LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 633, 9 October 1909, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

(Bi SesterJ

I The lavm f tennis season has opened with, i overy of being a- most successrm [ one. The popularity of the game is l undoubted. year sees the Wellington Provincial | Association, strengthened by new clubs, and ,at present there are 43 clubs on the list, vritn ! a .total membership exceeding 2100. 1 j Siuco the close of last season rtiuchhos been dono in the interests of city players, particularly in matter of securing permanent grounds. After much corresponding and'many deputations, the Wellington City. Council Jtas; decided, to offer the Wellington Lawn .Tennis Association the lease' of certain portions- oftlvo Town Belt. These grounds pre in three areas—one of 2 acres, at the: top of M&jori* bank 6 Street, and the other two, •of over norcs/ adjoin Leraud Street. These 1 grounds are sure to be taken, by' the• association. Al£ ready • a surveyor •is tit j work preparing an* estimate of ,the probable; cost of; excarating»J hilling, and laying courts-on them. ■ ilie Jsewtown and Kilbirnie Clubs.'haro also been active in the, matter of securing grounds.; iNowtown was the first to move in a manner that commended itself to the City Council, and, with an energetic ■ committee to' pusn things along, succeeded in acquiring a lease (i\t. a low rental) of . a fine piece" of ground near .the top of.Constable ..Street.• On* tin ground (he club has laid down two courts, and erected a pavilion, Jmd a contract has;been-let for the laying-down of two more courts, to be finished bv the end of this month. . . 'The Kilbirnie. Club t has been . offered an aero of ground in their own district, not far from tli? , club's present court. - -. >.The annual general meeting of'the 'association was held on September 23, and was attended, by over; thirty-five delegates. The president and vice-presidents, who have been elected, ore all genuine -enthusiasts. The management committee also is a good one, and ifc is pleasing to note that .several senior players of standing are amotigst their number. Messrs. Kean and Blair , were elected secretary and treasurer respectively. The late sccrptary, Mr. T:'H. Jones, did not stmid for •election .again. During his term of office, he: did more/ thai'-his. fair'share 'of- the work, an<T all tennis players will' be: pleased • P hear /that, although he intended -to give up the 'parao, altogether, ho .has: .listened to good advice,-and has decided to play, and will g-vn-in his^ lot with• the Muritai Tennis

,;The management committee has sent out circulars to the clubs, them to nominate teams for the inter-club competitions; The entries closo on October 18, and' play "commences on November 6. ' These competitions are the backbone of local awn tennis; but, for; the past year or two, they have also been a bone of contention.' Most players consider, two sets a very poor afternoons, sport, and ..a. fejv: object, to ■ travelling a f b ? ur " Bat therb'was 6ne point most were, agreed on last, season, and 'rrLTiW too many, matches wer?. played. ILm I -..I e - or tennis if. the Mail, cfw k 0 ™ f 0U ld bring forward isome pl W s .f«« on:alter-, hate - Saturdays. ; ,,, T0... bo. called upon .to play S' is.not satisfactory to all. 'it is .that ,a ( sub-committea has. been ..set up l' L prfo?l «!■ gmg • to th ' 3; matter';oi Wf ? competitions,, and submitting a reP ' 4 sU &|esting,the best means of making, thorn A u a u ? 6 ° all. players. ; The result be known in'a: few • days. . From the amount of .lntoiesfc shown, it is quite safe to S, ho large entries' for'interclub competitor. .'-More, interest;.will probably mark the "Country pup. competitions also. The country section consists of three centres, viz., Wairarapa,' vontro, Manawatu Centro, and' Waneanui jContre. 'sub-committoes, consisting of players resident in these centres, havo beenW , pointed to ;amngo ; and control ..the • compcti'S 1? I; '.«»*• needed'is that ,th« JiiU entries P ® , comraUtee3 Bonding in Tennis. Clnb--has Boon formed by residents in the vicinity' of tho jClyde-Qaay Sohool. .Tho'';cltib'3;:coUrt, 'in the on».B^o.Un0 n». B^ o . Una ' : ? ; '? o , t a Eoofl one, but, duHng jtlie Christmas holidays, two new courts are 'to be laid down. ' .. . ; • ;Hill' Club's 6oason is woll the Wdfi?'j,'A'.^n«uW'tos.bwnfiaado with ti, i'?? s i Dgles ' : for a trophy pre-! sented to the, club last 6eason by the latrine nf he ( Newt°wn Club. In 40 point/up.VitU Mr^ Mks ? on scratch, is well:placed, receiving 14.' Inl a ?. .Cldbs 'open-thefr season this afternoon. .Similar ceremonies will >take place..-on the ! Kh'andallah arid Muritai next Wednesday;. . The Miiritai Club lias had a last season, and 4 .pif T> ? T0 Sf" '"'Pidrcssed.recently! '"•••• North' '{T' 8 ' ClnK.-'^f/RamWtoi* bos changed its .name,and is now:known as the Mano-watu Tennis' Club. The club has taken three new grass courts, bisides retaining the two. old asphalt courts, and the membership has increased accordingly.- * meeri ?« of the Muritai Uub will be held this evening.'' That of thA place : cm Tuesday cven-