Club History - the new Green

The purchase of a new area was becoming urgent. In June, 1916 a sinking fund had been formed as a first step. It consisted of 10 shares in the Permanent Building Society. In March, 1917, we find in the minutes the first mention of the area which is now the site of our greens.

Thomas Cawthron had died and his extensive property was being disposed of according to his will. He lived in the house at 25 Examiner Street which is now the Lynton Lodge Motel, and owned the area on which our greens are now situated. It was mainly waste land with some large trees, although the lower part was used to run the horses from Harley's Brewery situated on the site of the Rutherford Hotel. It was reported that this land had been left to a Mrs. Wright and a member of the Committee was asked to wait upon Mr. William Rout, Secretary of the Cawthron Trustees, with a view to acquiring the ground.

Wm. Rout was a respected member of the Bowling Club, having been made a life member in 1910. It was found that the freehold had not been made over to Mrs. Wright and the matter was shelved for several years. In fact, at a Committee meeting in July 1920, it was reported that the portion of the Cawthron Estate near Church Hill was NOT available for a green.

Meanwhile, many possible sites were considered and for various reasons found unsuitable:

(a) May 1917.
Mr. Henry Baigent favoured the site of the old Alexandra Home opposite Pettit's Store in Waimea Street. Waimea Street is now called Rutherford Street. This area would be on the east side between Examiner and Bronte Streets. Mr Baigent continued to push for this site, and it was mentioned again in May 1918, and in September 1919 a plan of the area was submitted. However in July 1921 when he had seen the plan for the present site, Mr. Baigent said that he was impressed and would give his hearty support.

(b) March 1918.
An area in rear of G.F. Hingston's in Hardy Street was offered for sale by Mr. Langley Bell. This was turned down at once.

(c) June 1920.
Mr. C. Leaper suggested a piece of vicarage property which would provide another 4 rinks. They asked for an extension of the lease for another 10 years, but both requests were turned down by the Diocesan Trust Board.

(d) June 1920.
Mr Best stated that Mr. Snow would sell his section in Alma Lane with house for £500, Mrs Eves a section for £120 and Mr. Rothwell a section with house for £500. The total area was 119 feet by 132 feet.

There was a property adjoining, formerly owned by Mr. Bruzewitz with a large photographic studio, now owned by Mr. Baigent of the Masonic Hotel who would sell for £1,500. There were two unrelated Baigents. The proprietor of the Masonic Hotel was not the Henry Baigent previously mentioned who was a sawmiller. The area described here was probably a part of what is now the Buxton Car Park.

A week later when the prices quoted above were confirmed and, as mentioned earlier, there seemed no hope of obtaining the Cawthron property, the Committee and Mr. Littlejohn went to inspect Alma Lane.

J.G. Littlejohn's advice and planning ability were freely given during the acquisition and preparation of the present site. He was Nelson City Engineer from 1912 to 1939, and prior to that had been engineer to the Waimea County Council. He was Secretary of the Nelson Bowling Club 1908-1909 and remained a member for many years.

He was not present at the meeting on 21st July, 1920, but reported:

(i) The present club buildings could be removed, they having been built for that purpose.
(ii) In the event of the purchase of a new ground, he would inspect and submit a scheme for drainage.

(e) July 1920.
At the same meeting Mr. George Hogg gave an estimated cost of £3,875 to establish a green in Alma Lane. He had under notice a site bounded by Bridge Street, Harley Street and Provincial Lane (i.e., on the north side of Bridge Street) at a possible cost of £3,725. It was decided that the Alma Lane site be abandoned and Mr. Hogg endeavour to procure options on the site by Provincial Lane. However on 21 September 1920, Mr Hogg reported that a person had acquired three of the cottages in Harley Street and the price of them had now been trebled. Apparently somebody was looking for a quick profit. No further action was taken.

