BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2879, 18 September 1916, Page 9

BOWLS

'GENERAL OPENING DAY, . OCTOBER 7. The Wellington, Victoria, Newtown, and several other of the local "clubs have decided to open their greens,for tho season on Saturday, October 7. This is quit.o'in a'ccordaiico with custom, it being usually the first Saturday in October that tho bowls commence to run 'again. This year tho season is a particularly forward one, and most of the greens are looking* really well.. There, will, however, he a good deal of anxiety on the part of those ' clubs whose greens were. afflicted last year with tlie grass grub.' It is supposed that the grass grub—a very formidable fellow in sp.o and activitywinch developed in the long dry" spell experienced after last. Christmas, will have been killed by the cold weather during winter,, but'it remains to bn seen if . his spawn will develop this summer in the' ground. Some of 'the suburban greens were very seriously affected last year, and a sharp eye. will be kept during-tho 1 " confing season for ■the first traces of the "destroyer. 'The Wellington Club has contributed £109 'to- tho Red Cross and, 'St. John Ambulance funds, to be divided equally between the two societies. This amount has been made up by voluntary subscriptions, from the members.. . Ou Thursday next an ' important mooting of the Council- of the Dominion Bowling Association is. to be held in Wellington. As this will he the first meeting of tho .new council since it was elected there will be a good deal of important business to transact, including the for the big tournament to ■ be held in January next.. All the details for the fixture have to ha arranged—matches, entrance- fees, entertainmont, etc. That tliero is still room for improvement in the' arrangement of matches, those cognisant of • what haroened in Christchurch- last ■season will agree. Very few Wellington players were satisfied '.with the' greens aiid_ many counted their-down-fall to their ill-luck in . drawing bad greens.' This is a'point that-Welling-ton clubs should bear -in mind, and not allow indiscriminate play in doubtful weather, at least not :until after tho tournament. .' ' SEATOTJN CLTTB'R ANNUAL . MEETING. . „ The annual meeting of' the Seatoun Bowling and Tennis Glut- was 'held last week, Air. W. H. Green presiding.The report stated that tlie active list shows there are 33 boilers, 10' tennis players, and 14 croquet players, as against 27 bowlers, 3i' tenuis,.,and 16 croquet -players last year,- in addition to which, all the members, totalling 22, oil active service, have been,kepfiiiia'ncial. The decreased .membership in, the tennis section is due to so manyhaying answered their' country's'call. The committee regret to record the death of Mr. F, J. De Rose, while.ou activo service, a' most energetic tennis player. Mr. A': Crawfor<fmade a donation to tho funde of £35 lis. id., this representing an instalment ;of interest and principal due on June 30, and which the club was unable to pay. On representations, being ' made 4o Mr. Crawford, he -, willingly consented. to make a donation.of .the 'amount due, saying he recognised that the club, lias lost so many memSers owing- to the war, and that he had great pleasure in standing by the club .in its need! Tho club's, warmest thanks was due to Mr. Crawford for his generosity. A levy made on members, enabled the directors'to clear up all dues other thati' Mr. Crawford's instalment. Mr. Crawford's action resulted in a credit balance .in revenue account, which was applied to writing down preliminary-ex-penses." Tennis whs practically nonexistent, even members oh the active list playing very little. , The directors, make _a special appeal to the young' members, especially the young ladies, to take a move active interest in tennis I during .the corning season. The green was, badly attacked by a grass grub last season, and the thanks of tho club are due -to; sweral members who eu'er!getically._ devoted tlieir time to the extermination of'the pest', and who also gave much time to tho care'and;preparation of the green in the season and during the recess. , 'Since the last report the following menjbers have gone on activo service:—R. -E. Bennett,/F. Alexander, R, C. Caiman, H. C.. Cottrell, A. Suller, A. Holland, E. T. Hawkes, B. W. Millier, P. H. Maysmor, A. G. Williams, and B. W. Wyatt, making a total of 28.members. 'ijhe election of officers for tlie ensuring season resulted as follows:—President, Mr. ll.' E. Richards; secretary and treasurer,. Mr. W. H. Green; auditors,. Messrs.. N. D. Francis and W. P. M'Gtrr; delegate to. Bowling' Centre, jMr. W. H: Green; bowling committee, Messrs. Green, Magill, Bradley, Alexander, and Berry. We are indebted Jo .."Measurer,'' in -the Dunedin "Star,','_for the ing interesting! pars :-r.- ' " l)unedin ; is well represented on the newly-elec'tcd Dominion Bowling Council. OTs tiie thirteen officers appointed we have tlie vice-president (Mr.-. C. llhssell Sriiith) and three councillors (Messrs. H.. F. M'ercer, J. J. Marlow, and W.. Nieolson), who have all done good service' for the game, and will continue to do so, provided they can attend the meetings called. This is not always easy,' as a trip to Wellington at one's own expense requires careful consideration sometimes. The other two St>uth Island members aro Messrs. M. F. Barnett- (Christchurch) and'D. A. Morgan (Timaru). There was only one other nomination for t'he South Island—Mr. F. J; ltihg (Greymouth'). The mero fact of a man being nominated by a remote district is a' big handicap. There was a great deal more compe- 1 tition for the North Island seats, fourteen men' being nominated for the five vacancies. Seven of these were Wellington bowlers, which shows the live interest taken by the' 1 Empire City men in governmental matters. Only two of them, however, secured election— Messrs. T. Bush and E; J. Hill. The other three councillors are Professor Maxwell Walker, Mr. M. M. M'Calliim (of Auckland), and. Mr. L. Cohen (of Wanganni).- . Colonel 11. J. Collins (Wellington) is president, and Mr..A. 13. Fowler (Wellington) treasurer. Tlfe council is fairly representative, though Invercargill and several import-ant-North Island districts have no. direct say. Somehow there is an impression that radical changes may be attempted during next term—an effort, possibly, to alter the travelling system of headquarters,' and make Wellington Hie permanent- spot. Ido not know if there, is any warrant for this, byit hardly think it would succeed. Certainly Such a decision should not be arrived at until all.the centres concerned arc consulted. • ■ ,