PAEROA BOWLING CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4599, 10 September 1923, Page 2

PAEROA BOWLING CLUB.

ANNUAL GATHERING OF NEW PROPOSALS OUTLINED. There was an .attendance of about forty members at the annual meeting of the Paeroa Bowling Club held ?n Saturday night. In extending a welcome to members and intending members Mr F. J, Wells said tjhat he was pleased to see such a large attendance. Tihs, he said, augured well for the coming season, and showed that members took a keen interest in the affairs of the club. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report and balancesheet were read as follows:— “In presenting the .19,th annual report, the committee desires to say that the past season was in every way an enjoyable one, many pleasant hours being spent on our own and other greens. •‘ Official Opening. —We regret that owing ,to ill-health our worthy president was unable to carry out, his important duties at the official opening on the 7th October last. Our vice-president, Mr Garry, assisted by Mrs Garry, very ably performed the duties of host and hostess, and loud acclamation, Mrs Garry threw the ‘ kitty ’ and declared the green, open for the season 1922-23.. Repretatives from Matamata, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Waihi, Waikino, Hikutaia, and Thames Clubs were present. ‘ The Green. —During the past season our green again maintained its reputation on the Goldfields and we are confident that our caretaker, Mr Hamilton, will again provide the most important adjunct to good play. “ Membership.—We commenced the season with a strength of 56 members, which, with 10 new members enrolled during the year,, brought the mem- • bership up to the strongest in the drib’s history. Unfortunately, owing to change of residence and various other reasons no less than 18 members have left during the year. “ Resignations.—We regret to have to record the following resignations ; Messrs Ardent, Bell, W. Chester, * Carver, Dales, Foster, Higgins, Medhurst, McLean, Rusden, Tucker, Moran, Stansfield, Shand, Steedmanri and Byrne. “ Financial. —The balance-sheet io be presented shows an increase expenditure over revenue. The increase of expenditure was due mainly to the fact that the very few matches were played away from the green and also for the reason tjhat the Clothier Shield Tournament was held in Paeroa this year. Your committee purchased 16 seats for the green, and these have certainly supplied a long felt want. “ Inter club Matches,—lt seemed to be the general feeling in most of the Goldfields Clubs last season, to give more time to club competitions than to inter-club matches. This, of course has its advantages as well as disadvantages. But still inere is no - doubt that int,er-club games do }a great deal to foster and that fraternal fellowship enjoyed jy bov.lers. Inter-club matches were played as follows: —Three games against -Te Aroha Club, Te Aroha winning- 2 games. It is worthy of mention here that our club enjoyed its first match under electric light at Te Aroha, and after a most est’ng game, Te Aroha proved the winners. Matches were also played against Thames and Hikutaia, Paeroa losing one and winning one respectively. Rinks from Paeroa took part in the Auckland, Hamilton, and Te Aroha tournaments, and although they did not gain firsh honours they gave a good account of themselves. “ Goldfields Stars—The opening tournament was held at Matamata, the home club proving the winners. Various clubs in the Goldfields endeavoured to wrest the honour from Matamata without success, and then came Paeroa Club’s turn to challenge with a rink composed of Messrs Busby, Garry, Pinder, and Wells If (skip). The result cf this game is sc well known that we will' not occupy your 'time in going _ over it again. Unfortunately, there was a better team from the Thames club waiting to adorn themselves with these Gold Stars, and the records show that Mr Wells’ rink only held them for a fortnight, when Thames won them, after playing a splendid game. Mat3^ ! mata eventually secured the stirs again, and Paeroa again challenged with a, strong team comprised jf Messrs Pivott, G. H. Taylor, Wells, and Pinder (skip), but after a very hard game Matamata won by a narrow margin. Clothier Challenge Shield Competition.