(f) November 1920.
On 29 November, 1920, Mr. R. B. Jackson attended a Committee meeting. He was a past President of the Club (1903-1904) and lived in Examiner Street. He now offered to sell "the ground situated near the Church Hill and formerly the property of the late Thos. Cawthron", for £1,500. A Sub-Committee was appointed to consider finance and Mr. Littlejohn was asked to make a report. However, at the Annual General Meeting on 1st June, 1921, it was reported that many sites had been considered but no decisions made.

Three weeks later there were definite steps forward. At a Committee meeting on 24 June, 1921, the Secretary read a letter from Mr. R.B. Jackson offering the ground for £1,400; Mr. T. Rigg (later Sir Theodore) of the Cawthron Institute had reported favourably and Mr. Littlejohn had prepared a plan with approximate costs. (These letters were attached to the minutes but they are not there now. Marks in the minute book show evidence of research for the 50th anniversary in 1938. No written history at that time has been discovered).

Within a few days the estimated costs had been reduced to £3,010. Mr. Jackson had agreed to let the £1,400 for the land to remain as a mortgage at 6%. Mr. Wilkinson reported that debentures had been taken up by members for £1,032.

A special General Meeting was called for on 27th July, 1921, at the Institute (now the Library). Sixty members attended and the following motion was proposed by two old and respected past Presidents William Rout and William Moyes.

"That the Club acquire the property offered by Mr. R. B. Jackson facing Examiner Street for £1,400. The money to remain at mortgage at 6% for 5 years with no restriction as to building".

There were only 6 dissenting votes. At the same meeting it was decided to register the Club in the name of "The Nelson Bowling Club Incorporated". A vote of thanks was also accorded to the Diocesan Trust Board for its agreement to relinquish all rights to buildings on the old green.

A new Green Construction Committee met in August. It consisted of H.J. Savage (Club President), C. Leaper (Vice-President), Gould, Haldane, Hogg, Moore, Coltman, Baigent and the Secretary (Bob Stiles) and to this number were added Wilkinson, Menzies, Rix-Trott, Wicks and Littlejohn. As this was a very unwieldy body, a working committee was appointed (Moore, Wilkinson and W.J. Shand-Smith.

It is difficult at this distance to allot credit to those who actually did the work. Certainly a great deal was done by Mr. Wilkinson. He lived in Examiner Street, opposite the green, and spent endless time planting shrubs etc. Mr. Littlejohn, the City Engineer, was of course of great assistance. he drew plans, arranged specifications and supervised the work of contractors appointed to do the major tasks and he was the one to obtain the cooperation of the City Council when it was required.

Human nature being what it is, it was inevitable that both of these gentlemen were criticised. Mr. Wilkinson who had also been very active collecting debentures promised, and starting a system of members giving one shilling a week to help pay for work on the green, wrote a letter to the Committee complaining that he was "boycotted" when teams were made up on an ordinary afternoon.

On another occasion at a Committee meeting a member "asked as to whether Mr. Littlejohn had to be adhered to and in reply it was stated that Mr. Littlejohn's plans had been adopted as a working basis, Mr Littlejohn himself being quite prepared to accept any modification as the Committee deemed necessary".

At the Annual General Meeting on 21 June, 1922, when the new green was taking shape, the Secretary (Mr. Stiles) moved that Mr. Littlejohn be added permanently to the General Committee. This was seconded by Mr. Wilkinson and carried. Then Mr. Jackson moved a special vote of thanks to Mr. Wilkinson for his valuable services on the green. This was seconded by Mr. Littlejohn and carried amidst applause.

Let us return to 1921 and follow the steps taken to establish the green.

Tenders were called for the main excavation and the following were received:

Atkins (Motueka)
Burt (Nelson)
Ruffell and Kinzett (Nelson)

£249
£359
£550

On 1st October, 1921 the tender of Atkins was accepted, but in January he asked for £115 to cover his loss on the contract. It was decided to grant "a bonus of £60" provided the work was completed to the satisfaction of Mr. Littlejohn.

