LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19447, 22 October 1928, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

OPAWA CLUB. SEASON OFFICIALLY OPENED. .The official opening of the Opawa Lawn Tennis Cinb took place on Saturday afternoon in ideal weather, there being a large attendance of members and supporters. Mr P. Menzies (club president), in declaring the season open, congratulated the club on its activities during the past season. He said that' during the year, many improvements had been carried out, while another gratifying feature was the Bound financial position ot the club. The membership had also increased, and there was every prospect of a successful season. The extra h3lf hour of daylight would be greatly appreciated, and would give players the opportunity of improving their game. The cups won during the season were presented as follows: —Ladies' singles championship, Hiss SI. Andrew; men's singles championship, Hr W. Robinson; ladies' handicap singles, Miss K. Scott; men's handicap singles, Mr H. M. Jlinson; junior championship, X. Brydges-Jones. DIAMOND HARBOUR CLUB. Probably no tennis court in Canterbury is more picturesquely situated than the Diamond Harbour Tennis Club's new court, which was opened for play on Saturday afternoon.. It is situated near the top of the estate, and the view from the tenuis pavilion is magnificent, overlooking the whole of the Lyttelton Harbour. The court is well sheltered by belts of young pme trees, and flower beds \Viil be added to brighten the surroundings. The attendance at the opening ceremony was a large one, and required tho services of a special terry launch to coavcy the visilors fro-n Lvuellon. In the eojvso of a chert .spoeiiii tin. Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr F. E. Sutton) said that in the absence of the president of tho club (Dr. Thomas) and o& the vice-president, it had fallen tohis lot to declarfi the new club court opened for play. He could assure them that it afforded him great pleasure. All well-wishers of Diamond Harbour in both Lyttelton and Christchjireh would feel very proud of tho . u'forts made by those who had been instrumental in organising and raising the necessary money to pay for tho cost of the court. Ho was afraid that sff lai as the Council _was concerned, in its present financial position they could not expect very much assistance from that quarter. The Council had provided the club with the laud, and he believed with the necessary grit for the foundation of the court. The court was ideally situated, and he trusted that before very long he would see a second court laid. ' Jlr W. T. Lester said that tho new Tonnis Club would mako a big move in the progress of the bay. It showed that interest in the garden settlement was not waning amongst its residents when they wenj to the expense of providing such a fine court. In past Councils Diamond Harbour had not been blessed with a big spirited body of public men who desired to push along tho garden settlement. What had been done in the interest of Diamond Harbour had mainly been done by individual efforts. It was during his term of ciSce as Jlayor that a parcel of land ha,d beer; placed aside for a Bports ground, part of which was now used by tho club for its court. He hoped the peoplo of Lyttelton would all soon realise that Diamond Harbour was part and parcel of Lyttelton. The people of the bay paid tho same rato and were entitled to tho same privileges as the people of Lyttelton. Thoy should take example from Cashmere, which at ono time the people of Christchurch looked on as a bogey, but was now considered the best residential area in. Christchurch.

Mi- D. Comer (treasurer) ssud that two years ago six or soven young enthusiasts sot out to form a Tennis Club, with the result the conunitteo was able to present that afternoon. A gala netted some £BO, and a garden party in combination with the Golf Club netted a further £37. By various ways, including donations and subscriptions, £l5O was raised. The expenditure on the court and the cost of some of the timber for tho pavilion had been £l7B, which left a debt of about £3O. Most of the timber for the pavilion had been given, and the estimated value of the court and pavilion at the present time was about £220. The club was indebted to the Lyttelton Borough Engineer (Mr H. H. Barriard) for his valuablo advice and The Mayor then declared the court open. _ Afternoon tea was Served by the ladies, after which a number of friendly games were played. ' Amongst those present were: Mr and Mrs F. E. Sutton, Mr and Mrs W. T. Lester, Mr and Mrs H. Stanley, Mr and Mrs W. Agar, Mr and Mrs O.K Mazey, Mr and Mrs U Crorlcer, Mr and Mrs J). Comer, JM and Mrs T. Armstrong, Mr and Mrs L. Bluwett, Mr and Mrs S. Weld, Mr and Mrs J. Weld, Mr and Mrs Cartwright, Mesdames Colin Cook, Atkinson. E. R. Curtis, Mrs A. White-Par-son, T. H. Bowring,. T. M. Hunter, McKay, D. Manson, Pickett, Missos N. Curtis, E. and W. White-Parson, Gwen Bowring, M. Cook, Rona Agar, P. Hoffman Bird Myra Armstrong, Pauline Swayle-GeoTge, Taylor, Opie, Betty Bowring, Zoe Bowring, Ivy Hunter, Thomas, Reta Bundy, M. Pickett, Messrs Archer, A. Gardiner, 0. Hunter, S. Keys, Joseph, and others. BRITISH PLAYERS. A civic reception to the four British tennis players, who arrive in Christchurch on Wednesday, is to be accorded in the City Council Chamber at noon the same day. After thorough • tests the Canterbury Provincial Lawn Tennis Association has selected Ayres' Championship Stitchiess Tennis Ball for their Championship Tournament this season.' Insist on Ayres'. C^" 1

SPALDING Racquets are used by the Amateur and Professional Champions of the World, and also by the Amateur Champions of N.Z. and of Australia. SPALDING Tennis Balls, < too, are chosdn by the World's Champions. They are British made, plugless and seamless and unsurpassed for durability and uniformity in size, weight, bound, and compression. —5