TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 8

TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

VALUE OF THE TOUR

RAISING STANDARD OF TENNIS

The British lawn tennis team was entertained by the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association at a dinner at the Grand Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr. E. Hickson, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, proposed the health of the Lawn Tennis Association, coupled with the name of Mr. H. A. Sabelli, manager of the British team, who had been secretary of the L.T.A. for 17 years. (Applause.) Mr. Hickson was glad to say that New Zealand supported the L.T.A. in every possible way. Soon, Mr. Sabelli would visit Rotorua, where he would meet representatives of the Maori Lawn Tennis Association, which was affiliated with the New Zealand Association. " This is the first British lawn tennis team to visit New Zealand," said Mr. Hickson. "We have had various players, but never a representative team. We hope that this visit will be the forerunner of many more such visits. They have provided us with great tennis, and I feel sure that the experience they gain in the course of their tour will be most valuable." (Applause.) Mr. H. A. Sabelli, manager of the British team, made a happy after-dinner speech, full of humorous references to incidents of the day. He mentioned the good feeling which had always existed between British players and those of the overseas dominions. The international association did valuable work. New Zealand's loyal support was highly valued. Mr. Woodman was a line representative of New Zealand. He was not a man who said much, but he did a great deal of work, and he looked "fter all New Zealanders who visited Great Britain. Mr. Sabelli mentioned that lie had received a telegram from Mr. Rangi Royal, of Rotorua, containing the warning "Beware lest the kauri should overwhelm the oak!" Judging by Saturday afternoon's play, the kauri wa3 a pretty fierce bird—or whatever it might be! — (loud laughter)—and the visitors were in some trepidation as to the outcome of Monday's matches. "It is not merely after-dinner guff when I tell you that, we shall leave Auckland and New Zealand with very sincere regret," concluded Mr. Sabelli. " We have looked forward to the visit of this British team with the utmost pleasure," said Mr. E. L. Bartleet, captain of the Dominion team. "In the fii st place, we longed to meet them by reason of their fame; and secondly, because they were good British stuff, Like all British-goods, they are up to standard. (Applause.) It has been a pleasure to be beaten by such good British stuff. (Renewed applause.) May I say we have enjoyed playing against them quite as much as the public enjoyed the really first-class tennis which they provided."" Dr. J. C. Gregory, captain of the British team, convulsed the party with a number of topical jokes of a character that could be fully appreciated only by those familiar with the incidents of 4hc afternoon. " The rain—well, it makes us feel at home," he said. "And, talking of home, it is fine to hear you New Zea° landers speaking of England as ' Home.' To us, of course, it is Home, but we should have thought that to you, New Zealand would be 'Home.' It is a wonderful idea, this habit of yours. may it continue." c The visitors were afterwards entertained at Dixieland Cabaret, among the party being several prominent °lady players. A visit was paid to the Titirangi Golf Club yesterday. At the conclusion of play to-day, 'the team will leave for Rotorua.