Bowling Match at Wellington.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XVII, 27 April 1901, Page 792

Bowling Match at Wellington.

(From a Contributor.) 'l'he annual Life Insurance bowling match has beconie firmly established at Wellington, and creates more or less goodwill and ill-feeling amongst the players of the respective offices. Of couise this is occasioned by the result. The winners declare they are so well pleased with the result that they are willing to pay ail claims for

the next week or two without troubling about birth certificates, medical forms, etc., and want to have, a dinner to celebrate their victory. The losers on the other hand are not in such a joyful state of mind, and are willing and eager to explain to you how the match was lost owing to the green not being true, or the skip did not drive when the other side were lying six; and they usually wind up by declaring that number three was a rank duffer and lost the game. This year the Government Life Issued a chal-

lenge, and was prepared to send out two rinks to defy any other office, the losers to take out policies for life insurance in the winning office. The A.M.P. could only boast of two bowlers, but they enlisted the sympathy of the National Mutual, who managed to scrape up another two. and consequently the Government sent one rink to battle against the rink made up from the two Mutuals. Both sides felt confident of winning, and fun and repartee during the game was as thick as bonus certificates. Every

bowl was a premium one, or a Tontine. Some. 1 would like to state, were "ditchers,” which the opposing side displayed in a row on the bank. The hopes and fears of each side were up and down as the score increased on either side, and serious looks were plentiful as a well placed bowl came near the jack. The deep breathing of the players would lead one to imagine that they were practising chest measurement for the doctor. The game was not a fast one by any means, and lasted the whole afternoon. Much to the surprise of the knowing ones the Government Life lost by six points, the score being 21 to 15. It is said on the best authority—and a bowler would not prevaricate—that the losers will not take out the policies which were mentioned a little while back, the winners being even in numbers, cannot agree as to which office is to have the risk, and although the Government lost the game, they are now laughing at the other two offices.