Click photo to enlarge
The Ruru laying well out during a race at the Broad Bay
regatta on New Year's Day. - Otago Witness, 19.1.1910.
The principal event of general public interest this week
in Dunedin will be the New Zealand Bowling Association's annual
tournament.
If the number of entries that are received is an important
contributor to the success of such meeting, this particular
tournament should surpass all its predecessors.
The greater the number of competitors, however, the greater
is, of course, the need for energy and foresight on the part
of those whose onerous task it is to make all arrangements
for the play and its control.
The hold which the historic game of bowls has now obtained in
the Dominion is apparent to the most superficial observer.
In the larger centres of population pretty well every suburb,
even though it lacks drainage reticulation or an artificial
water supply, has its bowling green - its alluring little
enclosure of velvet sward where the game holds undisputed
sway till sundown on the long summer evenings.
On the weekly half-holiday in a town such as Dunedin hundreds
of citizens may regularly be seen finding their recreation on
the grounds of the various bowling clubs, and all classes in
the community are represented among them, for bowls is not
without some reason called the most democratic, as well as
the most sociable, of games.
Nor are its devotees quite idly termed a fraternity.
The Northern Bowling Association's tournament held at
Wellington last week and the tournament which begins at
Dunedin today illustrate well the scale upon which the
enthusiasm of players is catered for in this country.
• Dr Hocken, who has been in ill health for a considerable
time, left for Melbourne by the Marama yesterday, accompanied
by Mrs Hocken.
The visit, which will be only a short one, is taken in the
hope that the sea voyage to Melbourne and back will have a
beneficial effect.
Notwithstanding his illness, Dr Hocken has, under great
difficulties, devoted every spare moment to work in
connection with the preparation of the books and pictures
which will form the library that is to bear his name.
He has had a great deal of binding done lately, and has had
framed a large number of pictures, lithographs etc.
To the latter he has had affixed explanatory notes, written
by himself, which will add largely to the interest taken in
the pictures.
We trust that he will return greatly benefited by the sea
trip which he has taken. - ODT, 17.1.1910.
