BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 229, 27 September 1928, Page 18

BOWLING.

PREPARING FOR SUMMER.

THE TOURNAMENT IN JANUARY.

PATRONISED FORM OVERSEAS.

(By TRUNDLEE.)

it is always a pleasure to record the loyal work of members in the interest vf their club, especially those who have taken off their coata during the last year or two, in order to make up a working bco to improve their grounds or pavilion. Ellerslio must be included in this category," for their members have made up in energy what they lack in numbers, and result is that the croquet lawn has been turned into a second bowling green, and a new croquet lawn made. Apparently their work has not been unnoticed, for the other afternoon three greejikecpere from neighbouring clubs put. in an appearance, to spend their half-holiday in turfing the worn parts of the old green. This is one of the finest things ever seen on a bowling green, and ja unique in the annals of the" sport, showing a spirit which is worthy of the highest commendation. The complimentary benefit concert to

Mrs. George F. Cater last week was well

supported by the various organisations 'in which her late husband had always been so keenly interested. Bowlers, Orphans, and Savages combined to show in this practical fashion their esteem for their old friend, and those who attended the concert were entertained by his fellow artists, not the least enjoyable item being the band from the Blind Institute, these performers thus showing their appreciation of their old tutor.

The Press match on Saturday vir-

tually commences the summer season, for, although" the weather is decidedly wintry at time of writing, promising anything but a cheerful day at the Hillsboro' tournament to-day, it will probably clear up for Saturday, and several ! I clubs are opening their summer greens ,:the following week. •Wellington Preparations. ij Mr. R. W. Shallcrass, secretary of the :'Dominion Bowling Association, and also I'of the Wellington Centre, has been Spending a few days in the province, and

iwill be returning home by the express ijthis evening. Speaking of the big tourna- * ; ment next January, he mentioned that \ the bowlers at the capital are determined to give visitors a good time, and most of the clubs closed down the summer .■season earlier than usual, so that they j could get their greens topdressed before the winter. The result is that they are !now looking very well, and .most likely in January they will be well up to the '/usual standard. !j The decision to play only two games "a day in the rintts will make the section play more sociable, for there will be ; twelve rinks in each section, now that there is nothing gained by limiting them to ten. One useful result of this will be that a smaller number of greens will- be required, and there will probably be quite sufficient good greens within less than half an hour by. bus or motor. Every week brings more news of probable competitors from overseas. Mr. J. O. Redmond writes from Sydney that ;tho latest promise is from Mr. Fred Walters, club champion of Mosman two ;years ago, and runner-up last season. Ho was also delighted to find that the jSydney party will include Mr. John Spence, the liberal patron of the N.S.W. !Association. He has not been very well lately, and may not actually compete, but all who had the pleasure of hearing the silver-tongued orator during the 1923 tour of New Zealand will hope that he will decide to spend a quiet holiday here.

Mr. Shallcraea mentioned that full particulars of the tournament have been sent -to Australia, Fiji, Canada and the .United States, and Australian papers :to hand yesterday give great publicity to the prospects of accepting the invitation to visit New Zealand. The only disappointment ie that' Victorian fixtures will partly dash with our carnival, having apparently been arranged jtiet before they received definite advices of our dates. This ie another very .annoying result of our annual election ibeing so late in the year. ! 1 However, some compensation comes 'from Canada, for Mr. A. J. Parker writes that "there will be one rink from Montreal for our January tournament for certain." This ie good news, for it was not expected that any would come from the eastern provinces, but only irom Vancouver and; California. N.Z. Tourists la Canada.

Messrs. A. J. Parker and J. M. Thorneon write very interesting letters from Toronto, from which the following items lire culled:— "We had a glorious trip over in the «.s. Cedric. It took nine days. We called at Halifax and Boston. Wβ wandered round New York, and saw the large skyscrapers, and some of us engaged a Charabanc, and had a good look round. We also went to Coney Island and saw some marvellous sights and spectacular fireworks. Montreal is a very nice city, and we played two games of bowls, winning them both. Also at night we played under electric light and won that. We left there, and on arrival at Ottawa we were met by some of the bowlers and taken for a drive, winning the only game played. We were shown over Parliament Buildings, and saw thousands of logs in the river, for making into pulp for paper. ' We are now at Toronto, a very fine city, where there is a very large exhibition, hovering over 100 acres. We spent the whole day there, and are being entertained at dinner by the directors. We played bdwls against the Royal Yaoht Olub of Toronto yesterday, and won on Wvery rink, total 195 to 131. This club has a email island across the lake, and a magnificent.clubhouse, also bowling and croquet lawns. In the winter they haul tip 1 all their boats on cradles and skids, itnd they have a small railway to shift the boat*. It is situated something like Stanley Bay, and they have their own bil steamer to run an hourly service. We are .being right royally entertained. Our second Test game is against eight clubs, and to-morrow we. play the Granite Club. As we hrfvo. 35 players we are now putting in eight rinks. The weather is -just delightful, beautiful'blue skies." j| Mr. Parker's information confirms the supposition that the cable was wrong last week, where it stated that all who were not aboard the Xiagara would return by the Makura to Wellington a fortnight later. He states that only four pi those who go to San Francisco will ti&SF'lt - "Wellington, and that about S"*^™* 111 80 to Los Angeles, returning due in Auckland on