BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2687, 17 December 1909, Page 6

BOWLING.

GISBORNE CLUB—THE NEW PAVILION. THE INTER-CLUB MATCH.

U. Favored by exceedingly fine,weather, F the function of the opening of the new paVilion of the Gisborne Bowling Club yesterday afternoon was a highly sue ocssful one. It was attended by a \ei3 numerous gathering of bowlers and . otleVr visitors, and was graced with tiie prisefnee of a large number of ladies Messrs Vita Bros.’ orchestra, stationed on the balcony of the newly erected pavilion, enhanced the pleasure of nil ■? by its admirable music. The 1 resident of the Club, Mr. W. Pettie, hospitably entertained all and sundry at atter- ■ noon tea, wlicih the Misses Hyde and a number of other ladies dispensed to c- the guests. The gathering was made : 1 the occasion for the first game in the opening rubber betv#6on the Gisborne and Turanganui clubs for the challenge pennant, presented by Mr. W. J‘Witty, the contest was carried on at three, rinks, and' was won by the visitors by the narrowest possible margin, k a single point. The following were the players and scores: — Turanganui’: Neill, Hallam,V illiams, Greig (skip) 22 beat Gisborne—Robertson, Mackintosh, Craig, Ponsford (skip) 21. The finish of this game was sensational. On the twentieth head lons- ■ ford lav four, but on the twenty-first Greig got in five, thus* winning by a single point. Turanganui—Hird, Colley, Sawyer, J. J. Martin (skip) 24 beat Gisborne—--1 Ambridge, Corson. Eure, T. A. Crawford (skip) 12. The Turanganui team, in this game led from the start. “ Gisborne —Kyme, F. W. Fettle, Coleman, Simson (skip) 25 beat Turanganui —E. Lewis, Ratcliffe, McWhirter, M. G. Nasmith, junr (skip) 13. Play nt this rink was fairly even in the earlier stages, hut in the last seven heads Simson obtained a decided lead. The .total of the three rinks was— Turanganui 59 points, Gisborne 5o points. The opening ceremony # took place % during an interval in the play, wherein the players and visitors gathered in front of the new pavilion, in front of which stood the president of the club, Mr. W. Pettie, with the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Lysnar. The club’s flag, which was to be hoisted above the pavilion, trailed from its halliards by the president’s side. Mr. Pettie said that, on behalf of the Gisborne Bowling Club, he desired to offer all present a sincere and hearty welcome. They were mot to open the new pavilion, and the function marked a very important step in the history of the club. It was over twenty years since bowling was first established in f: Gisborne. A small band of enthusiasts started a bowling club with eight members, of whom five were still in the district. Some of them still took an active interest in the game. Two. Messrs Matthewson and W. 0. Sheet, were active members ef the Turanganui Club, and Mr. Witty was the only one of the founders of the Gisborne Bowls' ing Club who at the present time belonged to it and still took an active p interest in the game, and he was sure that all present would join with him in expressing the hope that Mr. Witty r might he Tong spared to take part in |s. their games. (Applause.) When the } club first started it had no ground of I its own, and shared part of that of the \ Tennis Club. Mr. \vitty could tell : them how the old members of the club

j£ had themselves to roll the ground and !• prepare it for their games; It was j Tory soon found that the tennis ground was inadequate, and they purchased : the back part of their present ground ] and formed a green. They also built ' a- pavilion, in which they bad a goou I time. As time went on, and the niemt bersliip of the club increased, it was t felt that this was not large enough, and [ they decided upon purchasing the [ ground which, now formed their front r green,' and' this they acquired through jj'ithe agency of Mr- H. J. Finn, the then | president of the club, whom he was f very glad to see present. (Applause.) j They thus had a whole acre for their I ground. In the following year, under Ithe presidency of Mr. J. W. Bright, ;the club built the pavilion which they [were just moving out of, N and of which r they were vdry proud at .the time. They, invited howlers from other cenitres, and had a tournament here. Tfiey 'were congratulated by all on their, paivilion, and on the progress they had imade. but, still, as the club grew, it was felt that the pavilion was not worthy of a club with such a large membership and which had gained such importance in the various tournaments throughout the breadth/ of the land. For some years past they' had been working to get a pavilion worthy of the blub, and their hopes had been realised. He thought that every member of the blub was proud of the building, which be adequate for their purposes ror many years to come. He bad to. (hank members, one and all, for the iearty way in which they had uupportkl the committee in' attaining their Ibject. He was glad to see so many >eople present—so many bowlers, and jras especially glad to see so many tiembers of the Turanganui Club. They rere, on the present occasion, playing he: first of the three games of a rubber etween the 'clubs for a pennant donabd. by Mr. Witty. . That pennant was itended not only for competition beyeen the two clubs, but for any other übs' which might be formed in the (strict. Wairoa had started a bowlig club, and he understood that Waito Bay was starting one. Both those puld be eligible to compete for the [nnant, which was a challenge trophy, id. would be held by a club until some her dub could gain it. He was also eased to see so many ladies present, ie of the club’s objects in getting a [tier buildings was to provide more nv.eniencos for their lady friends, ’d he hoped that they would have, the mpany of the ladies once a week, d. that the members might have the sasure of receiving, afternoon tea disused by the ladies." (Applause.) He p . very pleased that the Mayor and p.. Lysnar were present. (Applause.) Lwas a great pleasure to welcome sin. ''They took very great interest [everything that was for the welfare [the district, and' were to be found every gathering which was for the provement of the place. He had rered an apology from Mr. Bruce, esident of the Turanganui Club, t* was''unable'to“be. present, and he petted :that Mr.’ Matthewson, who £ expected back in two or three days, [•not arrived in time to be present. Ill 1 Pettie then requested the. Mayor[to hoist .-the flag on the pavilion [/id/..declare the.building open, irs... Lysnar then dexterously ran ieiiib’s flag to .the top of the flagstaff mounting the .pavilion, j its appear-: . greeted with cheers from I'ifesembled bowlersi' lie/Mayoress then said that she was ppleased to be present and to de-fe-the pavilion open.

His Worship the Mayor, who was received with applause, said that he had very great pleasure in being present. •He thought that "one thing that could not be charged against the Gisborne Bowling Club was it was not progressive. It appeared to be very progressive indeed. He hoped to enjoy the game of bowls some day, but he might say that in- time past he had been a member of the Gisborne Bowling Club for four or five years. The secretary had called for, his subscription regularly hut he had not been able to have any games. Everybody must have amusement. If people did not have some, healthy amusement or hobby they would get amusement in some bad way. He congratulated the club on the progressive spirit which it had shown. He hoped that it would go on in the same way, and that the members present would live to enjoy the game of bowls for many years. He hoped also that they would attract the ladies to their green. He felt sure that they would play the better in the presence of the ladies. (Applause.) lie would again "congratulate them and wish them success.

His Worship then called for three cheers' for the Gisborne Bowling Club and its president. These were given very heartily. On the call of Mr. C. H. Ambridge cheers were given for the Mayor, and fit the call of the president a similar compliment was paid to the Mayoress. The new pavilion, which has been fully described in the “Times,” is a very handsome and commodious structure of two storeys. It was designed by Mr. E. J. Wilson, senr., to whom the president of the club desires to express his thanks for the care and attention which he bestowed on tho work. Mr. Pettie also desires to thank the contractor, Mr. J. W, Mackrell, for the good work which he put into the structure, and to Messrs F. Hall and Sons for the satisfactory manner in which they carried out their sub-con-tract- for the plumbing work.