BOWLING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 7

BOWLING.

CLUB FOB LYTTELTON. ■ PROPOSAL BEFORE BOROUGH COUNCIL. At laj-t .night's meeting of the Lyttoltoa Borough Council, Cr. J: T. Norton introduced a deputation from the proposed .Lytteiton Bowiing Club, praying: that they D 3 granted the lease of a piece ot ground in Oxford street for use a3 a. bowiing green, in connexion, with which a requisition had been signed by a largo number of citizens. The Rev. Mr Mitchell Eaid he spoke in support of a petition which had been signed by a large number of residents praying for support from the Council in tbe matter ot granting a site in Oxford street for a bowling green. He believed that if such a lease were granted Jt would supply a long-folt social need, and "could be done without im-. posing any hardship-on the Council or tne ratepayers. The club were prepared to carry, out the whole of the work of preparing th) green an dpaying for it themselves, and had r guarantors. The scheme, besides having th? j support of those who had signed the requisition would have that of a large number "*f j influential citizens. If tbe scheme were car,«| ricd out it would bo a decided improvement upon the existing state of affairs, and would tend to localiso a sound, healthy sport. As matters stood at present, it waa necessary, if a resident of the port wished to play *. game of bowls, to go to Christchurch* Ho stressed the many advantages to be gained by the proposal and concluded by expressing the hope that the Council would not look at the matter ih a narrow or parochial spirit, but would*grant the lease prayed for. ' Mr E. Henderson stated that tie club were quite prepared to spend anything from JC3OO to jEuCO on permanent improvements. Other speakers were:—Messrs C. Agar, TV. 8.-owne, D. Corner, and G. C. Smith., In reply to a question from Cr. Guthrie, Mr Henderson said that the club would aak the Council to carry out the necessary work, the club to pay for it by a sinking fund ex tending over a certain number of ycfars, witn the addition of interest. If thc-Council was riot prepared to do this, then the club were perfectly prepared to go ahead with the work themselves. The Rev. Mr Mitchell v thanked the Council for the sympathetic reception, and "the deputation withdrew. In their report to the Council the Estates Committee reported that they had considered the advisability of removing tho building from the site, and converting it into a bowling green. The committee did not think it advisable to spend public money on grounda for a private club, notwithstanding the fact that the repayment*of the expenditure, was guaranteed. It was recommended that tha ch*b be offered a site with a frontage of 102 ft on Oxford street, on a ten year 3 lease, at an annual rental of 12s per foot irontage, exclusive of rates, the club to carry out all improvements and buildings at its own expense, and to the approval of the Councii. Cr. Foster moved, as an amendment o tbe .'report: "That the proposed club bo offered the site at the rate of 10s per foot." A di-i-"ion was taken, resulting as follows r—For the amendment: Councillors-Mil-iar, Foster, Norton, Radc'.iffe nnd Schumacher against the amendment: Councillors Wnlklin. Collins, Guthrie, Page, nnd the Mayor. The amendment was lost on the casting voto of the Mayor. Cr. Miller mdved. as a further amendment: ''That the* matter bo a.rr-ain referred to the Estates Committee for consider* tion." ' This was also lost, and the recommendations of the Estates Committeo wero adopted Cr. Norton (heatedly): "You needn t bother any further in the matter—tne committee of the club will not entertain thi proposal."

TIMARU TOURING TEAM. A meeting of the Timaru touring team r>f bowlers was held on Friday night to difctiss the tour. The meeting wa3 presided over by Mr V. G. Day. Mr C. S. Fraser, on behalf of the conveners, reported on tha itinerary which had- been suggested, Hokitika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Nelson, Picton, Blenheim, Wellington and Christchurch'. Th 3 report was left to the executive to arraugo dates for matches.. It wa3 suggested that '.lie be.t limp ior the team to "leave Timaru would be about the middle of next January, and it was agreed that tho tour be extended not bcyound fourteen days. The team "will consist of not moie thuji tw-nty-six players.