214
KOWLOON BOWLING CLUB.
OPENING OF NEW GREENS. Lovely weather favoured the function on the 31st ult. of the opening by H.E. the Governor of the new greens in Austin Road of the Kowloon Bowling Green Club. Decorated on all sides with flags, and presenting, in the numerous attendance of prettily attired ladies and more soberly dressed members of the other sex, an appearance at once animated and striking, the greens wore quite a carnival aspect — an impression that was heightened by the excellent performances later on in the day of the band of the 22nd Bombay Infantry.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(September 9, 1901.
tooedingly
VICTORIA RECREATION CLUB AQUATIC SPORTS.
FIRST DAY.
f ladies in the past have been very good in providy A vote of thanks to the President of the Chaỡ,
ing teas and in other ways looking after the Mr. Rammy, brought to a clove an comfort of the members of the Club. Up to the pleasant afternOOK. present they have had no special recreátión provided for them, and I now mak your Excel. lency to give the Club s site close to the bowling green where we can construct a tennis court upon which the ladies of Hongkong and Kowloon could play. We only ask for the ground on the same terms as those attaching to the bowling green, and I am sure the ladies and the members of the Club will be grateful if such a conces sion were made to us. We will lay out the tennis court in approved fashion, and I feel confident the ladies will take full advantage of it. I have now much pleasure in asking your Excellency to be good enough to declare the greens open. (Applause.)
Recreation Club opened at Kowloon on the 5th The annual aquatic sports of the Victoria inst. in pleasant, if somewhat cloudy, weather. At the commencement there was not a large concourse of spéctators, but after business hours on the Island a big audience watched the various events with much interest. Some very good struggles were seen, especially in the Four Lengths Race for the Army, Navy and Police. Altogether the day's sport was most excellent; The following were the results :---
OF THE COLONY.
1. 4.30 p.m.-HALF-MILY CHAMPIONSHIP prise presented by Hòn. J. J. Böll-Irving. 2nd Open to all-comers. lät prixe presented.
1. A. A. Alves 2. N. H. Álves
The Kowloon Bowling Club is not an old institution. It started in Hongkong about a year ago with but a few members. A green was taken in Observatory Road; but the ground In replying, His EXCELLENCY thanked Mr. was in many ways unsuitable, and after a time Ramsay and the Committee of the Club for the the Government was approached with a view invitation that had brought him there, and to leasing to the Club a piece of ground that after congratulating the members of the could be more readily adapted to the pursuit Bowling Club on the way in which they of the game. The result of these overtures was had piloted the entire scheme to su admirable the concession to the Club of the site upon success, commented favourably on the condition which now stand the greens formally opened of the greens. Referring to the point raised to play on Saturday, Originally a swamp, the by Mr. Ramsay in reference to the lease, His
3. J. M. Rosa Pereira ground has been converted into an expanse of Excellency said he was well aware of the cir From the start the Alves family took a good frm and comparatively smooth turf, and the cumstances under which the ground had been lead: Rounding the mark-boat, the relative "condition of the greens, though not yet persoquired, and he quite understood the anxiety positions were hard to judge, and, thể tlde fect, is a high tribute to the energy that has on the part of those connected with the Club running strongly made the aspect of the race been displayed by the promoters of the Club. that the lease should be for a longer time deceptive. Coming in, A. A. Álvee was going Time and usage will go to complete the work The idea of the Government, he said, was, and well, followed by his brother N. H., while so commendably begun, and, as Mr. W. Bam.hind been for some time, to make the ground A: E. 8. Alved was passed by Rosa Perbifa. say, the genial President, said in his address to on which the greens were situated a public The winners finished in the above order, the rest H. E: the Governor, bring the greens as near park, because everyone realised that in the being nowhere. Nine entered of the 14′ com. the state of perfection of home greens as is pos- future Kowloon would probably become the petitors on the card. sible under different climatic conditions. With principal part of the Colony of Hong- the possible formation of other clubs in the Long. That being so, now in his opinion future, and the playing off of matches, tourns was the time to acquire some open spaces, and ments, and so on, quite au important and popular if that particular piece of land were made a item will be added to the list of sports in the public park he did not think it could be put to Colony
The Kowloon Bowling Green Club has now a membership of over 100. The President is Mr. W. Ramsay; vice-President, Mr. W. C. Jack; Secretary, Mr. J. Gault; and Treasurer, Mr. A. Ritchie. The Committee consists of Mesars. Wilks, Henderson, Ewens, and Reid. The new green is thirty yards each way.
H.E. the Governor, accompanied by his aid-de-camp, Lieut. A. Blake, arrived promptly, and the ceremony of formally opening the greens was proceeded with.