—Last season your club had the honour of conducting this most important competition on tbe local green. Two rinks each from the following clubs .took part: Matamata. Te Aroha, Waihi, Waikino, Thames, and Paeroa. The competition was played in two sections of 6 rinks and the final was played out by Waih * No. 1 team —Buddle, Masefield, Landy, McDermott (skip) 26 v. Thames No. 1 team, Whitehead, Newman, Adamson, Cordes (skip) 17. “ Champion of Champions.—This competition was again played on the local green, Mr P. Stewart, of mata Club, being the winner. “Olub Competitions.—Easter Tournament Pairs; Winners of No. 1. Robson and Pinder (skip); winners of No. 2, Tait and Pinder (skip). “Brenan Memorial Shield Fours. — Early in the season your Committee decided on a system whereby every member of the club became a competitor in tjiis, our most important competition, and, as the results have shown, more games have been played and the interests evinced was more keen than in any previous year. The winners of the various classes for the year 1922-23 are: Leads, J. Turner; seconds, T. Hale; thirds, W. Turner; skips, J. Pinder. “Club Championship.—The winner proved to be Mr J. Pinder, who was undoubtedly at the top of his la=t season. “Handicap Pairs.—Lt. is very grati- !? fying to know that the Club succeeded this year in completing the pains competition, and congratulates the winners, Messrs Moreland and Mills, | on their

‘'S'Grade.—This again, is the firs; time for some seasons that this competition has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, the winner being Mr F. Pivott. “Closing Day.—lt was very regrettable to a large number of members Uiat owing to the inclement weather the official closing had to be abandoned. “In reviewing the several competitions held on the green throughout the season your Committee earnestly appreciates the interest and support extended^by the club members, and trusts that this interest in the Club's welfare will continue. “Thanks. —The thanks of the Club are due to your popular President, Mr F J. Wells, for the able manner in which he has conducted its- affairs, and also’for his handsome donation of the Club Championship trophy. Thanks are also due to our vice-presi-dents, Messrs Garry and Cane, for their untiring efforts in furthering the interests of the Club. Thanks are dtte to the selectors, Messrs de Castro, G. H. Taylor, and Towers; pur green caretaker, Mr W. Hamilton and pur green superintendent, Mr W. H. Taylor. “Our thanks are more especially due to those ladies who so kindly sacrifice their afternoons to - assist the members in entertaining ; visitors at the Club’s functions. * “Your Committee has again .to express its hearty appreciation to the press for its valuable assistance and support in furthering not only the interests of this club, but those of bowl ihg in general. - “General.— During the season the Club enjoyed a most pleasant afternoon at Hikutaia, where a new club has been formed- We extend a hearty welcome to Hikutaia Club to link up the Goldfields Association, and glso wish the Club every prosperity. 2 "Your Committee met on several occasions during the season, .the attendance of the members being regular. y “In .conclusion your Committee hopes that the coming season will he a most, prosperous and enjoyable one, and that all present members and many new ones will soon gather together to test the strength of the green and enjoy the pleasant game of bowls. “We take this opportunity to extend to the incoming officers our best wishes for; a most happy year of office, and trust that all members will continue to give them their wholehearted support.”;. ? The balance-sheet showed that the; receipts totalled £ll4 12s Id, made up of: Subscriptions £9O 10s, lockers £1 12s 6d, matches £.14 10s, sundries £2 19s 7d, hire of marquee £5. This with a bank balance of £8 10s made a total of £123 2s Id- The chief items of expenditure were: Rent £7O, refreshments £3O 17s, trophies £9 16s M, sunC.ies £3 Us Id, levies £3 17s, seats £4 18s 6d The assets comprised: Cash in bank 17sAld,. outstanding subscript bns £l9 .0s 6d, furnishing, etc., £26 13s 6d. The liabilities showed unpaid recounts and trophies to the amount of £23 2s. After the motion for .the adoption of- the .report 'and-- balance-sheet the latter was severely criticised, especially the item of unpaid subscriptions. In explaining-the position the .secretary, Mr Busby, said that since the closing of the books the sum of £6 2s had been received. The balance with the exception of two members’ subscription was good, and would be paid. ' ■ ‘ It was resolved that the • names of the two members) who had left the district.be erased from the membership list and the subscriptions treated as irrecoverable. The secretary explained that during the past year the club had been put to extra expense in entertaining. The general opinion was that members shpuld pay up their subscriptions more promptly, and thus assist the secretary in carrying on his duties. The motion was then carried. i NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected: Messrs W. McCullay, C. Mettam, B.