Bowling Notes.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 121, 25 October 1902, Page 21

Bowling Notes.

The merry game of bowls will be in full swing all over the town next week. On Saturday next Thorndon opens for the seasoni. Last Saturday both the Wellington and the Victoria Clubs opened under the happiest auspices. Sooth to say. the younger club quite took the shine out of its parent. There was a far larger attendance, and the proceedinits altogether were brighter and gayer. Every rink was full, and the green nlaved remarkably true. Victoria have struck a real bonanza in their new caretaker. He is a regular hummer. Holmes will have to look to his laurels. Lambton Quay and Cuba-street had a good "go" up at Wordsworth-street, on Wednesday afternoon. After 20 heads there was level chalking. Than, Father Hill opened the 21st head with a perfect paraJyser, cunningly laving his bowl right on the jack. Bush and Bell wasted all their shots trying to shift it, but they failed to pull that contract off. The Quay, which won by two, has been chortling at a great rate ever since. Have you heard about Dr. Grace's new trophies for the Thorndonites. They are all right. Ted Hill and Papa are studying the interests of the "^erjnesday afternooners. They are offering four neat, scarf-pins for full rink competitions bv the Wednesday artists. Moult, of Wanganui, is coming down to live at Wellington. If he ioins Victoria, Kibblewhite and Moult will make a warm pair. Mr. James Russell is a popular president on the Wellington Green. No nonsense about him. and no side. In fact, he is an all-round man. Waist measurement not known. Some people^ are asking whether the Babington who plays for Petone is Major-General Babington? Petone is not losing its head, anyway. Alec Lawson seems to be coquetting with Victoria, or else Victoria is setting her cap at Lawson. Just presented her with a handsome plate-glass chessboard for competition. Wanganui is forging ahead in the bowling, as in all other lines. They are talking of forming a club now at Aramoho. Once the railway boys get over their bias, Charlie Chavannes Rodwell, Bennie Macfarlane, Geo. Ross, Anderson, Notman, Foster, and the other big guns up at Wanganui will have to get up early and stay late in order to keep those ashes.

So Feilding is out of the fours tournament, and Palmerston is to run the whole show' Well, I've no doubt Palmerston is quite eaual to the contract, and 'tis better, if it can be managed just as well, to confine the tournament to one town, instead of having the competitors racing up and down the line between eames.

The New Zealand Telegraph Department does not sleep. If an addressee is on this island the Department will find him. A propos, on Tuesday evening when the First Contingent Association were holding; their second annual dinner, at Godber's, a wire was brought up addressed, "Hugh Moss, The Dinner, Wellington." Although the name of the addressee was misspelt, and there may have been many other dinners in progress, the wire was delivered within half-an-hour from the time it was sent out. * • • Touching that dinner, it aays something for the camaraderie of the "First" that about half the survivors at present living in New Zealand were there. We noticed that members of the Association were keenly appreciative of the efforts of Mr. Witheford, M.H.R., "The Soldiers' Friend " for his many kindnesses to retired soldiers. In "toasting" him, Mr. Hugh Ross made a happy speech in relation to Mr. Witbeford's latest nhilanthroipic scheme, the settlement of soldiers on the land. »• » • Dr. Chappie is "out" for the Newtown seat. His address is to be found elsewhere. There is a ring of sterling: independence about the Doctors nublished address, and it is quite evident that he does not do his political thinking bv proxy. Nor is he afraid to say exactly how he feels. * • • The Metropolitan Hotel, Wanganui, has ramdly come to tho front as a firstclass establishment, and bids fair, under the spirited management of Mr. Alf. Mitchell, to become the favourite resort of tourists 1 to the New Zealand Rhine. It is situated close both to the wharves and railway station, is replete with comfort, possesses a o-rand promenade roof, and is excellently managed. Mr. Alf. Mitchell is a young and enterprising Boniface, who> has learnt his business thoroughly. He was formerly in the Rutland, was more recently manager of the Masonic, at Dannevirke, and seven weeks ago entered into possession of the Metropolitan at Wanganui. His business motto is "Excelsior," and he is justifying it. Give the Metropolitan a trial, and see for yourself. * * # Mr. R. A. Keenan, who fisrured some time ago m amateur theatricals in. this city, has just been obtaininp- kudos from the Auckland "Observer" for a successful interpretation of the part of Charles Middlewick. After leaving Wellington, Mr. Keenan was one of the prime movers in organising the Auckland Dramatic Society, which has booked the Opera House for a performance of the "Guvnor," in December next. The Society is financially strong, as it possesses many influential officers, presided over by the young and energetic Doctor de Clive Lowe, who has written a very clever musical comedy entitled "The Lady Typist."