NEW BOWLING GREEN

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 16

NEW BOWLING GREEN

OFFICIAL OPENING AT KAITUNA PICTURESQUE SURROUNDINGS ft An example of how a rough piece of ‘ no-man’s laud ” can be converted .ithin three years into a bowling crcen with a perfect playing surface ■as been shown by the Kaituna Bowing Club, and those who have helped t to establish its new green. Associated with the official opening if the club on Saturday afternoon was [,!ie ceremony connected with the opening of this new green, and the occasion, which was blessed with ideal weather, drew a largo crowd of over 700 people. Among those present were the mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and several city councillors, the president and members of the executive of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, and bowlers from the various city and suburban clubs. , . , , The green, which stands on land that was handed over to the club' by the City Council, is in a most picturesque spot overlooking the city, and Kaituna members have every reason to be proud of their acquisition. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME. The President of the Kaituna Club (Mr C. J. Payne), who extended a welcome to those present, stated that he was very pleased to see such a large gathering, and that they had chosen such a perfect day for the official opening. It would be impossible, he said, to thank individually everybody who had been responsible for the finished green, but he hoped that one ,-iiid all would accept his sincere thanks for the great amount of work they had done. He would, however, like to mention two names. The first was Mr Charles Hughes, of Sydney, who as an old member always took a great interest in the club and each year forwarded a cheque for a trophy The other was Mr James Fletcher, who had kindly promised to give the building, now used as an office on the site of the new Post Office, as a pavilion to be attached to the green. He hoped that some day h© would oom© up and find that Mr Fletcher had erected the building. (Laughter.) . ~ The Kaituna Club, continued Mr Payne, had been opened ip 1890, the old site at that time being a most uninviting place. To-day they were opening a, second green, and they had with them four of the foundation members of the club—Messrs H. Reid, F. Smith, W. Watson, and G. B. Dali, all of whom were still first-class bowlers. When the, suggestion of a new green had first been made it had created a sensation because of the difAcuities which had to be overcome, but tc-day it was an accomplished fact, and they would now be able to do what had not been possible beforeeach year open the season < early. The President paid a tribute to the two men who had been largely responsible for the making of the new green, Messrs Alec Miller and W. H. Shepherd. Mr Miller was an expert in grasses, and had done a great deal towards improving the old while Mr Shepherd was an all-round expert. These two, who were practically amateurs as regards the actual laying down of a bowling green was concerned, had, for about three years, been up nearly every day in connection with the work, and they had undoubtedly succeeded in making a wonderful green. The club members fully recognised what they had done, and_ in an effort to show their appreciation it had been decided to name the knoll above the green, on which tho flagpole was situated, “ Shepherd’s Hill,” while an ash tree, which had been planted on the knoll, would in future be called “ Miller’s Ash.” These would be lasting memorials to the two men who had done so much for the club. The work of the greenkeeper (Mr J. Webb), Mr Payne concluded, was reflected in the careful and competent preparation of the green. (Applause.) MANY WELL-WISHERS. The Mayor offered his congratulations to tho Kaituna Club oh its outstanding new green, which, he said, must be second to none in Dunedin. The _ city would always be prepared to contribute more ground for another green if the clubs wanted it, for there was no bettor use .to which the spare spaces of the city could be put.' Mr 11. Hanning, representing the Now Zealand Bowling Association, also congratulated the club on behalf of the association, and stated that the green would bo a great acquisition to the Dunedin Centro. He could visualise the finals of the Dominion tournaments being played on it in the years to come. The Kaituna Club was the first men’s club in Dunedin to have two full-sized greens, and this was due to tho initiative and energy of its members. Mr J. J. Read, president of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, said that the gathering that day must be a record tor any club opening in Abe history of bowling in Dunedin. By its venture the Kaituna Boiling Club had exploded the old idea that it took 10 to 15 years to form a proper green, for in three years it had made an almost perfect one. He wished tho club a very happy and successful season. Mrs E. M'Millan, president of the Kaituna Ladies’ Club, which was also officially opened, Mrs E. Mullinger, president of the Ladies’ Bowling Association, and Mr R. H. C. Galbraith, president of the Kaituna Lawn Tennis Club, also extended congratulations on behalf of their respective bodies. TRIBUTE TO WORKERS. Mr W. H. Shepherd, on behalf of Air Alec Miller and himself, thanked Mr Payne for the remarks he- had made concerning their work, hut stated that there had been a great deal of pleasure in it, and in addition they had gained a considerable amount of experience. Work on tho green had been started on September 1, 1932, and in the three years' one month until it ‘ had been completed be and Mr Miller had paid upwards of 1,000 visits to the site. They could not, however, claim all the credit. The work itself had really been done by others, and in this connection he wished to express appreciation of the help they had received from the superintendent of the city reserves (Mr D. Tannock), whose advice had always been freely given, and to the outside foreman of the reserves department (Mr W. Heidi for his quiet and_ helpful suggestions.lie also paid a tribute to the.band of men who, under tho foreman (Mr G, Logie), had wielded the picks and shovels and who had made such a wonderful job of the green. With the exception of the iron roller, everything had been presented by club members, which had been of great assistance. Mr Shepherd then presented to the club a set of jacks, which had been given to him by Air Hensel in Australia. The first bowl of the season, a miniature one especially inscribed for the occasion, was then rolled up hy Mrs C. J. Payne, the president declaring tho green officially open for play. From then on until a late hour the green was fully occupied by enthusiastic bowlers, and afternoon tea was served by the Ladies’ Committee,. The Tom Katz DancC Band of five instruments enlivened the proceedings with selected items.