On 8 July, 1922, the Committee met on the new green. Mr Littlejohn explained what was required to keep up the southern bank: a concrete wall, built up in parts with stonework. It was estimated that 3 tons of cement and 20 loads of gravel were needed. Mr. Wilkinson offered with a working party to put up the necessary boxing. Next they moved to the eastern entrance where the proposed pathway leading from the gate to the top green was mapped out, and the grading down to the lower green.

On 12th July 1922, a letter was received from Nelson City Council agreeing:

(a)	To widen the footpath on the eastern side of green by 30 feet (9 meters). (Note: Prior to that time only walkway connected Church Street with Trafalgar Street South).
(b)	To widen the road on the western side (Examiner Street?) by two or three feet (1 meter)
(c)	To widen the end of Church Street sufficiently to provide a turning place for cars. This was full co-operation from the Council indeed!

It seems that the planners visualised the main entrance to be at the eastern side. As early as May, 1922, there is mention in the minutes of "the proposed gate at the eastern side to be presented by the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co." Mr. W. Rogers, Manager of the Anchor Company, was a member of the Club. The remains of a quite imposing entrance are still visible on the eastern side but the gate has been transferred to the northern entrance, where it stood alone until the board fence was erected in the winter of 1972 under the supervision of Mr. P Vining who donated most of the material.

At every Committee meeting in 1922, and 1923, there was discussion of ways and means of financing the new green. Mr. Wilkinson was always busy with debentures; an overdraft of £400 was arranged with the Bank of New Zealand; Mr. Claughton, the City Organist, arranged an operetta which realized a nett profit of £58 19s 3d.

The entertainment, given in October, 1922, consisted of Trial by Jury and the Japanese Girl; tickets cost 3 shillings and 2 shillings; special thanks were voted to Messrs. H.S. Claughton, Mr. C Thorp and Mrs. Moynihan; a sub committee had been appointed to provide bouquets for the ladies.

It was decided on 10th November, 1922, on the motion of the Secretary (Mr Stiles) "that a tournament be held at Easter in aid of Club funds and that the sister Clubs in Nelson and district be requested to allow the use of their greens for same if necessary". This Easter Tournament "under the auspices of the Nelson Bowling Club" was held 30th and 31st March and 1st April 1923, and a profit of nearly £20 was declared.

The greens used were Nelson (new), only the top green was fit for play. Nelson (old), Maitai and Wakefield. The finals were played on the Nelson Green, Selwyn Place on the Tuesday 2nd April.

The teams entered were from a very wide field. Richmond (2), Westport (1), Carterton (1), Greymouth (2), Linwood Christchurch (2), Victoria Wellington (3), Thorndon Wellington (2), Canterbury (1), Wakefield (3) United Christchurch (1), Maitai (9), Nelson (9), Wellington (1), Motueka (2), Hawera (1), Palmerston North (1), Pahiatua (1), Takaka (1), Picton (3), Haitaitai (1), Shannon (1), Karori (1), Blenheim (1), Eastbourne (1).

Another team must have been found as 52 teams played.

It rained heavily on that Easter Saturday, with the result that some of the activities were curtailed. It had been planned to hold an electric light tournament on the evening of Saturday and Monday. Mr. W. Richards, one of Nelson's earliest electricians, and a member of the club, had provided the wiring etc, and Mr. Littlejohn had obtained the use of the Council steam roller to drive the dynamo. However, it was all postponed, although many electric light games were held in later years.

It was also planned to hold a closing day on the old green when teams picked by past presidents would play, but this also was cancelled because of rain.

The Annual Report of June, 1923, written by R.W. (Bob) Stiles says "after over 35 years or 36 seasons, we find the old green reduced to matchwood, its much prized trees cut down, and the removal of the turn a scene of desolation. The Club, in its early stages, had its trials, but it had men strong enough to overcome them. There were only a small handful and it is regretted that with one exception, Mr. S. Kirkpatrick - all have joined the great majority. We look upon the old green with nothing but pleasant recollections of best friendships made in a lifetime. Now we find the Club engaged in an enterprise second to none among the bowling clubs of New Zealand to providing two greens which, with the surroundings, are said to be the best in Australasia".