NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 64

NOTES BY JACK.

If present appearances go for anything the greens about Dunedin should be in tip top order next season. A casual inspectior of most of the greens during the past week revealed the fact that there is a good sward of grass, and if the weather proves favourable a light top-dressing and the use of the roller should result in even and true playing surfaces. The Dunedin Club* new pavilion is rapidly approaching completion, and, thanks to the care of Mr J. E. White, the contractor, the green does not appear to have suffered at the hands of the workmen. The Gore Club had a most successful season from a bowling point of view, haying gained the honour of premier club in interclub matches, and having won th« centre's handsome new shield for the Rink Champions-hip with a rink skipped by Mi Thomas Brown, while a rink, composed of Messrs Stevenson, Simpson, Ingram, and T. Brown (skip) won the Taylor medals. The club competitions excited keen interest. Several improvements at the pavilion were carried out' at a .cost of £20. A« a result there is a debit balance oi *£13 12s Bd. There is a reverse side. Owing to several active members leaving the district and other causes the membership dropped from 66 to 49. Then a anew club hae been formed, by which the club may lose some members. The report wishes the new club every success, but a<Lvises that special efforts be put forth to get new and suitable members for the old club. As is the case with almost r very club nowadays, members are under a <I?ep debt of gratitude to the ladies, and r.s a slight recognition, in addition -to th« luual smoke concert, a successful ladies 1 uuchre party and social was held The President (M>r E. C. Smith) spoke in a cheerful strain of the Gore Club's position at the annual meeting, l Taking all Things into consideration he thought the position was not a bad one, nor need they worry about it. It had been -worse before, and with an increased membership they would no doubt have a credit balance at the end cf next year. The existence of the Hokonui Club would enable them to have keen contests. The following office-bearers were elected : —President, Mr H Fisher ; vice-presidents, ' Messrs T. •Brown and J. H. Read; treasurea-, "Mr E. •Frobarth: secretary, Mr C. R. Ingram; auditor, Mr F. Young, General Committee — Messrs H. Adams, A. Simpson, J. X>ay, J C. Calder, and D. Dewa'r: Selection. Committee— Messrs D. Dewar, T. Brown, »nd E. C. Smith. The selection of delegates to the Southland Centre was left to thf- committee, with the object- of having one or both delegates an active member of the club. The subscription for the year was fixed at £1 10s. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr E. C. Smith, the retiring president, entertained! the roembere at supper. .' In leaving the nomination of the vicepreeidency to the Christchurch Centre the local centre evidently contemplates that the 1911 tournament must also go to Cfaxistchurch, andis thus in effect taking the matter out of the hands of the council. Under the old constitution the tournament had to be held alternately in Dunedin and Chrietohoroh. This was deliberately changed, with the sanction of a representative meeting, so that it might be held in whichever centre was decided on by the council. Invercargill made application this year for the 1910 tournament, but the request was declined, and the fact of (in the natural course of events) the president being a Chi-istchureh man in 1911, will doubtless be ueed as a lever to decline another application from Invercargill. Now, the southern town ha 6 claims which should not be ignored. By 1911 it is more than likely that two new greens will be available, in which case the centre could carry out tho tournament without limitation of entries. The membership of the 11 clubs which will oe affiliated in the coming season will be about 800, and as it will be more con : lenient to all bowlers south of the Waitaki to go to Invercargill than to Christchurch, that means that it -would be more convenient for about 2000- bowlers, or twothirds of the whole number affiliated to the association. As a matter of fact, under the policy laid down by the Dunedin Centre for the new council, the existing council was not justified in refusing to give Invercargill -the' 1910- tournament. That centre could have -carried., -'out o" championship tournament if it had the right to decide^ . what championship events •were to be played. The members of the Dunedin Centre evidently thought they would solve all difficulties in connection, with the tournament when, on Mr Balk's motion, they affirmed the principle that the tournament should be run, not with a view to making money, but for the entertainment and pleasure of bowlers a^articipating in it. That is the principle ■which it ha 6 been attemnted to carry out ■for 21 year* It is ihe principle en vrh.cb most emphasis was laid by the .-report of a committee of the council, which tho centre disagreed with. But it has been usually thought desirable to ccc that no loss is made, and in doing so the estimate was always made on the 6afe side. Now, as the probability of having to incur extra expense by bad weather— and bad weather is aiot an unknown quantity — the inference from Mr Balk's motion is that at the smoke concert . with which touranmente axe concluded, a dividend should be declared, and. paid out from the surplus due to the cautio.n of the framers of the programme. fl3us &*£ would scarcely meet the spirit of the * motion — " entertainment and pleasure Jof those participating " — so the distribution .Would have to be in the way of cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco at the smoke concert Of course, no bowler would sug£est an additional supply of strong water. The Queensland Bowling Association has 'decided on adopting the bowl-testing chute made by Mr Warren, of New South Wales, which, after" trial under varied conditions, recommended itself for its efficiency and reliability, a special point in its favour being the rapidity with which bowls could fee tested. After testing facsimiles of the standard bowl of the New South Wales and Victorian Associations, it was resolved to adopt a standard bowl taking a bias of sft 9in over a distance oi 96ft on a fairly fast green. The description of the bowl is a "Taylors," marked No ,?i bias,

