Tauranga Croquet Club

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12485, 20 October 1938, Page 1

Tauranga Croquet Club

The afternoon was perfect for the official opening of the Tauranga Croquet Club which took place yesterday afternoon. The greens were in good conditions, but the gardens were not quite so good as usual, this beingdue no doubt to the dry weather. The hedge of May, however, was in full bloom and one or two other flowering shrubs gave colour to the surroundings.

A number of members and visitors began arriving shortly after two and were welcomed by the President, Mrs C. P. Washer, who was in a figured linen frock with brown redingote. Other members were busy with individual guests, and a'bout 2.30 the Patron of the Club, Mrs W. S. Harris, who was in deep red marocain and a neat brown felt hat, performed the opening ceremony. Mrs Harris remarked that it. gave her great pleasure to be present again; she had opened the croquet season in Tauranga uoav for about thirteen years, and could truthfully say that the club had shown improvement each year. Last year she thought the weather had prevented continuous play, but according to present indr* cations we were to have a dry summer which would mean a much better playing season for members. Mrs Harris extended best wishes to the club, and then hit the 'ball through the first hocjo, so declaring open the 1938-39 croquet season. A lovely posy in shades of deep pink was then presented to the Patron by the VicePresident, Mrs T. H. Hall. With her usual generosity Mrs Harris brought with her two large brass bowls mounted on stands for competition during the year. For

OFFICIAL OPENING OF SEASON Perfect Sunshine Prevails

these she was warmly thanked, these she was warmly thanked. Mrs Harris lirst performed the opening ceremony in 1925 when she was first elected as patron, an office she has held continuously up to the present time. Tea was served about 3.30, and later in the afternoon the bowlers also came over for tea, this having been the practice for many years. Competitions were held and altogether the afternoon was a great success. The prize winners during the afternoon were: Progressive croquet.—Mrs. Beswick, Mrs. Exley, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. Mc-Lauchlan. Competitions: Mrs. L. Jury, Mrs. Connor, Mrs. G. K. Leslie, Mrs. Horne. Nearly all the members of the Club were present and a number of visitors including the Mayoress, Mrs. L. R. Wilkinson. Mrs. F. W. Doidge. and Mesdames Kenneth Morton (Katikati), IV. H. Gifford, Street (New Guinea), Allard (Christchurch), Rogers, C. Whiting, W. Andrews, McCartney, V. Potter, W. F. Cross, Evans, A. Brewer, T. H. Hall, Murgatroyd, L. Jury, L. Steele, Beswiek, Fendall, Bonthron, Johnston, Peppercorn, B. C. Robbins. Exley, McLauchlan, C. Adams, Davie, Leadbetter, Gibson, Hunter (Dunedin), Jefferson, G. K. Leslie, Lawson, Horne, McLeod, Standrin, H. Benjamin. Meharry, J. McLeod, Lewis, Harris (Wellington), Anderson, McDonald, Cannell. Rankin, Hunter (Auckland), Misses B. Morton' (Katikati), Berdinner (Wellington), Dickson, and Mr. W. S. Harris.