GISBORNE BOWLING CLUB

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1517, 27 July 1905, Page 3

GISBORNE BOWLING CLUB

annual meeting. a BECOKD SEASON.

The annual meeting of the Gisborne Bowling oinb was hoUl last evening iu the Farmers’ Umou Oiuu rooms (ndasonio Hotel). There was a largo and representative Htiendar.co, Me J. A. Harding pro- , siding. Tho minute 3 of the previous meeting having bean coad and conurmud, tho folJawing repmt was p:o3cnted “Iu submitting its annual report, your committee i 3 pleased to bo ablo to oon* grutulato tbo olub upon what hnsuudoublodly heon tho most suooeasfui year of its . history. •• A statement of receipts and expenditure will bo laid before you, stioiviug a substantial ocodit baluuoe, a result which must be satisfactory to members, particularly in view of tbe extraordinary ' calls upon our finances during iho past * year. , “ The membership roll atili boars adequate testimony- to tbe popularity of too gams oi bowls. Tbe number last year was ■ISO, ;and although several resignations Were received owiog to romovsl o er causes, a number of new aiomoora joiue , and &} ihß close of tho reason under no co fcha membership is 100 playing and 0 non-plaviag members. • ■ , • “ The' season was oponed on Thursday, 6th October, in too presence of a large number of ladies and geutlomen, to whom the President extended a most hearty welcome. The usual match President v. Vice-President was played, eeyen full rinks being engaged, and a most enjoyable

game resulted. “ The evaat which naturally overshadows all others throughout the year was the holding of the Northern Bowling Association championship moefcmg on the elub’s green. The attendonce was large, and with fins weather a most enjoyable iieua was spent. Thanks to tbe ; liberality of our members and the general publi*, and to the diligence of the officers, the Uoumamenß was carried out without hitch, and the visitors wore unstinted in fiheic praise, both of the-hospitality of the ,* Gisborne bowlers and the perfection of the arrangements generally. -Tho only respect which the olub erred in true hospitality was in practically sweeping: tho board of ; all the prizes. j “ Messrs Ponsford, Massey, Coleman and Martin carried off the championship, and Mr special prize. Tbs final I - for tho championship between the Carlton 1 and Gisborne clubs caused great excite- J ■ xnenfc, the result being in doubt until the | last shot was played, and the.gams proved I that for wholesome excitement, tho good I old game of bowls has tho same attraction-! now that had in the days of Drake. . I “ Mr Simson’a rink earriod off the aggre* | gate prize, and Messrs Martin >aad Say- j moor played off the final for the Singles j Championship, tho former earning a j • well earned and meritorious victory. I “Three rinks of Bluff Sill bowlers also I \jjayed ua a friendly game, bat again had j So strike their colors to our local pjayers. | Their visit was a most pleasant and cordial J one. . .. _ . I “Mr Ponsford’a rink paid a visit to I ' Wellington, and played the Son eh‘j Island champions, but Wellington I hospitality mast have proved too much for them, for they failed to score the New Zealand Championship. The green, buildings, surroundings and property of every description have received due attention and are now in first I class order, which reflects great j upon the caretaker (Mr Tansley), who has j been most painstaking in the discharge of j his duties. The pavilion wss renovated throughout prior to the tournament being I held bete. I | “To. the numerous donors of special I prizes the Club gives is 3 warmest thanks, j In addition to the good feeling thereby ex hibited, .such trophies are of immense 1 benefit! ia ecimulaMag play. We give a j list of thoso 60 whom our acknowledgments are due:—Silver cup, Mr Simsoa ; I gold modal, Mr Ponsford; pair shoe, Mr I if. Martin ' r one pair bowls each from the I following gentlemen: Messrs Cussen, j .Robertson,. Coleman, Caesar, Hancock I and Co., per J. Sheridan, Macky Logan, I Matthews and Co, T. Brown, Speight and I Co., Jfl. Cunningham, Distillery Coy., two I pairs bowls from Mr D. J. Barry. A 1 beautiful affiernoon tea service from the I Hon. J. Carroll. Four gold medals from 6he Gisborne Times, and a set of feathers | from Mr C. Lomax.

