Bowlington in Wellington.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 2, 11 November 1893, Page 10

Bowlington in Wellington.

We publish in this week’s issue a picture of the Wellington Bowling Club’s New Pavilion. The season, which was opened a short time back by Mr. EL D. Bell, Mayor of Wellington, also served as an opportunity of introducing the members of the Club to their handsome new pavilion. The building covers a space of 42 feet by 27 feet 6 inches. It is two storeys high, and contains a club-room for reading, smoking, &c-, members’ bowls and locker-room, committee-room, ladies’ room, kitchen, lavatories, &c. When furnished it will have cost between 1-370 and .£4OO, at a net cost to the Club of about £3OO. It was built by Mr. James Russell and the plans were prepared by Messrs. E. Turnbull & Son.

The Wellington Bowling Club is now one of the most

flourishing institutions in the city, aiid includes amongst its members some of our best-known citizens. It opens this season with an increase in membership of 15, and with a number of applications for entrance. The following gentlemen are the present officers and directors: —President, Mr. Wm. Gray; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Thomas Ballinger; Hon. Secretary, Captain R. A. Edwin; Vice-President, Mr. John Blundell; Directors, Messrs. T.' W. Gale, Andrew Campbell, Wm. Muir, F. F. Grady, and Arthur Scoullar. The membership at present consists of 132. Considering the imporance of the Club, and the popularity of the pastime of bowling, a brief resume of the introduction and growth in New Zealand of one of the oldest of English games may prove of interest'to the reader. Eight years ago the game of bowls virtually made its first appearance in New Zealand,

through the agency of some score or so of enthusiasts, who were indebted to the courtesy of Sir Julius Yogel and the Hon. "Walter Johnston for the use of their tennis lawns for the purpose, At the present time there are three clubs, comprising a membership of over 300, and as pretty bowling-greens as may be seen in Australasia. The two used by the Wellington Bowling Club are respectively 110 ft. by 110 ft., and 110 ft. by 60ft.

The Wellington Bowling Club started in 1886, with a membership of 65, and the first green was opened in 1887, by Sir William Jervois. The Club succeeded in acquiring the freehold of the property it now occupies in 1890, and shortly afterwards built an additional playing green. At the last annual meeting it was decided, in view of the increasiug membership, to build a new pavilion. The decision was successfully financed, and

the result is the present structure, which is, perhaps, the best possessed by any similar Club in the Colony. The gentlemen who have held the position of President since the Club’s inception in 1886 are in their order as follows; Messrs. G-. S. Cooper, A. Scoullar, C. D. Barraud, T. W. Gale, and the present incumbent, Mr. Wm. Gray. It has been the ‘habit to offer prizes for successful bowling, and the following are offered for the season: The President’s pair of bowls (silver mounted); a similar pair from the Yice-President; a pair from Mr. Andrew Campbell, of the National Insurance (the junior bowls); and a silver cup from Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewen. The Cup has been successively won by Messrs. A. Campbell, J. Y.-Lonsdale, John M‘Glasham, and A. Campbell.