BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1916, Page 7

BOWLING.

TARANAKI CENTRE.

The annual meeting of delegates will be held in the New Plymouth Club's pavilion on Friday next, at 11 a.m., when the following report will be presented:—

In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet your executive lias much pleasure in congratulating the Centre on the healthy state of affairs and a successful year's working. Reference to the balance-sheet will disclosz a satisfactory position, there being a credit balance of £-22 15s 9d. The total receipts for the year were £159 9s 9d. This amount is chiefly made up of receipts from the annual tournament, which total £137 18s. Annual subscriptions to the Centre were £2l Is 3d. This item is £7 Cs 3<l less than last year, but it must be remembered the levy on clubs was reduced from Is per head of membership to 9d. The Centre expenses were £l3 18s, and of this amount £0 10s <Sd was paid to the Dominion Association in the way of annual subscription. The total"expenditure amounted to £129 3s 4d, tournament expenses, accounting for £lls 5s 4d of this. A credit balance of £44 l'2s lid is shown, but from this total £2l 17s 2(1 must be deducted, it being profit from the tournament, and due to the Centre's Wounded Soldiers Fund, according to agreement. Annual Tournament—This, was held on January '25 , 26, 27, and 28, and proved a great success, both socially and financially. There were 45 entries, two less than last year. Such a large entry must be viewed with satisfaction when the times wo live in are taken into consideration. As with other sports, so with bowls; many players are at th'e front doing their duty to King and country. It is gratifying to note that our tournament is growing in popularity, outside clubs affording substantial support. Our visitors included rinks from Auckland, Wanganui, Waverley and iPatea. A Pihama rink, skipped by Mr. F. Mason, won the tournament trophies and the Taranaki Centre's champion shield. The win was popular, and a credit to our smallest club. A West End rink, skipped by Mr. C. N. Johnston, filled the position of runner-up, and this young skip was heartily congratulated on his success A good season's play is reported by the Clubs, although a lack of life was apparent in some of them; tins can be ascribed, no doubt, to the depression caused by the war. The conditions under which the Banner Matches were p'ayed also had an effect in this direction.

Banner Competitions.—These were conducted under the challenge system, and from opinions expressed by many of the clubs the new conditions were not considered at all satisfactory, and the previous nfethod is preferred. In all, ten competitions took place. West End, last year's winners, successfully withstood the first two challenges and then succumbed to New Plymouth, This club won the next six matches, some of them by a very narrow majority, and finally lost to the West End Club, who again retain the coveted trophy. The Champion Singles Tournament was held on the Stratford Club's green in April. There was a falling-off of entries this year, and only eight were receievd, West End, Waitara, Eltham, and Opunake Clubs being unrepresented. Mr. George Sutherland, Inglewood Club, proved the winner, the runner-up being Mr. Parkinson, Ilawera Club. Mr. Parkinson kindly donated a gold medal for competition.

Wounded -Soldiers Fund.—Early in the I season it was decided to institute a combined Centre fund for this purpose and it was left to each individual club to suit itself as to how money could best be raised, A substantial sum, £240, has been raised and paid into the New Plymouth Savings Bank, and the duty now rests with the delegates of deciding how the fund shall be distributed.

The thanks of the Centre are due tS the Fitzroy, New Plymouth, West End, and Stratford Clubs for the use of their greens, to the press for fully reporting all matters of bowling interest, and to the ladies who so generously assisted with the afternoon teas on several occasions during the season. The Centre's membership received one addition during the year, the Auroa Club being welcomed to our ranks