BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1922, Page 3

BOWLING.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. THE ANNUAL MEETING, The New Plymouth Bowling Club’s annual meeting was held at the pavilion last night, the president (Mr. C. H. Burgess) presiding over an attendance of over 30 members. The anual report stated:—Tho club has had a most prosperous year and the amount of work accomplished although arduous has given the greatest pleasure to your committee in carrying it out. We may with all ; confidence say that the past season has proved , the most memorable in the history of the • club, inasmuch as the pioneer work in es- : tablishing ourselves in a new home has been < consummated, and we now have a property 1 that will provide for an extended membership for many years to come. With the erection of a new pavilion, the modernising of our present tea rooms and <the erecting of permanent fences around the property, your committee’s hands have been very full. All this of course has meant a large expenditure of money, and the financial resources of the club have been somewhat taxed, but the coming years will be free from heavy expenditure. The membership of the club lias increased during the year, but with the facilities we have to offer players, and the popularity of the game in general, we must aim at an increasing membership for the coming season. CLUB’S NEW HOME. The erection of a modern building in concrete on the club's grounds has certainly added picturesqueness to the locality, and the club may be commended for erecting such an up-to-date structure. The convenience of bowlers has been studied in the fitting up of the locker room, where 150 lockers have been provided, and also a club room where the club's trophies are stored, many of which are of historic interest. This room as soon as funds are available will become revenue producing, and will provide entertainment for our members during the winter months. We are greatly indebted to our caretaker (Mr. ; W. Barnett) for the interest he has shown In the greens, and with the attention he is now giving to them, we are assured that nothing will ba wanting when summer play commences next season. The green warden (Mr. N. Johnston) has continued to take that active Interest in the greens that he has always taken, and: the enthusiasm he puts into hia work entitles him to our special thanks. Mr. S. Brookes has given the club an option to purchase his property, which property . adjoins our own, and would give us a comI plet-e 1% acres with equal frontages to ! Courtenay and Leach Street. The club should' , ■ very seriously consider the proposition and • empower the incoming committee to acquire same If suitable financial arrangements can 1 be made, as the offer of this property may never come Into our hands again on such favorable terms. Ibis section with the one at present unused and facing Courtenay Street would provide the club with an additional ten rinks or provide area sufficient for croquet club. Tliis year again the club entered an A. 1 and B. team and as a result provided play for the majority of the members of the club. This division of an A. and B. team has much to commend it; but it does not find piny for tfie whole of the club and some other method should be adopted outside the banner games to provide for an ever increasing membership. The club’s A. team was successful in winning the banner at this end. They played 14 games, winning 11 and losing 3. The B. team had 7 wins and 7 losses. The Fitzroy B. team were runners up, they having won 9 games and lost 5. In the play off for the banner, which took place at Stratford, the final game was between the Stratford Club and New Plymouth A. Team, and the Stratford team was successful In winning the coveted honors. We tender them our hearty congratulations. The Gilmour Cup, which was competed for at the same time as the banner, was won by A. team. The champion singles was won by Mr. A. K. Smart, who has been solidly on his game this season, and proved too strong for his opponents. The handicap singles was won by Mr. J. McLeod after a very exciting finish between Air. J. R. Hill and himself. The handicap pairs was won by Mr. F. Hooker (lead) and Mr. Wood (skip), who are to be congratulated on their meritorious win. The junior cup presented by Mr. J. R. Hill for beginners was won by Mr. F. Mace. The report then went on to detailed results of the season’s tournaments. The balance sheet disclosed a bank overdraft of £582 3s 3d. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, congratulated members on gathering in the new pavilion, lie referred to the successful tournaments held and the fostering of interest between th* New Plymouth club and the Taranaki clubs. Mr. Burgess analysed the balance sheet, pointing out how the overdraft had arisen and ’ntimatlng that it would probably be necessary to Increase members’ subscriptions. Regarding the coming season, he had gone into the figures, and with a membership of 120 at £3 10s each, he estimated that the club at the end of the year wotild be, roughly, £35 to the good without allowing for contingencies. Mr. Burgess thanked the comniitte for help given him during the year, which had enabled the work to be expedited. Thanks were due also to the secretary (Mr. Carter) and treasurer (Mr. Brooking). The club was carrying a good load, but there was no need to he dismayed. The members now numbered 120. and it was hoped to increase these to 150 or 160 this year. Mr. H. E. Fookes seconded. The report and balance sheet were then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. C. Carter; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. E. Washer and A. W. Webster; secretary, Mr. H. Fookes; treasurer, Mr. D. H. Thomson; committee, Messrs. C. N. Johnson, J. R. Hill, A. K. Smart, H. Dempsey, C. Potts, and W. IT. Brooking; auditor, Air. J. S. S. Aledley; green warden, Mr. C. N. Johnson; members to the centre, Messrs. A. K. Smart, C. N. Johnson and D. H. Thomson. An honorarium of £l5 15s was granted to the retiring secretary. Air. Burgess, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that