland. Ciavis is to have charge of the four from the Delta township.

F. (“Nipper”) Jury will unfurl the Ponsonby flag against all-comers at Auckland next month. Reports' have it that the ex-Karangahake champion is “putting them down” as well as ever.

Within half an hour’s run from Hamilton, and with the five greens in the town, there can be found ample accommodation to run a Dominion tournament. So this area may control that important duty in the near future.

The South Auckland Centre tournament will be held at Thames this season. The play will commence on January 29, so intending teams will require to keep the entry date in mind for attention shortly. A feature of the Dominion tournament wilt, be the fact that several oi the visiting Queensland howlers will be taking part. This will add a refreshing intercolonial touch to the occasion.

Messrs A. Claridge and J. Kershaw', of Hataitai, must b e very proud of their victory, gained on Monday over the rodubtable Brackcnridges, of Newlown, who challenged them for the diamond buckles, the late Captain Edmonds’ trophy, states a Wellington writer. This Hataitai pair arc to he congratulated on the fact that they have withstood all challenges for the past two years in the Wellington Centre.

Two tournaments arc to be held at Rotorua this season. The first will commence on February 5, and will provide players with five days’ rink play. These tournaments are always popular, thanks to the genial secretary (Mr Hunt), who makes things so very pleasant for all. The second tournament will follow close upon the heels of the first. It is as well to have a rule for every emergency, writes •‘Measure" in the Dunedin Star. After Dunedin and Gavcrsham had played a few heads in their four-rink game last week rain stopped play, Dunedin being then nine points ahead. When play was resumed on Thursday night the question arose whether they should start anew or resume with the scores as they stood the previous evening. There was no ruling lo go upon, but at the executive meeting on Monday night Messrs Todd and Hanning, the Gavcrsham representatives, said that the Dunedin men, in a true sporting spirit, had agreed fib start the game afresh. They thought it would he more satisfactory to have a rule on the matter. It was decided that if an average of six heads had been played (that is, twenty-four beads for the team) the match should continue on the scores obtained: otherwise Ihe competition should begin anew.

The long-discussed, and to many bowlers, objectionable, practice of clubs demanding a shilling green fee from visiting players, to help pay the clubs’ caretakers’ wages, is again prominently before the New Soultt Wales Bowling Association, as upon the last occasion that ii, was under consideration the then president of the Association ruled that the matter was not one in which the Association could interfere, states the Sydney Referee.

It was, to all intents and purposes, a question for each separate club to decide. A saall number of the clubs now decline to pay, or to receive, green fees. With a view to finally settling the question as to whether the fees are Lo be continued ! ot abolished, it inis been decided lo bold j a special meeting of the represent:'- j tives of all clubs in the metropolitan j area to discuss the quslion. in die Evening News of July 12 il is claimed Hint the first rinks in Australia were laid down in 1870 at Ih” rear of the Wuolpiick Hotel. ParrurnallH. Mr J. C. Redmond will not admit this. He writes: “As a matter of fact, the game was first played in Australasia at llobart in 1846. W. Turner, licensee of the Bowling Green Hotel at the corner of Byron street and FiLzroy place, as an additional attraction to his establishment throw open the green in question for play on October 28 of that year, and kept it going until about 111 c end 01, the fifties. The 96 lit Regiment was stationed al Hobart at the time I lie green was opened. Mr James Honey, of Hobart, who on the 2nd inst attained the age of 100 years, distinctly remembers the military officers indulging in the pastime. As many as fifty subscribers joined Lo play on Wednesdays and Fridays; on other days the green was available to Iho public. The historic tavern is still standing, but the green was longago built upon. In New South Wales tlie game was played on Lire Sir Joseph Banks Hotel grounds, Botany Bay, in 1854, if not earlier. A reproduction of an engraving, evidently taken from an almanac, now in tinMitchell Library, depicts the hotel and surroundings in 1854. It shows the figure of a man, who lias evidently just played three bowls, for they lie in a row close together some distance off. He is holding the fourth in his right hand. The first properly constituted bowling club, as distinguished from a public green, south of the Line, is the Auckland (New’ Zealand) Bowling Club, which came into being in 1861. Play began in the following year. The club still flourishes. The first club established in Australia is the Melbourne Club, at Windsor, three miles out of the city. This w’as in ISG4. I have seen the club’s first minute book, dated 1869, which contains a summary of Hie club’s affairs up to that year.