Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 112, 7 November 1908, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

fßr "Huka.") The start of the interclub matches was unfortunately hampered by a wet day last. Saturday, and consequently all matches were put back a week. The grass court players will now have had time for some practice, and should be in a better position to defend their title than they were last week. The playing strength of several of the teams has been altered since last season, and more interest is being taken in the senior competition now that the Thorndon Club has entered a team. Wellington, the winners of last year, will I not be quite so strong, but should ' again have their name engraved upon the shield. Fisher will probably play I I for them later in the season but Peacock has decided to keep to the grass ; practice, in view of tlis New Zealand l championship at Christmas time. T. S. Jones, the Wellington Association's honorary secretary, has arrived from the West Coast, and been much I benefited by his holiday. ITe takes up his duties immediately, and will bo playing for the Wellington Club in the I mterchib matches. From him it has been gathered that A. E. Davey, of Greymouth, is a player of great promise, but unfortunately he does not get much chance of good practice. Ollivier, of Chrrsfcchurch, is showing good form- this season, and accounted for Wm. Goss, 6—3, 6—l, 2—6, I—6, 7 — 5, on Labour Day, in the final for the Cranmer Club's championship. Beals- Wright and Alexander, i the Americsai players, were officially ' welcomed in Sydney last Monday. The official reception took place at the Hotel Australia, and tho Premier (Mr. Wade) was present. Th« players afterwards left lor Melbourne, and are eager to at once start their preparation for the interactional contest, as they consider that they will have to strike their best form to have any chance of lifting the cup from Ausbrmlasia. Brookes and Wilding will defend, and naturally the Americans are quite aware that the, contract before them is a stiff one. R'co; of Sydney, is in fine form just now, and beat Donst by 2 seta to 1 in the final of the Strathfield Championship. Miss Payten, the Ne-w South Wales player, has recovered from her illness, and hopes to be playing again in March. Without doubt, she is the best lady player in Australia, and a match between her and Miss Nunncley would be worth p^ng a long way to see. Miss Bremer, another Sydney player of repute, has been showing to considerable advantagein tournament play in England of late, and, with Mm. Be«tty, has won several events. Ths New Zealand Association has received information from the Lawn Tennis Association, England, that immodiat&ly after the Davis Cup competi Hon is concluded, the question of New Zealand being treated as a separate nation will be dealt with. Several New Zealand playera nave left for Melbourne with the idea* of seeing the Davis Cnp matches. Quill, of Canterbury, and Nicholson, of New Plymonth, are among the number.