BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 31 July 1902, Page 3

BOWLING.

GISBORNE CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. Tho annual meeting of tho Gisborno Bowling Club was held last ovoning, Mr W. Pcttio prosiding. The report for tho yeur congratulated members on the continued prosperity of the Club. The incomo for the year had been more than sufficient to meet the expenditure, so that a small credit balanco has been carried forward to next year's account. During tho year, fourteen new mombers joined tho Club ; about the samo number had resigned for various reasons (principally owing to removal from tho district) ; so that tho number at present standing on tho roll was much tho same as „last year. Grounds : Tho green, buildings, surroundings, and property of every description aro all in first-class order, and reflect great credit upon tho caretaker (Mr Tansloy), who has been most painstaking in tho disehargo of his duties. Tho Northern Bowling Association’s Tournament was hold in Wellington in January.

Our chib was represented by two rinks—viz., Messrs Massey, Ferris, McGowan, and Ponsford (skip) forming ono rink, and Messrs Wallace, Batham, Gaudin, and Coleman tho other. Although not successful in winning any of tho trophies our representatives acquitted themselves very creditably, and woro in a very forward position at tho close of the tournament. Messrs Witty and Humphreys represented tho club in the Pairs Match, and woro in tho semi final round beforo being bowled out. Tho President, Mr W. Pettie, accompanied tho party to Wellington, and took an activo interest in tho whole proceedings. Pennant Flag: This was tho first competition of tho season, and resulted in a win for tlio Whataupoko Club. This being an annual competition will again ho competed for early in the ensuing season. President’s Prize : Two pairs of bowls for junior players were won uftor a scries of very interesting games by Messrs Massey and A. Adair. Handicap Singles : This event brought out a big field, excited tho keenest interest, and tho prize—a pair of howls, kindly donated by Messrs Speight and Co., of Dunedin —was ovontually won by Mr W. J. Ilonnessy. Handicap Pairs : This competition also proved very interesting, and after a well-sustained fight tho winners turned up in Captain Ferris and Mr Sidcbottom—prizes, two pairs of bowls, provided by the club. Full Rink Handicap: This match brought a large number of young players into the contest, and proved most interesting. Tho winners wero Messrs Seymour, C. Adair, Nasmith, and Sidcbottom (skip). For this ovont tho prizes wero provided by Messrs O’Meara, Jas. Johnston, McPheo, and' tho club one pair of bowls each.

Champion Singles : A vory handsomo gold medal, presented by the Gisborne Times, was eagerly competed for, a groat contest being tho result, Mr Gaudin proving tho winner. Coronation Shield : Tho Vice-President, Mr J. A. Harding, offered a valuablo shield for annual competition amongst members of tho club for district play. Kaiti, Whataupoko, and Gisborne City each put two rinks in tho field, and tho honor of having their names first inscribed on tho shield was won by tho representatives of tho last-named district, Prizes Hold Over : During tho season tho club received from Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co., on behalf of the Edinburgh Distillery Company, a very handsomo pair of bowls, in a solid leathor case, for competition. Messrs W. 0. bkeot and C. H. Dixon donated a pair of bowls, and Mr W. Gaudin offered a gold medal for singlo playing. Time did not permit of tbeso trophies being played for, but tho donors having consented, they will now bo handed over to tho incoming committee, together with a trophy just donated by Mr J. Shaw, Pakavae. Messrs Speight and Co. have also intimated that they will givo another pair of bowls next season, so that tho new office-boarers will be able to arrange fresh competitions almost immediately the season opens. Thanks : The thanks of the Club are duo to Mr Dixon, our hon. secretary, whoso good work in tho interests of the Club can hardly be measured. Balance-sheet: Tho balance-sheet shows receipts totalling £l9B 3s Bd, including subscriptions, £ISS 10s. The expenditure was £195 fis Bd, and there is a balaneo in tho bank of £2 17s. Tho chiof items of expenditure wero—Caretaker £75, labor £27 11s, Northern Dowling Association^'! 10s 6d, Beautifying Association £1 Is, interest £3l 9s 3d. The assets are valued at £837 17s, including tho freehold property and pavilion, assessed at £750, and tho liabilities (loan on mortgage). £SOO, the balance of assets over liabilities being £337 17s. The President, in moving tho adoption of the balance-sheet, expressed pleasure at the satisfactory result of the past year's operations, although ho regretted that there was such a small credit’ balance. He suggested that special efforts should bo made in the future to reduce tho liabilities of the club. He was pleased with tho keen interest taken bv players in tho affairs of the club, and it was satisfactory to note tho large attendance at the meeting that evening. Mr Pet-tie apologised for tho absence of Messrs Humphreys and Bright. The report was adopted, amidst applause. Tho election of officers was then proceeded with. On the motion of Mr Pettie, seconded by Mr Matthewson, Mr J. A. Harding was unanimously elected President. Capt. Ferris was elected VicePresident, and Mr W. Pettie treasurer. On the motion of Mr W. Gaudin, seconded by Capt. Ferris, Mr C. H. W. Dixon was re-elected secretary. Messrs A. T. Hookey, G. Matthewson, J, W. Bright, and W. J. Honnessy were appointed members of committee, and Mr C. P. Davies auditor. In accordance with notico given, Mr W. Pettie moved tho following motion : "That for tho purpeso of playing for the Coronation Shield and any other trophies offered, the club be sub-divided into four districts, viz., Gisborne City, Gisborne West, Gisborno North (Whataupoko), Gisborne East (Kaiti), or such amendment as the club may decide upon.” After an animated discussion tho motion was adopted. . Capt. Ferris raised the question of providing ft sinking fund by charging a

membership fee to those joining the club. Discussion took place, hut no motion could he taken on tho question without notice, and the .subject was allowed to 3tand over. Mr Harding returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him in electing him President, and remarked that he hoped to see the same good feeling that had existed in the past continue in tho future. He paid a high compliment to Mr W. Pettie for the manner in which he had presided over the affairs of the Club during tho year. The distribution of prizes then took place, tho recipients being heartily applauded as they came forward to receive their trophies. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the retiring President, Mr Pettie. A SUPPER.

