ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 658, 9 May 1929, Page 13

ON THE GREEN

By

It was with the keenest appreciation of the many services rendered to the Carlton Club that, on Saturday last, its president, Mr. A. B. Barter, presented Mr. G. Deare, on behalf of the members, with a handsome gold pencil and a three-tier silver cake-stand for .Mrs. Deare. Mr. Barter warmly eulogised the valuable and unceasing labours of Mr. Deare l'or the club in tke past. It was, lie stated, largely owing tu these fine efforts that the club was so wonderfully equipped today, and through Mr. JJeare's transfer to Dunedin Carlton had indeed lost a ceaseless worker. The occasion was si. lino tribute to Mr. Deare from his late club fellows. Mr. Deare was loud in his praise of the wonderfully warm reception that lie had received at the hands of the traditionally hospitable fccots at the Dunedin Club. lie stated that it lacked nothing in comparison with Auckland. Neither did the standard of play, for that matter. Shortly after he arrived there he had the good fortune to produce good form, and it was the signal for a very warm reception. He assured the Carlton bowlers that althrough the standard of play was very high in Auckland, and especially at the Carlton Club, they would require all their efforts to withstand the onslaughts of the bowling in Dunedin. On the other hand, lie could assure his old club mates that they would receive the warmest welcome there if they happened to come that way at any time. The greens, he stated, were in line condition, and he was looking forward to meeting many of the Auckland bowlers at tlie annual Dominion tournament, which would be held there in January, next season. Saturday marked the opening of the winter season in a number of clubs, and among them Carlton, where a Dress rink was entertained. Mr. A. B. Barter, at the afternoon tea adjournment, welcomed the representatives of the three daily newspapers as guests of the club, and expressed the appreciation of all bowlers in Auckland l'or the generous space that was devoted to the sport, which, he believed, was far in excess of what was given in other parts of the Dominion. In lighter vein he stated that though the Press had much to say about the sport, they proved that day that they could play bowls,, for ho was getting a good drubbing. “We, as bowlers, have much to thank tho Press lor its inlluence on bowling.” said Mr. A. Coutts, senior vicepresident of the Carlton Club. “indeed, it is largely owing to its fair criticism that the sport is kept so clean to-day.”- lie hoped that the Press would continue wielding this influence. It would bo a thousand pities if professionalism crept into bowling. Mr. R. M. Hacket, editor of the “Herald ” thanked the speakers on behalf of the Press for their expressions of goodwill and appreciation.

Saturday was a red-letter day for the Melensville Club, for it was marked by a visit of the executive members of the Auckland Bowling Centre, when the pennant, which is the trophy for the inter-club pennant competition, was presented. The visitors arrived in good time, allowing ample opportunity for games of 25 heads to be completed. As the members of the centre were two short in making up three teams, two of the Helensville men were requisitioned to make up the deficiency. The games resulted in all losses for tho local teams, showing clearly the high playing ability of tho members of the centre executive against a club that had made such a good record against the combined clubs of Auckland. In the evening the visitors were entertained at the Star Theatre with a game of carpet bowls, which game is, incidentally, gaining in marked favour in Auckland at the present time. After this was completed a very fine supper was provided by the wives of the Helensville bowlers and the members of the croquet club, when Mr. S. Coldicutt, president of the Auckland Bowling Centre, presented tho pennant to the victorious club. A miniature pennant for the club to keep permanently, which goes with the pennant, was also presented. Congratulations were added by Messrs. Tonkin, Clarke, HardJey. Thomson and Whitten, after which Mr. J. A. Godfrey, vice-president and treasurer of the Public Service Bowling Association, presented a shield to Mr. R. Smith, which was won at the Public Service bowling tournament. Mr. Godfrey heartily congratulated the members of the team on their meritorious win.

But this was not the finish of the prize-giving, for the occasion was taken advantage of by the presence of the members of the centre executive to present the local trophies won by the members of the club, and Mr. J. M. Thomson was invited to do the honours for the occasion. One outstanding feature of this pleasing duty was to present Mr. R. Smith with a cup that lie had won on four occasions, making him eligible to retain the trophy permanently. Mr. Thomson generously offered to present the club with another silver cup to take the place of the championship cup, which had been so meritoriously won outright by Mr. Smith. Music also brightened the proceedings. and thus the close of the 1929 season was marked by one of the happiest evenings in the history of th*> Helensville Club.

Unusual interest was sustained right through to the closing stages ot aie percentage fours competition at tlie Auckland Club this season. when a number of competitors laced the final games with a remarkably equal chance of pulling off She final honours, making tho most interesting season lor me competitors that the club has for manv seasons. The total games played were 10 in all. M. Tracey won in the leads position with 65 ms. ana T. IT. Hampton was runner-up. M. >-<•

Bowls and Bowlers

“JACK HIGH.”

Ward put up a tine performance, notching the maximum number of wins in the number two’s position. He had a margin of 107 points in his favour, which is probably a record for the competition. E. Forder was runnerup. Dr. Hardie Neil pulled off the honours in the skips’ position with six wins and 42 points. He was followed closely by W. Ure with 39 points and Dr. P. Moir with 36 points, thus showing that there were only six points’ margin bet wen these pU "ers in the skips’ position at the eor / .ision of the competition. The members of the Remuera Club celebrated, last evening the win of their club member, Air. L. Russell, in the champion of champions singles competition. There was a large attendance, including visitors from other clubs and members of the Centre Executive. Mr. -T. R. Procter was in the chair, and during the evening Air. S. Coldicutt presented Air. Russell and the club with certificates of the win from the centre. A very fine programme of musical and elocutionary items was arranged and presented by Air. F. AlcCallum and included items from himself, Messrs. Eric Waters, Flood, Swan, Gillespie, Wrathall, Olsen and Sutherland. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY' The following teams have been chosen for Saturday’s bowling matches: Waitemata v. Birkenhead Foresters.— At Waitemata: Lilburn. Watson, Rogers, AlcKinstrie ; Aspden, Elston, Bilkie, Burrows ; Hubble, Jones, Williamson, Tarrant; Hulse, Browne, Hilliam, McGill; Robertson, Brennan, Wells, Fraser; R. Davies, Cadness, Hurley, D. R. Davies. Ellerslie.—Semi-finals, percentage fours : Brace well. A. C. Hill, AlcLeod, Low, v. F. Wright, H. K. McKenzie, Woodward, F. Osborne ; Cheek, G. Hunter, Joll, Watson ; Coombe. Richmond, Patterson, Dickson.