A VISITING BOWLER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 278, 20 August 1919, Page 9

A VISITING BOWLER

' DR. RUSK ENTERTAINED. The membere of the Wellington Bowling- Centre last evening entertained at a "Bocial" in the Wellington BowSing Clu'b 3 pavilion, a, visiting .bowler, Dr. J. of Belfast, past-president of the Irish Bowling Association, and ex-member of tho National Council of Bowling. . Mr. (t. Hendry, president of the Wellington Centre, was in the chair. After the loyal toast had been honoured, the president proposed the toast of "Our Quest," and in doing so he 6aid it afforded him great pleasure to see so &arge a gathering of bowlers to honour Dr. Ruek. Their guest was aboiit to leave for the CM Country after spending three or four weeks in New Zealand. Unfortunately he had made the trip out here in winter, when all the greens were asleep; had he come in tho summer, the president thought Dr. Rusk would have gone away satisfied with the playing qualities of the greens iu New Zealand. Dr. Rusk was a prominent bowler, and anything that he could tell them would be greatly appreciated. Dr. Rusk, in responding, made a char-twrtei-iaticali'.y humorous speech. He thanked tliem for the heartiness of their wef.come, and the great honour conferred on him. Had they done less ho should have said that they were not bowlers. Bowling had a wonderful influence on the character; there was something in the wood and in tho game.. When ho reached Wellington, in a gale, he was not surprised at the hearty welcomc that was accorded him. On landing he looked around to see if there were any greens—ho climbed the hills and discovered one, charmingly located. Next day he met several!, howlers, including their president, and almost immediately he was introduced to every decent-looking man in the town. A bowler was a man who could lie trusted. Ho fnllv appreciated their kindness as fellowbowlers—lie appreciated it from them as co-oitizons of the greatest Empire in tho world. He spoke enthusiastically of tho game, and wound up an entertaining speech wilh warm thanks for the great kindness shown him by bowler?.

Later on Mr. Rusk furnished details of how the panic was played in Ireland, and information respecting tournaments, inter-dub matches, and interesting facta respecting the development of tho game in Ircfinnd. and also in other parte of Britain. In England the greens were often associated with public, houses, and there was often a great deal of bottin?. There ,were as many greens in Scotland as could pos-ii'blv be got' into tho country, He explained all about how the same was played in Ireland, the size of tho green, the' size of tlie mat, and other details. Dr. Rusk answered a number of questions. During ihe evening Mr. T. Dallinger presented Dr. flunk with a photograph of a bowling green in 'Belfast, taken on the occasion of tho visit of n New Zealmid bowling team, of which Mr. ]Mlingei' was a member. Dr. "Rusk's brolhor was a member of Ihe I'eifast bowling tmm, and was in (lie photograph. Songs and musical items filled in tho evening very pleasantly.