A UNIQUE CEREMONY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 217, 13 March 1914, Page 4

A UNIQUE CEREMONY.

AN OLD BOWLER HONORED. A unique and interesting ceremony took place at the New Plymouth Bowing Club's green yesterday, when togenarian member, Mr. John RawlingST was presented by his fellow members with a silver cradle to mark the occasion of a son being born to him. *[ r - W. Pi'nn, president of the Club, made the presentation. He referred to the pood fellowship always existing between Mr. Rawlings and his fellow members, who could not allow such an occasion to pass without showing their appreciation of him as a bowler and a man. He only voiced the feelings of nil members when he hoped that the son whose birth they wished to mark would turn out as good a bowler and •' man as his father, \yho, they trusted, would be spared for a long time vet to grace the greens. (Applause). Mr. T>. Cock having made a few characteristically humorous remarks, three cheers w, re called by the president for Mr. Riwlings, and one for the son and ,• I'. 5 *' 3, and lustily given. Mr. Rawlings, who was taken bv surprise, briefly responded The cradle, which of hjindsome design and skilled workmanship, bears the following inscription:—"Presented to • olir, lings. Ksq„ by members of the New Plymouth Bowling Club, on a son being born to him in his 83rd year. Feb- !■>. H'l4. Tis never too late to ■eii." was born in Ihe year iwu. in London, Knglnnd, where his fa; ther was an architect and builder. He was .educated at East Islington Commercial School. find articled to the profession of an architect. Close confine- ; ment was distasteful to him, and he"H ran away t° sea as a South Sea whaler. In 1854 he came ,o New Zealand as ft 5 steward on the ship Lady Ebrington. and left her to start farming in Nelson, Where he also carried on business as ft ' timber merchant. Sixteen years later he sold out and went to Wanganui, where for six years he was proprietor of St. Johns Hotel, and afterwards he engaged in shecpfarming at Woodlands, Wanganm. for about ten years. He then removed to New Plymouth, and soon after began farming at Otffe, subsequently retiring to New Plymouth. J, n J.*™ , Mr - Rawlings first married, th i f °« r r dau « hte > was married to '<L te Mr Lewis C. Noble, who mi W°v C r, ' n v the Union SS ' lost his life when on a trip to Australia, the ship foundering with all hands. Mr. Rawlings married again some eighteen months ago, Mr. Rawlings is in fait possession of his mental and physical Powers, and as a lead at bowling has few equals and no superiors. A more popular bowler the New Plymouth Clal> l does not possess.'