The general business being over, the newly-elected President (Mr J. A. Harding) invited the members of the Club to partake of a supper, which was given in the large dining-room of the Masonic Hotel. About 00 guests sat down to an excellent repast. After full justice had been dono to the good things provided, tho retiring President (Mr W. Pettie) proposed the health of the gentleman elected to take his place. Mr Pettie made an excellent speech, and touched tho hoarts of bowlers present when he remarked that Mr Harding was now President of a Club fostering what he (Mr Pettis) considered was the most popular sport over introduced into the Bay. Bowling was sweeping all beforo it, and no other sport could touch it. He had every reason to believe that tho Gisborno Bowling Club, under its new President, wouldhave an era of prosperity.—(Cheers.) Tho toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and Mr Harding was greeted with much applause as ho rose to reply. He stated that ho felt overjoyed that evening at being elected President of the Gisborno Bowling Club. (Cheers.) Ho felt sure that ho could not carry out half that tho retiring President had achieved. Still, ho would try and do his best, and he felt sure that ho would havo tho support of all members of tho club. (Applause.) It would ho a pleasuro to him to do anything to further tho interests of bowling in Gisborne, and as far as possible he would endeavor to keep himself apart from tho several districts, It was his intention to generally advanco tho sport in tho district, and not to connect himself with any particular district. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Harding said ho looked forward with ploasuro to seeing the Gisborno Club (the present holdors of tho Championship Fours for tho North Island) go forth to do battle at the January tournament. It was his intention to accompany them, and in whatever way he could support tho team he would gladly do so. In previous years ho had been connected with football, and when tho Gisborno men won there was not a prouder man on tho field. (Cheers.) Mr Harding paid a high tribute of praise to tho services rendered by Mr Pettie, who had been a most painstaking and energetic president, and a most appropriate speech concluded with tho toast of “ The retiring President.” In replying to tho toast, Mr Pettie said that during his term of office his whole heart and soul had boen bound up in howling, and his only regret was that his business did not allow him to appear more regularly on tho green. “ Tho Committee,” coupled with tho name of Mr 0. 11. W. Dixon, was proposed by Mr C. Ambridgo, who made an appropriate speech. Mr Dixon suitably acknowledged tho toast, and said that ho had never had a better committee to work with than tho bowling committee of the Gisborne Club. Captain Ferris added a few words on behalf of the committee.

The toast of “ Sister Clubs,” coupled with tho name of Mr J. R. M. Stewart, was proposed by Mr J. A, Harding in an excellent speech.

In replying, Mr Stewart referred to his connection with tho Mt. Eden Club and Auckland Club, and said that it was a significant fact that tho present champion of tho Gisborno Club (Mr W. Gaudin), had learned tho game of bowls in tho Auckland Club. Speech-making, he said, was not in Ins lino, and ho would bo much more at homo if ho were talking life insurance to a bowler. (Laughter.) He had been successful in a number of competitions, but it was entirely duo to his skip. (Laughter.) Ho congratulated tho. Gisborne Club on tho large and representative meeting, which was a sign that bowling had a strong hold in tho district. Mr W. Pettie proposed the toast of “Tho Press,” and remarked that it was a strange coincidence that the representative of the Gisborne Timks was also tho champion of the club. In replying to tho toast tho Times representative thanked tho members for the many kind remarks that had been made, which wero altogether undeserved.

The championship, ho said, should rightly have gone to Mr Charles Adair, who had been defeated by tho hardest of luck, and was justly entitled to thejhonors. Mr W. Gaudin proposed the health of “The Champion Fours,” coupled with the name of Mr J. Ponsford, tho popular skip. Tho toast was the most popular of tho ovoning, and was greeted with loud and continued applause. In responding Mr Ponsford made a capital speech. He said that ho was far

more at homo at playing bowls than ho was at making a speech, and therefore members would have to make allowance for him that evening. He took a deep and lively interest in bowling, and all matters connected with tho game had his hearty support. It was a matter of regret to him that the club had not sought to encourage the ladies on the green, and ho hoped in tho future that tho committee would do

their best to bring about an improvement in this respect. To properly enjoy a game of bowls one wanted 'to seo tho ladies on the green, and ho hoped in tho futuro to see afternoon tea onee more introduced. Continuing, Mr Ponsford said ho was always pleased to represent tho Gisborne Club at tournament matches, and he hoped next year to seo a strong quartotto go forth to do their utmost to retain tho championship honors which they at present hold. (Cheers.) B e thanked them for tho enthusiastic manner in which they had responded to the toast, and ho wished the club every success. (Applause.) Mr Ponsford's stroug and forcible speech on the subject of the ladies being encouraged on tho green had the effect of bringing forth the toast of “ The Ladies,” which was coupled with the names of Messrs Albert and Charles Adair.

Mr Albert Adair, in responding, was much affected, but he, nevertheless, made an excellent reply. He failed to seo why ho should have been singled out to reply to so important a toast. He was, he said, so young and inexperienced, and although ho was exceedingly fond of the ladies, he did not feel equal to the occasion of making a speech on their behalf. Mr Charles Adair, in his usual happy style, made a first-class speech, and was frequently applauded. Several other toasts wore proposed and responded to, and tho proceedings termii nated at eleven o’clock, with tho singing of 11 Auld Lang Syne.”