members’ subscriptions be I raised -from £3 3s to £3 10s, In order to enable the receipts to equal the expenditure in the coming year. Afr. Firth seconded. The motion was amended to raise the fees to £3 15s, reducible to £3 10s If paid by the end of the year. This amount was not to include locker fee (2/6) or Insurance (6d). After a full expression of opinion from members, Mr. Dempsey moved as an amendment that the fee of £3 10s cover subscriptions, locker-fee and insurance. Mr. W. J. Honeyfield seconded this. The suggestion was made that some members would leave and join other clubs, whose subscriptions were lower, if the New Plymouth club’s subscription was raised to too high a figure. Mr. Dempsey, with the consent of his seconder, later withdrew his amendment. The motion was then put and carried. * It was decided to purchase the adjoining property offered by Mr. Brooke, provided satisfactory financial arrangements can be made prior to the expiry of the option, and the incoming committee were granted the necessary authority. The committee was empowered to give security on overdraft to the bank if necessary. Prizes were then distributed as follows: Champion singles, Air. A. K. Smart.; senior handicap, Mr. J. AlcLeod: handicap pairs, Alessrs. W. Wood and F. Hooker; Mr. J. R. Hill’s cup, Mr. F. Alace. A hearty vote of thanks to the ladies for their assistance during the year was passed ,by acclamation. I Air. A. K. Smart presented an enlargii photograph of the team which won the last Taranaki tournament. Thanks were accorded Air. Johnson for the I manner In which he had carried out his duties as green warden; to the retiring president, the retiring committee, the Press, and ,to Air. W. H. Skinner, for giving the levels of the greens. FITZROY CLUB. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The Fitzroy Bowling Club held their annua! meeting last night, in the club’s pavilion. Air. A. S. Brooker (president) presided over ' attendanae, v. <

Before proceeding with the business of the evening, the president asked the meeting tn stand for a moment in respect of the memory of Messrs. Oxenham, Canned and Simpson, ex-members of the club, who had died during the year. SEASON REVIEWED. The annual report congratulated members upon the steady progress which they have achieved during the year. The season had, in every respect, been highly successful. Financially, the year had shown a decided improvement on former years, receipts from all sources showing a decided increase. There had, however, been a. corresponding increase in expenditure. Wages, rates, bank interest, maintenance of building society shares have combined to show an increase on last year’s figures of £46 Ils. . The report proceeds: ‘‘F>r the splendid work they have accomplished, our sincere appreciation Is accorded to Mr. E. Dingle, our green warden, and his band >f willing helpers. The green and Its surroundings show to a marked extent the results they have obtained by their labor, which at a very moderate estimate has saved us an expenditure of over £4O. The club is indeed fortunate in having such willing and capable workers among its members, for without this free labor a great deal of necessary work would have had to be abandoned.” The -e--port then goes on to detail the part played by the club in various tournaments. The report proceeded: "It is with great regret that we have to announce the loss during the year of three of our best members, who were taken from among us by death. The members are all keenly conscious of the fact that in the deaths of Messrs. Oxenham, Canned and Simpson we have been the losers. To their relatives we extend our sincerest sympathy. We feel also the necessity for conveying to Mr. Avery, our caretaker, our deep regret at the death of his son, who was accidentally killed a few months ago. Mr. Avery himself at present is very ill, and we wish with all our hearts that his recovery may be speedy and effective. His work as cardtaker of the green has been capable and thoroughly efficient, and no member will regret his return to his work.” The report recorded thanks to various supporters of the club. A financial statement was Issued showing a balance of assets over liabilities of £447 17s. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. E. Dingle; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. S. Brooker, P. J. H. White, W. Healy, J. Bennett, Z. T. Walker; general committee, Messrs. W. J. Edgeworth, L. N. Fairhall, A. J. Perrott, T. Williams, and L. Hammond; selector, Mr. H. J. Price, with power to appoint an assistant selector; green warden, Mr. Z. T. Walker; secretary and treasurer, Air. W. Okey, With Mr. A. S. Brooker as his assistant; delegates to Taranaki Bowling Centre, Messrs. A. Roberts and E. Dingle; stewards, Messrs. W. Kivell, L. Walker, D. Spears, W. R. West, J. P. Harrison, T. Williams, and J. Hair; recorder, Mr. S. Rennell; auditor, Mr. F. Jackson. Hitherto the secretary has given his services voluntarily, but members felt that it would re only fitting to vote him an honorarium of £5 ss. This was agreed to. The annual subscription was fixed at £3 for the ensuing year, an increase of 10s. A resolution was also carried debarring from playing in matches any member whose subscription is in arrears on January 1, 1923. After some discussion on the subject ->f the banner matches, it was recommended that. If Workable, the delegates support the proposal that the northern division be played as a whole club, and that there be no A and B teams for the ensuing year. A sample blazer exhibited, with white braid over a black coat, was recommended to he adopted as the club’s colors. A monogram will be provided. It was proposed that it be arranged with the other clubs in the northern division to Inaugurate a champion rink competition. It was decided that the championships, both junior and senior, be played on the same principle as last year. The following new members Were elected: Messrs. Thos. Drake, H. Glendinning, S. Oliver, W. R. West. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the retiring president (Mr. A. S. Brooker) and the Press.