ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

BOWLS &' BOWLERS.

DEPARTURE OF AUSTRALIANS. The members of the Australian bowling team, who have recently toured Now Zealand, sailed for homo .yesterday by the Moeraki. They had played a friendly game on tho Wellington Club's green during the afternoon, and most of them wero still in flannels when tho ship sailed. After the -usual handshaking on, the wharf, the visitors ranged themselves on tho top deck and exchanged good wishes after the manner of bowlers with a party of Wellington players on the wharf. They sang a few of their own bowling ditties, set to well-known airs, and tho Wellington men sang some of those familiar on greens in New Zealand. Mr. Charles Parata was thoro. Ho danced an ordinary haka, to tho delight .of tho visitors and tho assembled crowd, and also a variation of the haka or some other dance with kangaroo hops and various other features supposed to bo Australian. The departing bowlers, all of whom declare that they have'had a splendid' holiday, wero the merriest party on the ship, and they were certainly responsible for lending an air of gaiety to the assemblage- on the wharf when tho Moeraki sailed. AUSTRALIANS FAREWELLED. It is a long time since so popular a party of bowlers have visited Wellington as the Australians who' took flieir departure Sydneywards last evening, after a very thorough tour of the Dominion. Yesterday's business was entirely unofficial, being made so at tho request of the team, who confess to having beon surfeited with hospitality during their tour from end"~to end of country. They were met' on. their arrival in the morning by 6ome of the leading bowlers of Wellington, and during the alfternoon played- a friendly game on the Wellington Club's green. It was not a match, but merely a game, and for the first; time in New Zealand the Australians found themselves matched against one another, so adroitly were the teams mixed up. No cards were kept, as nobody cared who won, and no official record' of the game was kept—that was part of tho joke. After tli'e game ceased at 4 p.m., Mr. Gale (in the absence of the president of fho party, Mr. Raffan) .mounted tho bank and expressed in simple hearty terms the pleasure they had experienced in once more- meeting the Wellington bowlers, and the appreciation they had of tho unbounded hospitality they had met from everyone—-north and south. Mr. J. A. Plimmer, president of tho centre, replied, stating what a pleasure it had been to meet so many excellent bowling gentlemen, not only from Sydney, but from nearly all Australia, for there were members from Queensland right round to Adelaide. He was gratified that they were pleased at the little attentions they had been able to afford them, and to , know that' they had been hospitably -received in other parts of the Dominion. ■■..-•"•' • ■ .'

.Mr. Gale .then'camo forward and presented Mr: J.- A. Plimmer with a very liaridsomo group photograph of tho touring party, and a similar compliment was paid to Mr. Charles Hill, sen., who entertained the party* at his beautiful grounds at Island Bay. Photographs wero also presented to Mr. Donald M'Lean' (president of tho .Wellington Club), Mr. J, J. Roberts (secretary of the centre), nnd. Mr. Charles Parata, M.P. The visiting bowlers also received a hearty, fa'rewell, on the wharf, as' the steamer left -for - Sydney.' • '•'■ . •.'. % (By TdefraDh—Prtes Aesoelatlon.i Rotorua, February 20. ' •Tlio Rotorua tournament concluded to-day, when tho finals in the Pours were played between Mount Eden, Ponsonby, Rotorua, and Devonport. Rotorua won tho final by 2o to 16. Forty-six rinks participated. ■ Bowlers, be np-to-date, fit your hands with Bussey's Composite Bowl, sin. (31b. 50z.), 5 l-32in. ((3lb. Coz.l, 5 l-16in. )31b. 70z.). R. -Houldsworth, Tobacconist, Solo Agent, Cuba. Street.* ■■

BILLIARDSj

GRAY AND FALKINER. - , By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrifrlit London, February 19. In. the billiard 1 match, Gray v. FalIcfner, the latter receiving 5000 in 18,000, the scores are:—Falkiner, 9014; Gray, 5561 (including a break of 274).

LAWN TENNIS;

WILDING WINS AGAIN,

''Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrleht (Rec. February 20, 6.5 p.m.) • '. London, February 20. The- international lawn tennis final was played at Cannes. Wilding beat Lowe, 6—3, 6—2, 6-4.

BIPLANE FLIGHT.

INVERCARGILL TO GORE. (By TolciraDh.—Press Association.) invorcarglll, February 20. Mr. J. H. Scotland biplaned round Invercargill about 7 o'clock to-night, and continued at a fair altitude on his aerial voyage to Gore, arriving there at 7.50. ; •■ .''