The spacious pavilion and the walls surrounding the green were gaily decorated with liberty muslin in the club's colours, blue and gold, with a crown and ''G.R.'' inscribed there-on.
On the eastern wall, conspicuously displayed, were painted screens bearing the words ''As the years go past may friendship last,'' and ''Should auld acquaintance be forgot'', while on the northern wall was another decorated screen with the words, ''Welcome to our Green''.
The occasion was a gathering of elderly bowlers over 65 years of age.
Many were veteran bowlers, while others were comparatively young at the game.
Representatives were present, and took part in the game, from every club in the Dunedin Centre, also from Milton, Lawrence, Palmerston, and Wellington.
Twelve rinks one each side took part, or in all 96 players.
The visitors having arrived on time they were welcomed by Mr W. Emery, president of the Dunedin Club.
A rink of veterans who were at the gold rush at Gabriel's Gully, with an aggregate of 308 years, comprised of Messrs Wm. Henderson (Otago), McHattie (Lawrence), S. N. Brown (Balmacewen), and John White (Dunedin), was drawn to play the veterans who had resided in Green Island district for over 50 years, Messrs J. Mason, D. McDonald, C. Samson, and John Blair, with an aggregate of 306 years.
The playing of these veterans was keenly watched, the game being an evenly and closely contested one.
Mr James Barr, of the St. Kilda Club, was the oldest native of Dunedin taking part, having been born at Little Paisley (now portion of the southern cemetery) in 1849.
Mr William Watson, of the Outram Club, was the longest resident in the province, having arrived in the Philip Laing in 1848, and Mr H. C. Foster, of the Dunedin Club, made a good second, having arrived by the barque Mary in April, 1849.
Mr George Capstick, the representative of Caledonian Club, was the first secretary and one of the promoters of the New Zealand Bowling Association.
Mr F. Bastings, of Milton Bowling Club (the second club formed in the province) and Mr Thos. Moodie, one of the first secretaries of the Dunedin Club, were also amongst the players.
The aggregate ages of the 96 players totalled 6700 years, almost an average of 70 years.
Forty-seven of the players were over 70 years of age, six being in their 79th year, and five over 80, two of whom were in their 89th year.
• The passengers leaving Greymouth for Christchurch on Friday were unable to get over Arthur's Pass (says the Star).
A small slip occurred about half-way up the gorge, at a place near where the recent heavy slips occurred.
The coaches, however, successfully negotiated the slip, but further on it was discovered that Peg-Leg Creek was a raging torrent, and highly dangerous to attempt to cross, so the coaches returned to Otira.
The passengers had a rather uncomfortable drive, for it rained very heavily all the way, and many were wet to their nethermost garments.
A number remained at Otira for the night, whilst some returned to Greymouth and left again on Saturday morning.
Likewise, the passengers from east to west were stuck up on the other side of the range. - ODT, 1.2.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
