Bowling Notes

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1904, Page 16

Bowling Notes

By Wrong Bias.

CAPT. Edwin turned on his "extra supeifine" for the opening on Saturday, and at Woidsworthstreet. Mount Victona, Newtown, and Pe tone the bowlers were in high feather. The ladies woie then choicest millinery and their sweetest smiles. Refreshment was dispensed ad lib, in spite of Parliament's threats about "lockers. And the visitors of both sexes came to thf unanimous finding that there's a great deal of touch-andr-go jocularity about bowls. Wby, the very name smacks loudly of conviviality. President Haybittle, in, opening the season at the Wellington, Club, where, by the way, a band of musicians performed at intervals, lust g»t to the brink of historical allusion, but pulled himself stiffly up with a round turn. It showed a lofty spirit of self-denial on Fred's part. But still, no one would have thrown bricks if he had taken a plunge into ancient history. He might have told the crowd without breaking his George Washington record that bowls is one of the very oldest games in the world 1 . It would have interested the ladies also — who were present in great number — to have been informed that Queen Mary I, of England, was a skilful and enthusiastic bowler. So also was Charles IT , "the Merrie Monarch." A propos of Queen Mary, however, how much longer are the ladies going to be defrauded of their rights? They should insist upon having a hand at the game, and upon Pa taking his fair turnabout in making tea and! waiting for the bowling partner to come home. At present it is a rather one-sided bargain. The Parliamentary set-to was about the most interesting game played on the Wellington green. Tom Mackenzie, Trask and Hawkins placed themselves under the stalwart McKerrow, of Thornrdon, and gave an unmerciful beating to Chairman of Committees Millar and his little picnic party, comprising W. Fraser, J. Allen, and Mander. Score: 23 to 8. It was Mackenzie's deadly leading that made the pace so hot. Some inquisitive people were asking a propos of McKerrow . "Que diable fait ll dans cc galere?" Perhaps, 'tis an indication that he's going for the Thorndon seat at the next election. However, if the jack hadn't been trundled just quite so soon the Parliamentary rinks might have been fixed up without any outside assistance at all. Davey, of Christchua-eh, and "Lord George Jones, arrived just a trifle too late, but both looked in the very pink of bowling condition. In fact, 'tis said that the Hon. George is organising a.i Upper House team to challenge the Lower House to put its best foot foremost on the bowling green, and let it see that the Upper Chamber is not quite so fossilised as some of its critics imagine. There was nothing striking about Saturday's games at Wordsworthstreet. G.P.O. Gray broke up Ballinger by 19 to 14. Lockie put the comether on Hendry, of the Victoria Club, by 19 to 12. Sir Edward Gibbes ran Berry through a severe educational test, in which Berry got 11 points, and lost 24. Oh yes and Teddy Hill was just pipped on the post by Mentiplay — 15 to 14. Sievwright, of Thorndon, was also passed out amongst the defeated but still uneonquered crowd. Mr. Avis, the caretaker of the Newtown green, deserves all the "jam" that President Wylie, with a generous hand, passed out to him at Saturday's opening. The green is in tip-top condition. And the ladies turned out in good force to grace the proceedings. The club starts promisingly. Twelve candidates for membership put their

names on the board, which will bring the club's strength up to eighty-nine. Amongst the new blood are two Dunedin worthies — Messrs. Bland and Hemingway — who, no doubt, will be able to take care of themselves. The opening of the Thorndon gieen, fixed for Wednesday, was rudely postponed by that howling &ou'-easter. Probably it will not come off now till next week. Thorndon starts the season with many losses to deplore. D. Aichibald, one of the best leads, and a general favourite, died at the end of last seasion. F W. Flanagan, one of the founders of the club, and always a reliable playei , has tesigned the treasiurership, and ill be busy far some time to oome. S. Brogan and E. H. Dean are giving the game best. Huntley Elliot has joined the Huttites, and George' Wright ("Wee Gem die") is getting leady for a trip Home in 1 the new year. J. C. Webb, one of the best as skip and! good fellow, is throwing in his lot with the Wellington lCub, and Capt. Lomax ha.s gone to Wanganui. Still, there is a membership of about ninety to face the season with, and Thorndon has emerged from private life t:> le-enter for both Senior and Junior Pennants. Moreove, there are some promising colts coming on. Fred Townsend opened the Victorian season with a capital speech, and eveiybody was shaking handls with Messrs. Meyer and Scott over their care of the green. One of the liveliest games was that m which Lightband, of Chnstohurch, skipped 1 against Geordie Wright of Thorndon. The Christchuroh crack knocked up 23 against the Thorndon giant's 18. MacMorran showed that the arm which holds the cane has lost none of its cunning. He skipped his team into 2S, against Redstone's 12. Ai-thur Dixon wept. Little Mack, too, was in gieat plumbing form — 28 against Bary's 14. Jenkmson led Mitchell to a victory of 24 against Kilgours 11. Ex-presi-dent Mackay dished Varooe by a pomt — 18 to 17. President Townsend bowled ovei Soott by 21 to 15, and Jamie Biackeniidge looked over his shoulder fo' that Lancashire champion as he chalked up 24 to Hueston's 20. Petone opens stronger than ever this season. That was made manifest on Satui day. Mr. Coles is president, and he means to make things num. Hai i y Price seems to be in the same old buckle. Put Kmniburgh through by 25 to 9, and Kinniburgh's no slouch. Wylie also starts strongly. Longton, of Thorndon, w"ho plays a wily game himself, went down before the president by 17 to 26. Congratulations to Charlie Payne, of Dunedm, who has just been installed president of the South Island Association. He will lift the game forward all right. By the way, the New Zealand Association Eave just decided to fall into line with the North by doing away with the "sudden death" principle at their rink tournaments. Eighteen nw members for the Victoria Club this season already, and! no less than 133 entries 1 were made on Saturday for the various matches. By the way, Fred's cigars, from "Gay Paree," were in great demand, and were voted "All right."