BOWLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 2

BOWLING

MASTERTON CLUB. OPENING OF SEASON. (Notes by “The Bowler.”) The members of the Masterton BowL ing Club are looking forward to Saturday next. On that day, the official opening of the club will take place, and the president and the committee extend a cordial invitation to all bowlers, and intending bowlers, to be present on that occasion, and they can be assured of a hearty welcome. The Masterton Club has been noted for its hospitality, and I feel sure that on Saturday next the gr.een will be well filled with local and other bowlers.

For some year’s past, to enable intending members to take on the game, the Masterton Club has allowed any person, who has not previously been a member of a bowling club, to join w with the club on payment of one half of the ordinary subscription for the first year. Intending members will be taken in hand by some of the old players and initiated into the game. I have frequently noticed that where there is a difficulty in inducing a person to take up the grand old game of bowls, when that person does play he becomes most enthusiastic, and expresses regret that he had not taken on the game earlier The club’s secretary will be pleased to give full particulars to all intending bowlers. The greens are in good order, and have had special attention given to them by the caretaker during the winter months. I need hardly remind members of the Masterton Club that it is customary to take along a plate of cakes for the opening day. MASTERTON RINK. TO VISIT MARTINBOROUGH. The following rink will represent the Masterton Bowling Club at the official opening of the Martinborough Bowling Club’s green for the season on Saturday:—Mills, D. Thomson, J. Hunter, A. O. Jones (s).

MAORI MEMORIES ♦ - TWO BUSH BEAUTIES. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The Nikau palm, the name of which is literally “no nuts,” an allusion to the similar appearance of the cocoa palm, is one of our unique beauties. Coming suddenly upon a group of polished stems and fanlike fronds, we may easily fancy ourselves transported to the shade of a tropical forest. The bold creepers and the many parasites are denied a foothold by the shining glassy stems. This is a distinctive feature of the Nikau, giving a clear overhead view of the Gothic arches formed by the meeting of its unique branches. Grouped beneath the base of these palms in autumn, showing up against the polished circular stems, may be seen the golden gleam of the hard berries tending to bright red as they ripen. The Kaka parrot seems to be the only feeder that can gain a foothold and gorge himself on the ripe berries while he hangs upside down. It is then that he falls a victim of the Maori, who has to hunt for his daily meal, a circumstance which contributed to his splendid physique and abiding health. The luscious heart of the Nikau stem' before its maturity, was greatly prized as food by the Maoris. The spreading lower branches with their flat flaxlike leaves were used to thatch the Maori whares. A competitor for beauty of form is the tree fern which has helped to make our New Zealand forest famous throughout the world. The best known varieties are the Mamaku which grows to a height of forty feet, and the Ponga somewhat shorter. The former has green curved fronds, the Ponga being duller and straighter. In an exposed position the stem weakens near the base. This may be remedied ■ by covering it with earth which is penetrated by fibrous roots.