BOWLING SEASON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 4

BOWLING SEASON

SOCIAL EVENING & DINNER GATHERING ON SATURDAY NIGHT. MANY VISITORS PRESENT. A most enjoyable social evening and dinner, organised by Mr H. B. Thomas, to commemorate the windingup of the bowling season was held in Masterton on Saturday evening. Among the 100 guests who taxed the seating accommodation of the Savage Club Rooms, were visiting bowlers from Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Carterton and Greytown, whilst the Masterton and Park clubs were well represented. The popular bowler, Mr H. M. Morton, ably occupied the chair, and kept proceedings moving with a swing. The first portion of the function took the form of a concert, every item being greatly appreciated. Savages Price (Chief), Kennedy, Fleming, Bilderbeck, Carstens, Hemmingsen, and Perry presented several humorous sketches, which were received with well merited applause. Songs were rendered by Messrs O. Hemmingsen. H. Hall, A. Stubbings, Connell, and Golder (Carterton), recalls being demanded of each singer. Mr Fred Davey played two saxophone numbers which were well received. The accompanists were Messrs C. Abbott and C. Mills.

An adjournment was made to the supper room, where the decorated and well-filled tables presented a gay scene. Grace was said prior to sitting down to a sumptuous repast, prominent on the menu being sucking pig, turkey, poultry, and lamb. During the dinner humorous stories and bowling experiences, and songs were contributed, and the following toasts were honoured:— The King: Proposed by the chairman, Mr Morton; “Army, Navy and Air Force”: Proposed by Mr Gordon Hughan and replied to by Pilot Officer Jack Tilley, of Levin, on behalf of the Air Force, whilst the response for the Army and Navy was in the able hands of Mr F. Price. “Visitors”: Proposed by MT Geo. Hayne, president of the Wairarapa Bowling Centre, and replied to by Mr Barr, Carterton, Mr Connolly, president of the Greytown Bowling Club, and Mr Williams, president of Eketahuna Club, who remarked that although his club was not a member of the Wairarapa Centre as yet, the friendly inter-change of visits with the Masterton Club during the season had done much to boost the membership of his club, with the result that their numbers had more than doubled this season. He stated that this function would do much to foster the friendly relationship with the Wairarapa, ’ and that at any future social gathering there would be a big invasion from the Eketahuna Club.

Apologies for absence were received from the Martinborough and Featherston clubs, the Rev. W. F. Stent, vicepresident of the Centre,' and Mr R. Wallace, president of the Park Club.

The toast of “Our Host,” Mi" H. B. Thomas, proposed by Mr H. M. Smith, was very enthusiastically honoured. In reply Mr Thomas briefly outlined the origination of the idea of holding such a function, and expressed the hope that this pioneer effort of getting together all the bowlers in the district socially would be the forerunner of an annual event, whereby the good fellowship existing between bowlers could be yet further extended and cemented. He made eulogistic reference to the loyal assistance of the band of workers who had helped him in making the function the success that it had undoubtedly proved to be. “The Entertainers” was proposed by Mr G. Malmo, and replied to by Savages Price and Kennedy, and Mr H. Hall; the “Wairarapa Bowling Centre” was proposed by Mr Connolly and replied to by Mr G. Hayne, centre president; and “Bowling Colts” was proposed by Mr A. E. Kilgour and replied to by Messrs Guthrie-Smith and G. Brown. The toast to Mr and Mrs C. Abbott and Mr and Mrs W. Thompson, who were responsible for arranging and decorating the tables, proposed by Mr Morton and endorsed by Mr Thomas, was a very popular one. The final toast, proposed by Mr Thomas and endorsed by Mr Thurston was to Mr A. Carstens, who was thanked particularly for drawing up the programme, and Mr H. M. Smith for his co-operation and assistance. It was the unanimous opinion of those present that the initiation of a bowlers' wind-up social had been an outstanding success, and with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close.