LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION. RESIGNATION OF A SECRETARY. Tlio Shield Committee of tho Wellington Provincial Lawn Tonnis Association met oil Wednesday evening to consider tho resignation of Mr. T. H. Jones, secretary of the committee, sent in as a'protest against its action in allowing four players in tho Association's competitions to play on the Thorndon courts, instead of at Day's Hay with the rest of tho team.' Tho matter was carefully considered, and it was decided to accept tho resignation with great and to thank Mr. Jones for his past services. Until a pormarient appointment is made, Mr. C. A. Lawrence has consented to act as secretary. ■ THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At a meeting of tho Management Committee of tho Association, which followed, applications for affiliation from the PaJiautanui and Tararua clubs were granted. v This ' makes ail accession of seven new clubs during the season, with a membership of about 300. Two other clubs are expected to join tho Association. ' Tho Secretary of tho Wellington Public Schools Association wrote asking lor financial assistance in connection with tho recent tournament. It was recognised that some effort should b® made to foster the game among tho boys and girls, and a grant of £2 was unanimously voted. Messrs. Lawrence, O'Leary, and Hogden were appointed to arrange tho draw of tho matches .for the New Year tournament. The Management Committee as a wholo will carry out the necessary arrangements t while tho matches are in progress. _ Mr. Lawrence was appointed as a member of tho Handicap Committee, in' place of Air. J. Murray, who resigned membership through lack of tinio to carry out the duties. Tho Horokiwi Club vrcro winners of tl.e third-class competition for 1904-05, but, as tho competition for that gratlo was held unofficially, no trophy was in existenco at ihat time to present to tho club. It was'decided to remedy this deficiency, and to inscribo iLo winners' names on tho pennant. . The secretary reported that he had seen Mr. W. H. Morton, the City Engineer, in regard to the Botanical Gardens and Laraud Street grounds, and discussed. this matter fully with him. The area of' the Laraud Street site was over six acres, of which a frontage of 500 feet to Laraud Street, jnd of 400 ; feet to tho continuation of Russell Terrace would be available for tennis, providing 24 coiirts. Speaking roughly, Mr. Morton thought that it would cost about £2000 to level them; probablj* tho amount would be much below this. This site formed part of tho Town Belt, and could probably be leased at a nominal rental, provided that tho Association levelled the site and prepared the courts itself. In regard to the Botanical Gardens site, Mr. Morton thought that four courts at t the corner of Wellesley Road and Botanical Gardens Road could ho prepared with but little cost, but the strip of land running parallel with Botanical Gardens Road would be very, expensive to excavate. Mr. Morton had askea him to write stating what the Association was prepared to do in the matter of paying interest on the cost of excavations, etc., or rental for the use of the courts. A lengthy discussion ensued, and it was decided to ask the City Council to. set aside portion of the Botanical Gardens' site and tho Laraud Street site for lawn tonnip, and to state the terms and conditions upon which they could be allocated to the Association. TOURNAMENT PROSPECTS. Entries for the handicap events at the Now Year tournament of.the'Wellington.Association close on Monday next, and for the championships a week later. Already a large number of entries have been received, Swanston, who has been playing remarkably fine tennis during the season, showing quality little, _if anything, inferior to that of any player in the Dominion, has definitely decided to enter for all events. In tho first rotnjd of tho Shield contcst he brilliantly defeated Peacock, erstwhile New Zealand champion, but in,the second round the'result was reversed. • , , Among oth'or-.fine local players who have decided to enter are Brown, J. S. Wilson, Gore, ProwseJ Beere, and Sloman. An effort is also boing, made to induce. Parker, the winner of many inter-State championships, to enter. ' , One of the strongest teams in the ladies' doubles will be found in Hisses Hickso'n and Williams, neither of whom has suffered defeat in so far this season. Both aro now playing well up to New Zealand championship form. The boys and girls are' evincing'' great interest in the tournament this year, and up to tho present time over twenty entries have been received. SCHOOL COMPETITIONS. Junior Girls' Singles (winner mentioned first). —Semifinal —Phomy Walls v.. M'Cabo, 30-32; Carol M'Coll v. Gladys Strand, 30-25. Final—Pliemv Walls v. C. M'Coll, 30-20. Boys' Singles—Final—H. Worbovs v. L. Scott; 30-22. ... ' . Girls' Doubles.—Semi-final—N. ' Lankshear and L. M'Cabo v. C. M'Cabe and P. Walls, 30-28; V. Arthur and D. Wilson v. L. Watson and Ij. Dredge, 30-12. Final—V. Arthur and D, "Wilson v. N. Lankshear and L. M'Cabe, .'3O-28: Combined.—Semi-final—N. Lankshear and H. Gilbert v. L. M'Cabe and B. Ronaldson, 30-1S; C. M'Coll and L. Scott v. K. Rout and H. Bothamley, 30-27. Final—C. M'Coll and L. Scott v. N. Lankshear and H. Gilbert, 30-26. Boys' Doubles.—Final—A. M'Lennan' and 11. Worboys v. B. Ronaldson "and H. Gilbert, 30-19. ■■ ■ ' C. M'Coll received Messrs. Whitcombo and Tombs's silver medal; and Phemy Walls Messrs. E. W. Mills and Co.'s silver medal. Kilbirnie received the most points, and go won tlio Ferguson Challenge Gup. Senior Girls' Singles.—Final—Mary O'Neil (Terrace) v. Jessie Mjllot (Technical), 30-26. Senior Doubles (girls).—Final—F. and C Stevens (HuttJ v. M. O'Neil and Myra Hili (Terraco). Senior Combined.—Final—J. Miller and D Mowatt (Technical) v. C. Martin and V"' l'egg (Technical), 30-15. Senior Singles (boys).—Final—C. Martin (Technical) v. C. Taylor (Nowt'own), 30-21. . Senior Doubles (boys).—E.' Hayward and C. Tayjor (Newtown) v. C. Martin and D Mowatt (Technical),' 30-21. The Technical School gained the most points, and so won Mr. Grady's Cup for the Seniors. ..