’ 4l The Shield, donated some little time Bgo by your President, has come to hand, ond will be on view at the meeting. This Is a splendid tribute to the skill of the maker and to the generosity of the giver. VVe hope every member will strive to have his name engraved on this handsome aropby. “ Xonr Committee desiro to specially fihank the ladies for gracing the green with their presence dariDg the season, and for also dispensing aftarnoon-t9a. To all our friends who have by their lavish kindoess contributed to the success of the season, Wo offer our sincere thanks. We feel that tliSy have been actuated solely by a love "oEthe game, and a desire to promote the pleasure and sociability of our members. cannot allow our list of thanks to pass without making sterling reference to the two local papers. They have always been willing and ready to give us full reports on all matches. Me Hennosay ha 3 our thanks for handicapping. We trust that in the coming year, thß ancient game of bowls will continue in its popularity with the residents of Gisborne,” The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Baid that it waa unnecessary for him to make any leDgthy remarks. During the past year the championship fonrs tournament had been held in Gisborne, and had proved an unqualified snccean. Not only had the members of the club responded, to the call for subscriptions, but many of the public, both in town and country, had followed Bait, with the result that more than a sufficient sum was obtained to cover all expenses. Ho considered the in which the tournament had been oarried out had been an excellent advertisement for Gisborne.’ (Applause). Mr Harding related two or three incidents showing the appreciation that , bad been Bhown by opteide xlubs in regard to expressing j their approval at the conduct of affairs. The members of the oommitteo bad worked most harmoniously together during the year, and there had Dot been a single hiten in regard 'to the management of affairs. (Applause.) Financially, the tournament had proved most successful, addition to a small oredit balance being corned forward, a number of permanent improvements have been effected, It was with deep regret ho referred to the deaths during the year of Messrs W. Cooper and It. Moate, both of whom, although not active mombers of the club, had -been most lioei al towards it in the matter of contributing to the funds. Ho thought that letters of condolence should be sent to the relatives of both mombers. The inter-club tourna® meDt of the North. Island Association •would bo held in Wellington in January next, and he hoped the club would be able to put two strong teams in the field. Special praise wa3 duo to the honorary secretary, Mr T. Adair, for the excellent services which he had rendered to the club, os it was in a great rnoasure due to hie efforts that the tournament bad p-oved so successful. , (Applause.) He (Mr Harding) bad been connected 'with many sports, but he had never seen a secretary who could be compared to the secretary of tho Gisborne Bowling Club. (Appl»n3e.) Ia conclusion the President refecred to the splendid way in which the green bad been kept by the co'/ttaker (Mr F. fatislev), and also to tho .siJSarting of the West End Club, to which bo wished evory success and prosperity. He hoped the same measure of success that bad attended the club during tho pa3t season would continue during the coming one. (Applause.) Mr Bright seconded the adoption of the report, heartily endorsing tho remarks of the President. The report was unanimously adopted. Mr W. S. Collins wrote expressing regret at his inability to attend. He offored B gold modal for competition during the coming season. (Applause.) J;„ . The olection of officers was then proceeded with. Mr W, Morgan proposed tho rerelootion of Mr J. A. Harding as president, Mr Bright seconding. Mr F. Martin proposed Mr lan Simßon aa president, Mr Griffiths seconding. ballot being taken, Me Harding was planted. <

: Mr W. Goudia was etooSacl vioo-prosJ. woro niao nominations for tho committee, fivo being require, and tho following wero elooled : Messrs Honnosej , gob.,.,*, to-■»;. “tsrS elation of tho services rendered b> tie hen. secretary, Mr T. Adair, both at the January tournament of the f* 0 „ Association and during tho P aa * ® e °?fo was carried unanimously. It was al o decided that it-bo n recommendation to tho committee to procure a suitable tropny for presentation to Mr Adair. A bonus of five guineas was voted to tho caretaker, Mr jF. Xansloy. The presentation of prizes was then ( mad ft by tho President, tho following i being tho prize list:— . Mr Simeon’s cup for handicap stngieß (9 bowls), Mr Corson; Hon. James Carroll's trophy for championship singles January tournament, Mr F. Martin ; Mr Ponsford’s gold medal to tho runner-up m. tho ebampioaship singles,-Mr A. Seymour; Northern Bowling Association’s gold medals for championship fours competition, won by Gisborne Club, Messrs Martin, Colemau, Massey, and Ponsford | (skip) ; Giaboroo Times’ medals for highest aggregate score at ihe Northern Bowling [ Association’s tournament, won by the Whataupoko Club, ‘ Messrs Nicholas, Corson, Seymour, and Simson (skip); Dr Scott’s gold modal for first and second year players, Mr E. Harvey ; Gisborne Club’s gold medal for championship singles, Mr F. Martin ; pair of bowls presented bv Mr B. Bobortson to the runuerup, Mr W. Pettie ; President of Northern Bowling Association’s (Mr James Kirker, I of Auckland) special prize to winners of championship at tho January tour* nament, Messrs Martin, Coleman, Massey and Ponsford (skipper); Mr A. Stevenson’s trophy of pair of carvers for handicap singles, Mr B. Bobortson; Mr D. J. Barry's trophy for handicap pairs, Messrs J. Bosie aud J. Wallace (skip). The Gisborne Bowling Club’s handicap fours competition, for four pairs of bowls, presented by Messrs L. D. Nathan and Me Julius* Caesar, were won by Messrs Bossbotbam, F. Pettio, Harding and Ponsford (skip); Gi3bor.no Bowling Club’s handicap fours second competition I for prizes presented by Messrs J. Coleman, F. Martin, E. Oussscb Club, I won by Messrs Ousscns, Clarkson, Eure aud Wallace (skip); handicap pairs for two pair of bowls, Messrs T. Adair and W. O. Skaofc (skip). Messrs Speight and Co.’s trophy for handicap singles, Mr B.Bobertson. Mr O. Lomax’s gold-mounted feathers were won by Messrs Dodd, Ambridge, Pettio and Ponsford (skip). Two certificates from tho Northern bowling tournament for the two championships won by Mr F. Martin and tho Gisborne Club championship team, and the handsome shield presented by Mr J. A. Harding were also presented amidst great enthusiasm. -7 Mr W. Pettis moved a hearty vots of thanks bo the President for the handsome shield presented to the club. The trophy

would dot much Jo promote composition amongst the several clubs, and lead to im*

provement in tha play. At> Gaudin seconded tha motion, which was heartily carried. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the outgoing committee, and to the Farmers’ Union for the use of the rooms.

Mr.G. Lomax, as a late member of the Palmerston North olnb, referred to the

hospitality accorded to visitors at the recent tournament. The encoess of the

January tournament at Gisborne was recognised by bowlers throughout the North Island.

It was deoided to have tha report and proceedings of the meeting printed and sent to all affiliated clubs.. At the conclusion of the meeting the members of the oiab were entertained at supper by She president, and a very pleasant hour was spent.