No. A 832, weighing 31b 3£oz; outside measurement from disc to disc, 4 25-32 i n; outside measurement on running surface, 5 l-32in. Mr Robert Lamb, general superintendent , of public parks in Manchester, in his annual report, states that while 20 years ago - ther were only four park greens in Manchester, there are now 26, of which six were constructed during the past 12 months, and several more are now under r consideration. The receipts last year from " 153,812 bowlers was £1180 13s 3d— an in1 crease of nearly £500 on the previous year |^ One of our city councillors during his election campaign ridiculed the idea of public ' bowling greens in Dunedin. Mr Lamb, I who is not a bowler, says : " I have no hesitation in saying that the .game of bowls is ' the game of all others best adapted for ' the health and recreation of those who r have to work for their living." The counL cillor in question declared that in this city ' those who wanted to play bowls could join one of the clubs in existence, and pay for [ their amusement. To this, it may be pointed out in reply to those who 1 patronise the public greens have also to • pay for their games. As to joining clubs, : how many of what are termed the labour- • ing class are members of local clubs? The ' fact is that with the increased subscrip- < tions now asked bowling is rapidly becom- . ing a luxury. A working man cannot afford to pay two guineas or more for - yearly . membership, and another three • "guineas or so for the requisites which are ' now necessary. With a public green, on the other hand, the worker could, when he ', felt inclined, pay his 3d for an hour's play, ■ bowls being provided, and Id for slippers. i And it would pay the corporation, too. i Committees of, bowling clubs might find t it to their advantage to make inquiries i concerning anewa 'new brush which Mr Lamb, i in his report, refers to as having been ins troduced by Mr Selley. It is used for ; bowling greens, grass tennis courts, cricket grounds, and golf courses. The bristles I or spikelets are of whalebone. Mr Lamb > says: "It possesses many advantages in ' aiding and encouraging the growth of I grass, and improving the condition of the i turf generally, and when sufficiently known will no doubt be in great demand by those 1 having the care of bowling greens: - To > ' enumerate a few of the advantages derived ' from its use I may mention that on account of the strength and nature of the k bristles it has a scarifying effect on the < surface, which acts as an aerating and fertilising medium on the htard, hidebound surface, a condition which is inevitable on all turf whore games are played. Especi- • ally is this the case on the bowling green . owing to the frequent mowing and rolling, together with the large number of bowlers who are daily using it. It spreads the , wormcasts with good effect. Wormcasts are sometimes swept up and carried off .the , green, but this is a mistake, as they are composed of the richest manurial soil, from which the grass derives more benefit than , most people are aware of. The Selleybrush is also useful in spreading and brushing in " all manurial dressings, as well as charcoal, lime, sand, soil, and grass seed, ■ etc. We have placed one of these brushes on each of our greens here, and the super- l intendents of the various parks and recreai tion grounds speak of them in terms of 1 the highest praise for the many advantages ' , ■ they possess in the general upkeep of the ; greens. There is no doubt that when i • properly known this brush will form one , ' of the implements indispensable in the equipment of every well-kept bowling green.