- Stansfield, J. Bflack,’ P. Williams, H. G. Somervell, G. Hart, JBlackburn, and W. Gunn. GOLDFIELDS ASSOCIATION. Mr G. H. Taylor said that a meeting of the association had been held that morning and a lo.t of useful re commendations had been made. Tournament. —With reference to the tournament, it was generally agreed that the annual tournament should be held at a central place. Te Aroha had been chosen as the place for this year’s .tournament, and Paeroa next year. Opening Day.—One opening day for the whole of theclubs instead of many. This would save a great many Saturdays and give more time for competitions; Inter-club Contests.— The association to draw , up land, arrange for the inter-club matches. Goldfields Stars.—One challenge only .to. be allowed, and dates to be drawn up. Hikutaia Club.—This club had been admitted. 'The suggestions made at the meeting had to be submitted to the dubs for approval. ; OPENING DAY. Mr Towers said he did not approve of the suggestion for holding all the openings on the one day. A great deal of pleasure was derived by visiting tjie clubs on opening days. Mr W. H. Taylor thought that if the fixtures were all made by the association the bowling would become too mechanical. “Keep to the good old style,” was his concluding remark. Mr Edwards said that it was‘just possible that all the greens might not, be ready at the one date. After a good deal of discussion it was resolved not to favour the recommendation. INTER-CLUB MATCHES. It was resolved to favour the proposal of the association tc fix the dates for all iriter-club fixtures. CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS GAMES. It was agreed to suggest that this contest be held either at Te Aroha oPaeroa. LIGHTING THE GREEN. An estimate of the cost of installing electric light was received, and

after a lengthy discussion it was agreed that Messrs W. Ppwer, G. H. Taylor, and E. Edwards be a committee to go into ways and means and report at a special meeting of the club. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected : Patron, F. J. Wells; president,. WPower; vice-presidents, D. Brown, EEdwards; green committee, the patron, president, and secretary; committee, W. J. Towers, N. C. Busby, T. H. Hale ; selecftprs, F. J. Wells,, GP. de Castro, D. Brown; auditor, W. L. Lawrence ; delegate to South Auckland Centre, P. Williams ; delegates to Goldfields Association, W. J. Towers and the secretary. The retiring president then thanked the members of the committee for the very pleasant year tjhey had given him and also Mr Garry, who took his place while he was absent. THE NEW PRESIDENT. Mr W. Power, the newly elected president, was greeted with applause on taking the chair. In returning thanks for his election he said he hoped to get the loyal support that had always been given to the president of this club, and on his part he assured the members that he would do his best to help the club along. COMPETITIONS. It was decided that the competition for the Brenan Memorial be somewhat altered this year. Instead of the players winning on a percentage, to have a fixed fours, the players to select the skips and the skips to pick the teams. The teams to be divided into A and B groups, and only one section to play at a time. It was decided to ha,ve A and B grade competitions, singles and pairs. The offer of Mr Pinder to donaJtje £2 2s for a competition was accepted, the committee to decide the form of the competition. AFTERNOON TEAS. It was decided that a charge of Gd per member be made from those partaking of afternoon tea. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. The annual subscription was fixed at £2 10s. If however, it is paid before December 31 a rebate of 5s is to be made. The honorary membership was fixed at £1 Is. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.. A very pleasant hour was then spent in toast, song, and story, when the trophies won during the past year were presented. The gathering was brought to a close at midnight with <lfie singing of “Auldiang Syne.”