INDOOR BOWLS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 29, 28 June 1939, Page 5

INDOOR BOWLS

SMOKO IN MASONIC HALL

■A SUCCESSFUL TOURNEY

Members of the Whakatane Bowling Club and their friends showed ' that they could handle any sort of ; bowl with great confidence and skill when the annual Miioke concert was i "held in the Masonic Hall, Louvain ' Street, on Saturday evening. Neat * speeches, excellent refreshments, and musical and elocutionary items of a high standard.did much to make the •evening a much was due to " the comradely and sporting spirit Avhich made the evening a notable The new president, Mr S. McLeod, was in the chair, and he had with 1 him Mr B. S. Barry, Mayor of Whak. 1 atane, Mr E. Currah retiring president, and otber gentlemen. Mr Me. ' Leod gave the loyal toast and Mr ' Currah proceeded to the presentation of prizes Avon during the year. _Jater giving the toast of the winners. prize-winners were: Singles , -Championship; W. H. Jones: Paiis "Championship, W. H. Jones and J.J. Healy -.S'nglcs Handicap, C. A. Hay ward; Pairs Handicap, Bathe and Hooper; First Year F. Hollis. Mr lan Gow was entrusted with the -toast of Sir Francis Drake, the game's greatest figure, and he drew a parallel between Drake's times and our K)wn days..Whenever England was in -danger Mr Gow was sure that men like Drake would arise. Mr A. J, Canning replied for Sir Francis. He told of some of the .tricks played in early Francis Cup < -contests. Mr McLeod's toast to the .secretary, Mr A. Chambers was loudly applauded, and Mr Chambers received fireside Club as proof of member's of his work. PRESENTATION > Mr Chambers, thanked his club mates though he didn't think he had ■done a great deal, and he could have •done nothing at all without the cooperation of all. Mr L. Littlcjohn, revealed gifts as a writer of light verse when he gavs ' rthe toast of Kitty,, coupled with the name of Mr John Granam, and Mr Graham libelled the good lady in amusing style. The green was now playing very Iruly and Mr R. F. Smith drove vigorously when he proposed *-hc toast of the Skips. Actually, said Mi •.Smith, he would speak on behalf ot the down-trodden rank and file who were bossed and bullied throughout the season by Jekyll-and.Hyde-like :skips. He appealed to the skips to ~ -cease their dictatorial and bossy conduct and to endeavour to win the affectionate esteem of fellow members OTHER POSITIONS. "Mr Turpin replied for the Skips, -and the Thirds, Seconds and Leads were toasted by Mr G. Caisley, Mr Burgess and Mr Luxton, replies coming from Messrs Warner, and Bel'. All speakers championed their own positions, and united in claiming Si) Francis Drake as a a Second oi Third. Mr Gibberd was well up Avith the toast of Kindred Sports, and Mr Savage drew well on either hand when replied. Mr F. W. Raymond also drew avcll Past Presidents and Mr Currah judged the green very neatly with! his reply. When Mr' Chambers proposed the toast of the Ladies, coupled with the names of Whakatane's most eligible bachelor, Mr Lance Preston took his attention from the pickled onions and sent up a well-pitched bowl. The ladies were a great help to all sport, inii clubs, an 1 this should be appreciated more fully than it actually '.was. FOR BOWLERS. Mr Barry's toast to the Whakaj -tane Bowling Club ay as a good secr_ ing shot. After confessing that be was puzzled over the relative importance of bowlers, since Seconds and Thirds seemed outcasts, Skips sou'-'*-thing that the cat had dragged in, ✓ and leads only there on probation, he said that bowlers set a magnificent example in the Avav they got together and worked for their sport. Thatwas lacking in many sports in Whakatane and it Avas one or the mam reasons for the success of bowling. FOUNDATION MEMBERS. r Mr Caisley scored a toucher when he spoke of the foundation members of the club. The light was now failing and the ; green getting bumpy and damp, but

Mr S. Napier was well ,up with the toast of tlic Press. Mr D. McD. Vinccnt sent a short one down with the wrong. Mas in reply. :! Mr J. Wilson paid tribute to the Artists and Mr T. Smith and Mr <Mollgaard replied. SERIOUS PLAY. This concluded the formal portion of the evening and serious bowling started, the gathering fighting every inch of the way against the hot dogs and liquid and enjoying choruses to the piano accompaniment of Mr 1 Glen Hayward. The speeches during the evening were interspersed with items of a high standard. Mr J. Denham's resonant voice was heard to advantage, and there was applause for Mr W. H. Jones 1 songs. Mr T. Atkinson's coiwe songs were also well received. Mr W. H.. Gibberd told some good stories, and lie was supported in this department by Mr Iv. Morpeth and Mr lan Gow. Mr Tony Smith was a great success as ever with his monologues and character sketches and Mr Mollgaard accompanied the singers well. Much of the success of the happy evening was due to the efforts of the president, Mr McLeod, who skipped his team of stewards, Mr F. Hollis and Mr C. Hollis 5 in masterly style. ANNUAL MEETING A SATISFACTORY REPORT An increase in membership, and the changing of a debit to a prcdit balance of £44 at the bank were <he main points stressed in the annuel report of the Whakatane Bowling Club, presented by the president, Mr E. A. Currah, at the club's annual meeting on Saturday night. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr S. McLeod,-vice-president f Mr L. Littlcjohn; com mittee, the past president, Mr E. A. Currah, Messrs C. Loane, G. Caisiev C T. Bathe, R. Turpin, F. Hollis; green superintendent, Mr Loane: sole selector, Mr" Loane, secretary and tren. surer, Mr A. W. Chambers.