NEW ZEALAND HAS OLDEST BOWLING CLUB

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 845, 13 December 1929, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND HAS OLDEST BOWLING CLUB

Auckland Club Was First in the Southern Hemisphere

PROMINENT CLUB OFFICIALS

j fJ’HE game of bowls, played throughout England for centuries by kings, lords and gay-clad dandies, and at numerous ale houses and taverns scattered throughout that country, was introduced into New Zealand through the Auckland Bowling Club. There it was diligently fostered. Good government of the game, and the association of an excellent class of club men gently nurtured the sport into popular favour and now the Auckland Province can proudly claim that bowling has a membership of adherents exceeding that of any other por- ; lion of the Empire in proportion to ' its population. For the formation of its greens, the promoters selected a site on the club’s

now picturesque property adjoining Grafton Road and Stanley Street. Enormous quantities of stone were carted from a distance to obtain a foundation and necessary levels. The greens were formed by Mr. John Chalmers (the experienced gardener •of the Public Domain), and opened for play in the year 1872. Many were the splendid functions that have characterised the life of the club in, its 68 years of activity. Indeed, each successive At Home was one of the bright events of the City’s social round and marked each season’s commencement of the game in Auckland. In yeays gone by, the presidents have known to issue up to 1,500 invitations to these opening days, which were largely availed of by the ladies in attendance as the first display of their spring frocks which, added to the colours of the bowlers’ blazers and their cream flannels, all set in the exceedingly picturesque background of the club’s fine property, made a glittering scene of bright animation and gay colour.

Among the present and past members, many are the names that have not only been indelibly written in the history of the game, but also in the progress of the business, social and civic life of the Queen City of the North. They include the first president, the late Mr. Thomas Macfarlane, one of the founders of the well-known firm, Henderson and Macfarlane, Ltd.; the late Mr. E. A.. Mackeclinie, well known in Auckland as a public benefactor; the late Mr. J. Winks, presi- j dent 1888. one of the founders of the I firm of Winks and Hall: the late Mr. i J. Kirkwood, president ISB7, one time \ prominent as a racing sportsman; the late Mr. W. B. Tait. president 188 S, j prominent city man: the late Mr. Hugh I Campbell, president 1899, erhinent Auckland solicitor and partner in the firm of Russell and Campbell: the late Sir Arthur Myers, president 1901-2-3-13. whose name is associated largely with Auckland and the Dominion as a statesman, business man and public benefactor: the late Mr. W. Lambert, president 1903-4, first secretary of the North Island Bowling Association: the late Mr. W. Culpan, president 1905-6 and 1922, who joined the club in 1872 and continued as a member for fifty-six years—probably creating .thereby a .record for .continuous membership for the Dominion; the late Mr. J. Mennie, president 1906-7-8, prominent business man of Auckland, being the founder of the firm Mennie and Day and who built the well-known Scots Hall, and presented the city with a handsome monument of Robert Burns now gracing the Domain; W r illiam Elliott, president 1909-10, well known business man, and donor of a substantial sum of money towards the construction of the beautifiil Winter Gardens. Mr. Joseph Thornes, president 1911, founder of the firm of Thornes’s Land Agency; Mr. J. Carlaw, president 1912, retired city

waterworks engineer and notable promoter of the League Football game in the city; Mr. R. Tudehope president 1913> prominent city councillor and father of Dr. Tudehope (England); Mr. W. E. Bush, president 1915, late City Engineer; Mr. IT. W. Wilson, president 1917, late Town Clerk of Auckland; Mr. G. B. Osmond, president 191 S, prominent City Valuer; Mr. Oliver Nicholson, president 1921, late Mayor of Mount Eden, prominent city business man, eminent solicitor after whose name Nicholson Park is called; Mr. G. W. Allsop, president 1922, former architect for the Auckland Hospital Board; Mr. S. Coldicutt, president 1923-4, also present president of the Auckland Bowling Centre, secretary of the club, prominent as a well known business man, and interested in the musical activities in the city; Mr.

W. M. Commons, president 3 925, for many years connected with the Northern Steamship, Co.. Ltd., and late manager of Wilsons Portland Cement Co., Ltd.; Mr. C. B. Plummer, well known in Auckland musical circles and prominent member of the Auckland Choral Society, Savage Club and Bohemian Orchestra; Mr. G. J. Mackay, president 1927, prominent business man; Mr. E. A. Craig, president 192829, also president of the Auckland Boxing Association, and prominent business man, being the senior partner in the firm of Ernest and Herbert Craig, Ltd.

