BOWLING CLUB ON DOMAIN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 21 June 1920, Page 5

BOWLING CLUB ON DOMAIN.

DEPUTATION TO BOROUGH vJGUNCILu ' A deputation from the Taihape Bowling Club, consisting of Messrs Stent, James, and Neagle waited on the Borough Council on Friday night to ascertain if the Council would grant the club a site on the Oval Domain for a howling green and croquet lawn. Cr. Cunninghame introduced the deputation. and briefly outlined the purpose they had in view. Rev. W .P. Stent prefaced his remarks by stating they were grateful to the Council for receiving them. What the deputation wanted was to find out if the Council would entertain favourably a request from the Bowling Club to allocate a site on the Oval Domain for a bowling green and croquet lawn. He held this step would be as much in the interest of the borough as of the club. The formation of a bowling green in the Oval Domain would add very materially to its attractiveness. The request was not an unusual one, us bowling greens had been formed on municipal reserves in various towns in New Zealand. The intention of the Club was to spend about £IOOO in forming two bowling greens and croquet lawns; the club would pay all costs, and the green s would be open to the town. They had come to-night to ask first of all favourable consideration of this project to enable the Bowling Club to go on with the matter further. Whether the work should be done by the Club or the Council was a matter for consideration. The club was prepared to go on with the work under Council supervision. It was practically offering the Borough £IOOO in valuable improvements. Mr James endorsed Mr Stent’s remarks. The establishment oT a. bowling green on the Oval Domain wopld be a benefit not only to the Bowling Club but to the Whole town. A bowling green would add to the value of the Domain, especially from a beautification standpoint. If their request was acceded to the Club could broaden its franchise and admit members at a much lower subscription; the old club subscription had to provide for a larger expenditure than one constructed on the Domain. He stressed the importance of a prompt decision in the face of negotiations now pending.

Mr Neagle also spoke in support of the request. One of the matters the Taihape Bowling Club had in view for year s was the establishment of Taihape as a bowling centre, and they could not do so without two greens, which they could not have on the present. site. The croquet lawns would be keenly appreciated by the ladies, for whom it would provide

some recreation. The Mayor: What part of the Domain would you suggest as being suitable for your purpose? Mr Stent: Beyond the cattle pens, 165 feet from the oval boundary going down the survey peg to the bush corner. If the general request was considered they could easily come to some arrangement that would not interfere with anything that goes on in the Domain. They were quite prepared to take such portion as would fall in with that idea. Mr James suggested the Borough Council as a whole might meet the committee of the Bowling Cluh on the spot, and the Council could decide whether to give the Club the portion selected. In answer to Cr. Reid, Mr Neagle said they wished to select a site which would not interfere with other functions. Mr Stent said it was not where the hay stacks were. Mr Neagle said that would interfere with the extension of the football grounds. Mr James pointed out that there [would be the usual Bowling Club appointments, such as, a pavilion, flower beds, paths, lawns, ,and other things which would make it. a beauty spot, and in that case they must not he lost by placing the site in an out of the way position. What the Club proposed to do wqjj going to greatly increase the beauty of the whole , grounds. The Mayor would not like to be too sanguine, but he thought they were going to get a good hearing. Mr Stent urged the expediency of coming to a prompt decision owing to certain negotiations. Cr. Cunninghame: The ground required is 50 yards by 350 yards, is it Jiot? Mr Stent: Yes, that is sufficient to put up the necessary buildings. Of course It is the absolute minimum. More ground would give them greater scope, and make the greens a greater asfet to the town. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew. The Mayor strongly Supported the (request. The Domain was .the natui*al fllace for recreation of all Kinds. He (uttered a panegyric on the ancient

game of bowls, and said it should get a site worthy of its traditions. Cr. Davies also supported the project, and put in a good word for tennis for the younger generation. He moved: That this Council favours the request of the inembers of the Bowling Club/ and if a suitable site on the Recreation Grounds can be agreed upon will grant the request.—Carried. Cr. Turnbull suggested that representatives of all the different Uu 1 sports bodies bo called together, and see what can be done to suit them all.

Crs. Davies and Reid agreed, remarking that nothing could be better than having all the sport s bodies interested on the same ground.

Cr. Turnbull moved that representatives of all other sports be asked to meet the Council at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday on the Domain and state their requirements. Seconded by the Mayor and carried.