AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1980, 10 February 1914, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

r o CIVIC WELCOME TO VISITORS. ENTERTAINED BY HON. JOHN DUTHIE. ._ The members of the Australian,bowling team are having a busy time in Wellington. At 9.15 a.m. yesterday they were motored from the Empire Hotel to tho Town Hall, where they were tendered a civic welcome by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) and councillors on behalf of the city of Wellington. In extending the welcome Mr. Luke said that so generally was bowls played throughout tho Kmpire that he regarded it us a national and imperial game, and the visits of bowlors from one country to another as a happy medium for the interchange of ideas. He hoped that the visitors would thoroughly enjoy themselves during their stay here. Mr. Raffan, in replying, made interesting reference to the. warmth of the wolcome which the team had received everywhere in New Zealand, and the beauty and prosperity of the country. Ever siuco they landed they had had nothing but tho most friendly treatment. New Zealand had even given them the experience of an 'earthquake, as a fitting finale to tho thermal wonders which they had seen in Rotoriui. (Laughter.) As to tho Wangariui River, ho had seen mo3t of the principal rivers of tho world-t-the Rhine, tho Thames, the Yarra, and tho Parramatta —(laughter) —and he must say that the scenery on tho Wanganui would compare more than favourably with anything he had seen. 'New Zealand and tho Commonwealth had everything in common, and he believed that an interchange of visits did a lot of good. A Country Trip. At tho conclusion of the reception, the party left in motor-cars for, a visit to the Hutt Valley, en route to the Hon. John Duthie's residence at Nai Nai. Mr. Duthio welcomed tho visitors, and within a few minutes after arrival the party had distributed itself over "the beautiful grounds. When the various parties reassembled on the terrace which commands a panoramic view of tho Hutt Valley, word was received of a motor accident in which Mesers. Donald M'Lean and W. Wylio (of Wellington) were injured, and tho news cast quite a gloom over the spirits. of everyone present. Mr. Duthio. wa3 actively hospitable, and after refreshments of a delectable character had been served in various apartments, everyone, assembled in the dining-hall to indulge in those pleasant felicitations common to such gatherings. On behalf of tho visitors, Mr. F. W. Haybittle expressed the thanks of tho Centre, and said' that he had probably been selected to propose tho, toast fhrough his long-standing friendship with Mr. Duthie. He had, jndeed, boen.a very present help to him (the speaker) in times of trouble and joy. They knew him as a public man, a politician, as Mayor of the City of Wellington, and they respected him as one of the splendid sports of Wellington. (Applause.) In bowling circles, ho (Mr? Duthie) stood out on his own, having been connected with, bowling in Wellington.since 1886, and through, his unique. standing in the community and his personality he had done a great deal to forward the interests of tho game. This week they were to play for tho Duthio Cup at the Hutt Club's green. Mr. Geo. Raffan spoke on behalf of the visitors. In reply, Mr. Duthio said that it was always keenly gratifying to meet worthy men —a.ud all bowlers were worthy men. He was gratified if they had enjoyed the small hospitality ho was able to afford them. Finally, Mr. Duthie wished them success in their play—"lf you Pan put them down, put them down. It will do them.no harm to be beaten." (Applause.) After this pleasant interlude tho party entered the motor-cars once 'more, and sped back to town. AUSTRALIA WINS. ' MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON CENTRE. At 2.15 plm. a' seven-rink 25-head match.was commenced between the visitors and mixed teams representing the Wellington Bowling Centre. Tho results were as follow:— Australia —Jones, Banner, Burton, Raffan (s.), 21; Centre—Jones, Ferguson, Thompson, Plimmer (s.), 23. Australia—Morris, M'Ewen, Jenkins, Fitzgerald (s.), 24; Centre—Kilgour, Burn, Dimock, Ballantvno (s.), 26. Australia—lrving, Hamilton, Hicks, Demyer (5.), , 25; Centre—Findlay, Palmer, Ross, Coles (s.), 22.' Australia—Jolly, Collins, Hawko, Wheeler (s.), 24; Centre—Martin, Green, Townsend, : Snaddon(s.), 18. Australia—Radkie, Gale, Overell, Mai-r. (s.), 27: Centre—Pankhurst, Gallie, Trevor, Underwood (s.), 21. Australia—Leslie, Walker, Vallely, Rankin (s.), 24; Centre—Meadowcroft, Morrah, Horner, Bell (s.), 12. Australia—Gay, Mullaneyy M'Lean, Clark (s.), 15; Centre—Shallcrass, Penney, Hollard, Parata (s.), 23. Totals—Australia, 160; Wellington Centre,. 145. At the conclusion of the game Mr. Raffan called for threo cbeers for the Wellington Centre, and followed it up by. singing the lively chorus, "Long May They Live." In response Mr. J. A. Plimmer-called for cheers for the visitors, which were most heartily given. SMOKE CONCERT. . .' UNIFICATION OF RULES DISCUSSED. The bowling fraternity, visitors, .and _ then- opponents topped off a . pleasant day by holding a smoke.concert in.the Wellington Club's pavilion last evening. The function, which was presided over by Mr. John A. Plimmer, president of the Wellington Centre, was of a most enjoyable character in every regard. Mr. F. W. Haybittlo proposed the toast of "Our Guests," and Mr. Goo. Raffan (president) responded. Mr. Leslie (Victoria) referred to the desirability of unifying tho rules of the game. The method of signalling tho position of a head required attention. They in Australia used the fingers of the right hand to signal how many they were "up," and tho-left to show how many they were "down." but the fingers woro, pointed upwards in each case,. which was often confusing'to a skip or other members of a team. In New Zealand, if they were down the fingers.were pointed down, which was a riiuch better idea, nnd did away with tho confusion which ho mentioned. Ho thought the New Zealand way much tho better one, ahd ho would try and get Victoria to adopt it. He found that the mats used here were very small —in one place they were only 38 inches square—and when a player delivered his howl ho gave a half-bound forward, often thrusting his heels into the ground and tearing up the green. Tho mats used in Australia were 4ft. 6in. in length and 21 inches wido, and their rules stated that they must keep both feet on tho. mat. He noticed that in one place in New Zealand the leads and , Nos.'2 wens asked to get off the green , after delivering their bowls, owing to the wear on tho green. If that was a good reason.why they should leave, tho constant stepping forward off'tho mat by players must tend .to spoil the grcon. Another thing ho had foiiiid was that , when a "toucher" left tho rink on either side it was a dead howl—with them in Australia a "toucher" was always a live I bowl. He would like to see a satisfactory settlement of these little matters. . Musical and other items and various - other speeches filled in a most enjoyablo evening..