DISTRICT NEWS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 75, 19 September 1941, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

Southbridge

TENNIS CLUB

BUSINESS AT ANNUAL

MEETING

Mr L. G. Eade presided over an attendance of 15 members at the annual meeting of the Southbridge Tennis Club last night.

The balance-sheet showed that the receipts, including deposit in I bank, were £120/12/8. The expenses! amounted to £21/14/31, and the! credit balance was £98/18/4^, which included £97/0/11 in the bank. The report mentioned that the season was not officially opened owing to the bad state of the, courts and to the lack of interest shown by members. One team was' entered in the Association's competition and it had a very successful season, being undefeated in the B grade. Friendly games were played with the St. Albans Club. The courts and surroundings looked much better than they had done for a considerable time, this being mainly due to the sowing down in grass the ground behind the pavilion and to the remarkable growth of the macrocarpa hedge on the main frontage. The pavilion had been repaired and painted and the grounds put in order. There was quite a lot of interest shown in the Inwood cup matches last season and ■ some good games were witnessed. The winners were Miss C. Paterson and Mr F. Carter, while Mrs F. Kimber and-Mr C. Hickman were runners-up. There was again a decline in the club's membership, but despite this it had quite an enjoyable and successful season. Mr Paterson congratulated the secretary (Mr F. Carter) on the great interest he had taken in the club,, not only as a playing member but as a working one. Many Saturday afternoons he had spent in keeping the grounds and buildings in good order, while quite recently he had repaired and painted the pavilion. The president endorsed these remarks. He said that it was good to get people interested during the season but Mr F. Carter and his father had been keenly interested long before the start of the season. He was agreeably surprised at the amount of work which had already | been done. He added that he was very pleased to see so many ofj the younger people taking an interest in the club. There had been some doubt as to whether the club could carry on but there was a much better outlook now. The work which had already been done, would not be wasted. It was up to the young people to appreciate and take advantage of what had been done, and of course, to continue the good work. ~ ■ Mr T. J. Carter also said how gratified he was at the younger players joining up and he looked forward to a successful season. Four new members were elected. Officers elected were: Patron: Mr T. J. Carter; president, Mr D. Paterson; vice-presidents, Mrs Kimber and Mr F. Carter; secretary, Mr F. Carter; assistant secretary, Miss N. Hickman; auditor, Mr D. Tay-

lor; committee, Misses C. Paterson, L. McClelland, Messrs I. Healey, N. Nidd, L. Eade and the junior members present; captain, Mr F. Carter; vice-captain, Mr Paterson; delegates to Ellesmere Tennis Association, Messrs Paterson and F. Carter; coaches, Mrs Kimber, Messrs L. G. Eade and F. Carter; Inwood Cup committee, Mrs Kimber, Messrs D. Paterson and T. J. Carter.

Discussing subscriptions, it was pointed out that the club had one of the prettiest grounds in Ellesmere and one of the lowest subscriptions in New Zealand. It was! emphasised that it was up to the! members of the committee to take a greater interest in the grounds and buildings, to maintain them in good order if they wished to keep the subscriptions at the present] rates. ■ Mr Eade in retiring from office paid a tribute to the work done by' Mr F. Carter as secretary, and said he was pleased that he was continuing in office. Mr Paterson assured members that he would do his best for the interests of the club. If there is "a competition this year, the club will enter a B team. Working bees are to be held on the courts on the next two Saturdays. Mr T. J. Carter reported that the Inwood memorial gate was ready and it was proposed to unveil a memorial plaque on opening day. This was fixed for Saturday, October 4. Mrs A. J. Inwood is to declare the gate open. { Speaking of the work of Mr T. J. Carter, Mr Eade said that although he held the office of patron, he was one of the hardest worked members in the club and had done everything he possibly could for its welfare. In proposing a vote of thanks to the retiring president, Mr T. J. Carter said that Mr Eade had spent a good deal of his spare time on the courts and it had been largely due to his work and personality that the club had been kept together during a very difficult time. A letter is to be sent to the High School committee asking if the school required the use of the club's courts during the season. SOCIAL TO MR AND MRS COUCH A large attendance is expected at the Southbridge Town Hall next Tuesday evening; when a farewell social will be tendered to Mr and Mrs G. B. Couch, who leave for Geraldine shortly I There will be a concert, followed by a presentation and a dance. , THE SPRING SHOW Mr J. Moorhead has given 10/6 for trophy class No. 4, classes 108 to 116 in cookery, at the Southbridge Presbyterian Spring Show.