Among the late members of the club were Sir Henry Brett, well known as one of New Zealand’s most prominent journalists, and Mr. George Main, a journalist who was the originator of the popular bowling comments in the

newspaper world; Mr. Henry Worth inton, late headmaster of the Wellesley Street School; Mr. A. Hosking, late headmaster of the Mount Eden School: Mr. J. L. Scott, late headmaster of the Parnell School; Mr. J. Frater, one of the founders of Frater Bros.; the Rev. R. Scott-West: Mr. L. Dingwall, under whose benefactions the new orphanage recently erected at Papatoetoe was opened; Mr. L. W. E. Payne, former city treasurer; Mr. J. Miller, founder of the firm of Cruickshank and Miller; Mr. Ben. Buttle, late manager of the Kaiapoi Woolen Co., Ltd.; Mr. Thos. Peacock, late chairman of the Auckland Gas Co., Ltd.; Mr. Thos. Gresham, city coroner and solicitor. Many members of the medical profession are members of the club. They include: Doctors P. Moir, J. Hardie Neil, 11. M. Goldstine, K. S. Macky, W. Gilmour. J. C. Hood, Neil McDougall, C. E. IT. Coldicutt, F. Matheson, and R. Tracy Inglis. Journalists include: R. M. Elacket, A. S. Reid, F. H. Burbush and T. Clarkson. Quite a number of musicians are members of the club. They include: Mr. Colin Muston, Mr. Fred Prime, Mr. Arthur Towsey (father of Auckland’s prominent pianist. Mr. Cyril Towsey), and Mr. A. Hegman. The Hon. J. B. Donald is a member also; Mr. Charles Arnold, prominent architect of this city, joined the club in 1878 and is still a member: Mr. E. Hinton, director of the Manual School, Newton; Mr. W. G. Wohlman, superintendent of police; Mr. A. Hammond, chief detective; and Mr. W. J. Campbell, city probation officer. Retired civil servants include: Mr. J. M. Williams, late superintendent of telegraphs; Mr. J. Duncan, former Auckland railway station-master; Messrs. H. P. Wyatt, L. W. Bourke, M. A. Benny, J. H. Waters. W. Forrest, H. G. McCrae, W. R. Fletcher, and George Rud. Prominent business men include:

Messrs. A. G. Graham. F. Wiseman, J. Newell, A. E. Odlin. H. J. Horselv, A. j. Harding. I>. Pollock. W. Matheson, C. H. Woolley, L. W. Keys. J. A. Messenger, P. J. H. Munro. Mloon, LG. Watson. C. Rawlinson. A. W. Robertshaw. R. T. Michaels, D. Harvey and J. W. Davidson. Solicitors include: Messrs. G. P. Finlay, R. L. Ziman and P. J. Scantleburv. Accountants include: Messrs. I. B. D. Esam. F. W. Mathews, M. Ward and L. C. E. liamraan. late chief accountant of the New Zealand Railways. Bank managers include: Messrs. J. W. Probert. A. F. Macky, J. P. Donald and J. H. Baxter. Civic employees include: Messrs. A.

Messer, Auckland's city treasurer; J. Tyler, acting-city engineer; S. Gray, town clerk of Mount Eden; and J. W. Carr, of St. Heliers. Messrs. Robert Darlow and C. Westphal, both general secretaries of Friendly Societies, are included in the membership; also. Mr. E. I. Lyel, manager of the Auckland Hospital; Professor M. Walker, of the Auckland University College; Mr. E. J. Moss, a prominent golf coach; Mr. L. W. Whittle, father of Mr. Harold Whittle. Melba’s famous accompanist; and the Rev. H. K. Vickery and Mr. F. J. Whittaker, of the Auckland Stock Exchange, are members, as well as many oth4*r prominent business and sional men.

Tomorrow the club is opening its new area on which a new green lias been constructed. All the fine traditions so carefully handed down through the long life of the club will be in evidence. The president, Mr. E. A. Craig, and Mrs. Craig will hold the annual At Home at 2.15 p.m.