BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2649, 3 November 1909, Page 6

BOWLING.

GISBORNE CLUB

A meeting of the committee of the Gisborne Bowling Club was held last night, the president (Mr. W. Pettie) in the chair. A letter was received irom the Right Rev. Bishop Lenihan, thanking the club for an invitation to take part in a game, but stating that through want of time he was unable to avail himself of the opportunity. Mr. F. Eure reported that he had submitted the rules governing the challenge fours to the match committee as requested, and that they had approved of them. It was decided that the rules as submitted be approved, and that the competition be called the .“Eure Challenge Stars.” These trophies consist of four gold stars in brooch form, and have been presented by Mr. Eure for competition between any four members of the Gisborne Bowling Club. It was decided that the first entries for the Eure Challenge .Stars close on Saturday next. If more than two rinks are entered the order of play shall be

by ballot. Th president reported on behalf of the 'building committee, that it had been arranged to put in a glass end on the balcony landing of the stairway in the new pavilion. The secretary was instructed to write to all members c-f the club, who are also members of another bowling club, asking them to state which club they intended to play for in inter-club matches during the present season. It was decided that bowls presented by Messrs J. A. Lucas, R. W. Kvme, J. F. Sheridan, and another be given as the first prizes in the handicap rours, and the gold medal; presented by Mr. F. W. Pettie bo,-allotted to the handicap singles. OPENING OF SOUTHERN GREENS. -. At the opening of the Wellington •Bowling Club’s'-season the president (Mr. J. H. Mentiplay), in welcoming th© members and visitors, referred .to the fact that that was the twenty-third anniversary of the club, which was started in 1886 bv several leading citizens of Wellington. . The first game was played on a private green at Thorn don, and the present property was acquired and opened in 1887, when th© membership numbered 64. Since that time the club bad steadily progressed, and it now had 210 members, .■while its pavilion and accessories were not' surpassed by any. bov/ling club south "of the .Line, and were even said by travellers to be fit to hold their own with anything of the kind in the Old Country. The president, went on to say that bowling was.growing -more and more popular, and whereas it was once looked upon as an old man’s game, and the worn-out cricketer and the tired oarsman were wont to take refuge on the bowling green, the clubs had now an increasing number of young men among their 'members, and _these were likely "to become generally toe loading members.

The Kelhume Bowling Club opened its season the same afternoon. The. president (Mr. J. C. Williamson), in declaring the green officially opened, welcomed the visitors who had come out in large numbers. A scheme was referred to, by which the club lioped to be able to provide n second story to the : -pavilion;- in which -members and ; tH-e lady folk of their families could meet for social, purposes in the winter evenings, wheif there 'was rib bowling. Sonm of the more sanguine spirits.-had even suggested that- it would be possible to establish a billiard table.

Mr, E. A. Craig (president of the •Epsom Bowling Club) will represent the Auckland Provincial Bowling Association while in Australia, whither lie repaired on a holiday visit last week, in regard to the proposed tour of a New South Wales team across the Tasman Sea. Air Orai g carries with him a plan of the tour which the A.P.B.A. Committee has drawn up, and this he will submit to the New South Wales Association for their or amend-

ment. It is! hoped that a representative team will be sent across, but failing this, it is probable that an unofficial oompany of bowlers from the Mother State will visit Auckland. The Dominion Road Bowling Club (Auckland) is pushing ahead with its new green, and* it is proposed to make a start on King’s. Birthday. The green (says the Auckland “Star”) looks in splendid trim, and plans have been adopted for a pavilion, which, in architectural design, 1 threatens to be something out of the ordinary as a bowling clnbdiouse. It is anticipated that the pavilion will be hardly ready by the opening day of operations, for which reason it is purposed to postpone the formal opening till a few weeks after the unofficial start. But meanwhile everything is being hurried along in the way of making the green and its surroundings all that the heart of a. bowler could desire. At a meeting .of tlie Christchurch Centre of the New Zealand Bowling Association, held recently, a letter was received regarding a proposal by Mr. Waddell, of Oamaru, that the Association should arrange a champion of champions rink, and single champions should be nominated by tbe various centres, and a competition arranged to take place at the annual tournament. A motion generally supporting the proposal was carried.