Lawn Tennis.

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The Wellington Shield contest has closed with six entries, and the matches start on the sth prox. Newtown plays Brougham Hill on the former club's courts, and the result should rest in favour of tho home club if its team is in any form at all. Thorndon meets Wellington on the latter's courts, and should record a win although possibly teh former club will not have its full strength in the field. Petone and Victoria College will decide their event on the Petone ground, and the College team should win. The junior or second class, and third-class contests have been extended for entries until to-day. The senior teams must play five matches at home, und surely it will be an advantage Jo have their second' teams away from home on those dates. If these contests do take place, it has been suggested that the second class should be the " Cup contest," and the third class the " pennant or flag contest. In fact that was in the mover's original motion. A cup and flag could eventually be allotted for the contests. While on club contests, and after hearing club officials contend that the members grumble at the courts being taken up tor club matches. Perhaps it will be information to some that most of the Victorian Clubs use hard courts, and very few have more than two courts; but for all that club matches in several grades are entered for. . Of course, it will be said : €l And what of those who are not in teams?" Well, they benefit their play by watching better players until 5 p.m., and then practice hard with the hope of putting some of those out that are above them. The clubs in Melbourne have unlimited membership — remember that ! The Brougham Hill challenge matches have been in full swing of late, and Amies has regained top place, beating Hunter and Gower in quick succession. There will be a big struggle amongst the players at the tail end of teams to retain their places, and it is quite probable that some new blood will be seen in the second team, at any rate. Khandallah will have a real good team in the field this year. Holdsworth will be a decided help once he has managed to put good length on his drives. Miss Fleming will strengthen the ladies' team, and possibly also Miss Page. Patterson has also joined the club ; but his services will not be available for all the season. Green, late of Newtown, will be playing for Wellington this season, and should go very near the first team. The latter club will have a strong team, but it is a question if it will be form for the opening match. Thorndon will not be too strong in its ladies' division, and it is there that the other clubs have their chance; therefore Thorndon should leave no stone unturned re practice for the ladies in singles and doubles and combined doubles, for to win those means six rubbers, and it only wants one more to secure tho match. Mr. Rysaght, a Victorian player who has been transferred here for some months, will probably play for Thorndon Club, although in reality he is a hard court player. It almost seems a pity that some of the other clubs had not been fortunate enough to secure his services, as then the contests against Thorndon would have been made a little more even. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association has called a special general meeting, when important matters will be laid before the Council. The Hon. Secretary has been notibed that Mr. W. R. Holmes, the President of the Auckland Asfcociation, will be in this city, and will attend the meeting. The Auckland Association haa applied for permision to hold an open championship and handicap tournament, on the 31st iJecember, and on the Monday and Tuesday following. Mr. Barry Keesing, who did so much to make the New Zealand meeting a success at Napier, appears on the list of committeemen appointed to make arrangements for the tournament. The Otago Association opened the season last Saturday, and the enthusiasm shown speaks well for a successful year, and more so for the good entries for the New Zealand championship meeting th^e at Christmas. The t»ame has not been bo popular in Dunedin for years as it/ is at the present time. The Auckland Association has secured in Mr. Alan Brown a real live Secretary, and already he has given the sport a shake up. The delegates have decided to give the public school championships their hearty support. The inter-club doubles have been revived, and the, sport all round will be placed in the position it used to enjoy. Has it eve? occurred to the Wellington Association that Newtown Park is an ideal spot for lawn tennis, and that ten to twelve courts could be laid down there with very little trouble? If other sports can secure the right to use the grounds, why not lawn tennis?, At a tournament held at Ventnor, where the championships of the Isle of y/iffht were competed for. championship-,

-evento were provided for boys' and girls' singles aad double*. This is not an uncommon occurrence, as the authorities in. England have long since taken to picking out the likely youngsters in the hope of malang them champions. At the meeting in question Viscountess Horncastle was beaten B—6,8 — 6, 6—o6 — 0 in the second round by the ultimate champion — Miss Johnson— for the championship. A. F. Wilding won the North Cumberland ■ championship — Edenside Tourna/ ment — at Carlisle from 37 competitors, beating G. C. Glenny 6—o, 6—2, 6—3, in the final. In doubles Glenny and Rea beat Wilding and Ferguson in the final, 7—6, 6—3, 6—2. Welding and Miss Ferguson won combined doubles from 38 competitors; in fact, they did not lose more than three games in any one of the sets played through the six rounds. Wilding, owing 40, got to the third round of handicap singles.