Addressing the Governor, Mr. RAMBAY said -Your Excellency, on behalf of the members of this Club, I have much pleasure in welcom- ing you here to-day to declare our new bowling greens open to play. Knowing the great in- terest your Excellency takes in all forms of healthy recreation and your desire to help forward every movement that tends to the wef fare of the community, our Committee were un- animous in their desire that you should perform the opening ceremony to-day. As your Excel- lency is doubtless aware, the Kowloon Bowling Green Club was formed last year. Already it has a membership of over 100, and as bowling- the royal and ancient game of bowling-provides a form of healthy outdoor recreation for some of us who cannot well indulge in more violent exercises, we have no doubt this Club-and, we hope, rival Clubs - will become more popular still with the European residents of this Colony. The need of a ground of its own was early apparent to the Club, and we have to thank your Excellency for só readily acceding to our request to lease the site on which we are now located. The swamp which formerly marked this place has been replaced by beautiful_tarf, and we hope in time to bring our greens as near the state of perfection of home greens as is| possible under different climatic conditions. Unfortunately, we hold our site under three years' lease only, one year of which is already expired; but I think we can express the con- fident hope that your Excellency will see your way to grant us a longer lease, the more so when consideration is given to the expenditure incurred and the benefit this Club is likely to confer upon a very large "section" of the Kowloon community. There is another matter which I should like to mention to your Excellency. When the ides of forming a Bowling Club v matured, and everything in progress tówar
ita completion, the question arongsCan
rovide some form of outdoor recreation for the ladies? (Applause) The
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Open to competitors over 35 years of age. 1st 2 5.00 pm-Two Lunetas (HANDICAP). and 2nd prize presented:
1. A: M. Bota Poraira (“Go ") 2. M. Molver (ówès 17 iec.) Won easily; 3 entered.
3. 5.15 p.m.-PLUNGING.—Two prizes.
1. A. Humphreys 2. A. Loureiró
First Heat.
1. F. D. Bain (owes-3 sec:)
2. N. H. Alves (owen118 sec ) ⋅
A popular and well deserved victory. Alves made a gallant attempt to reduce the visitor's start.
.:
1. Borgt Major A. J. Wiseman, RAMU. 2. Pte. W. Böberts,
better use than that of affording such all admirable recreation as was to be found in the fine old game of bowls. (Applause) Mr. Ramsay had.spoken somewhat deprecatingly of the game, possibly because no space would be! found for other games; but the game that was Two prizes presented. First and second in each 4. 5.30 p.m.-FOUR LENGTHS HANDICAP. good enough for Sir Francis Drake was good | heat to swim in the final: enough for the men of Hongkong or Kowloon, (Applause.) His Excellency thought it a fine game, and a game which everyone, young and old, could enjoy. As to the other portion of land that was required for a tennis court, if the land was Crown property His Excellency would | have no objection whatever to giving it to the Club terms such as attached to the and Polide). Non-Members. Two prizes***-
5. 5.45 p.m.--FOUR LENGTHS (Army, Navy ground leased by the Bowling Club. (Renewed applause.) He should be very pleased indeed to know that the ladies of Hongkong and Kowloon had some place where they could play tennis. Reverting to the matter of the lease for the bowling green, His Excellency said that although it was only a three years' lease, the members of the Club must remember that it could go on in that way year after year, and he thought they could feel perfectly satisfied that they would not be disturbed. The Government he was quite sure, would never dream of dis- turbing the inhabitants of Kowloon in the enjoyment of so pleasant a recreation as was afforded by the bowling greens. His Excellency concluded by expressing his thanks for the honour conferred upon him of opening the greens to play, and again congratulated the Club most heartily on the success attending its work. (Applause.)
+4
There being ten compétitors, two houtá - swum, the four leaders competing in the finki, after the conclusión of the next event. The race was a very fine one,~all four' men being“ close together.
w
prizes presented. First in each hent to swim 6. 6 p.m.-Two Lengths (HandICAP), ~2 in the final.
First Heat. 1. N. H. Alves (ówds 12 sec) Second Hest
1. H. A. Lammert (owes 11 seo.)
Third Hunt.
1. A. E. 8: Alves (owes 15 sec.) Fourth: Heat.”
1. C. M. 83 Alves (owen 10 sóc.)
BECOND DAY.
Mr. RAMSAY then presented to His Excellency, The second day's -programme was again as a memento of the occasion, a silver jack bear-favoured with good weather, though, as on the ing the inscription: - Kowloon Bowling Club. first day, it looked rather cloudy. Theʻatten- opened by His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake, | dance of spectators was also equally as good, G.C.M.G., August 31st, 19 1.".
(ferent events. HäE, the Governor and the and everyone manifested keen interbal in the dif- Hon. J. H. Stewart-Lockhart were and waited till the mini,
The following aří 1. 4.80 p.m.
After the success of the Club had baen toasted in champagne, His Excellency threw the silver jack and played the ball that opened the greens to play. He afterwards took part in a two-head game, the other gentlemen forming the rink being Lieut. A. Blake, and Mesurs. Rammy, Jack, Gault | COLONY, 200 Toucher, Wilks, and Ritchie. The ordinary | comers. games between members and their friends there- E after provveded. His Excellency and his aide- de-camp left for Hongkong soon after.
2nd' prise
1 NH
Time
2. A. A. Alvid 3. A E. SAÏyö
In the course of the afternoon - Mr. RAMBAY proposed a vote of thanks to the following lakew for their kindnom in providing tes and ios- cream Mr. Wilks, Mrs. Belsen, Mrs. Hander- J. M. Hors son, Mrs. Gault, Mrs. Jack, Mrs. Lambert, Alves, A, A Mim Paterson, and Miss Shaw.
·got off