TENNIS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8099, 30 September 1904, Page 4

TENNIS.

This gamo lias never had a very great hold in the district, and is usually looked upon as a social game, though I should be wrong in saying that there wore pever been any strong clubs. Hawer* yn*i[

except thft big ones once a year, have been arranged. Clubs should arrange tournaments among their members early in the season, and I suggest that this should be done at the annual meetings. Handicaps and championships should be arranged and played off during the season. Then, again, cfubs must arrange matches bt'tween themselves. Why should a club wait, till they are strong enough to beal another before, they play them? The, best pradrce is always put in when a match is in prospect. Therefore, why not always have a match, or several matches, in prospect? If the Association already existing took this matter up they would be assisting tennis considerably. But there is no reason to wait for the Association. The whole district is too big to be satisfactorily managed, and should be divided for tournanrent purposes. If Manaia. Okaiawa (where there is a private court), Eltham, Hawera. Patea. and Waverley joined hands and played matches, say, every fortnight, it would bs a step in the right direction. Waverley is a strong club, and I know is very eager for matches, and so I should "suggest to its Secretary. Mr James Rutherford, that he should write to tho clubs mentioned, and ask if they are willing to fall iv with a scheme whereby they would play matches every fortnight. I*• # •

Interest is being taken in Hawera in the approach of the new season. The grounds are in splendid order, and a great improvement is expected in the general play of members. The annual meetine will probably be held in about ten days, when the chief item to be considered will be the suggested amalgamation of the Bowling and Tennis Clubs. It is necessary that all those who are interested in' tennis should make a point of saying what they think about the amalgamation. • • •

At the annual meeting of the Bowling Club it was suggested that the caretaker should make tea every day in the pavilion and supply it to members at tnreepeace a cup. I have no doubt that the tenrfis players would also have the opportunity of patronising the "tea stall," which should prove a good investment. • # •

Financially the clv?» is in a fairly satisfactory position. Tlray are at present £13 overdrawn, but they have spent some hundreds of pounds in two years, so it cannot be said that they have lieen short of money. The work, however, of cutting the grass, etc., has fallen to the committee, and a considerable saving has been effected in this way. It is doubtful whether the committee will be able in continue this work, and probably some othfr arrangements will have to b<* made. The club membership consists of alwut 70 players, representing probably somewhere about £40 a year. A man to look after the gronrid would cut very considerably into this revenue.

My correspondent sends me the following touching the game in Eltham, where the courts have been recently laid out : —

Bowling and tennis arc likely to attract a large number of devotees in this locality during the present season. Three new tennis courts and a full-sized bowling green have been laid down, under the direction of an excellent and most representative committee, and will be ready for play in all probability during thp course of the next month. Great pains have been taken to get the green in as efficient a state as possible, this having been successfully done with perhaps the exception of the turf. Unfortunately the seed obtained did not grow as well as could be wished, but with good growing Nvcathcr during the next few weeks there is no reason why this should cause any considerable defect, and with judicious care and attention there is no reason why the turf throughout should not turn out as successful as the remainder of the work.

The site is an ideal one for summer recreation, being Iras than five minutes from the Post-office, and well sheltered by an outer fringe of trees. These have all been topped so that the sun should not be excluded while at the same time the remaining parts of them afford efficient shade for the onlookers. The membership of the club is at present satisfactory, and if residents do not consider the subscriptions excessive, they being rather high on account of all having to pay the joining fee, it being the first year, the number should be materially increased by the time play commences. In addition to those belonging to the club there will ue some three or four private courts in use. The players this year arc about the same as last, and should give a good account of themselves in any matches they are called upon to play.

From the secretary of tne Patea Tennis Club I hear that there is every prospect of an excellent season in that district. Last year there were 45 playing members, and the courts were used so much that a large part had to be returned. The club played three matches, and won two. Five handicap tournaments were arranged, and resulted as follows : Ladies, first-class, Miss A, Payne; second-class, Miss Homer; ladies' doubles, Misses Payne ; men's singles, A. Powdrcll ; combined doubles, Miss Homer and Brown. The Patea club hold the single and double championship of the Wellington province, Miss Powdrcll winning the first and with Mrs Pearcc the latter.

The Waverley club has been equally successful. The membership last year was 55, an increase of one on that of the previous year. The club's president, Mr Win. Brewer, very generously donated handsome trophies for the winners of the men's handicap singles and ladies' handicap singles. The latter was won by Miss E. Dickie, and the former by A. Wallace, after a number of very exciting games. The secretary in writing to me complains that tho outside clubs were very apathetic over match playing, and he was only able to arrange four matches during the whole of the season. Two were played with Patea, one with Hawera, and one with New Plymouth. The only match that waa lost was the first of the season aginst Patea.

The Domain Board have taken over the old tennis pavilion, and at present are erecting a handsome building which will cost 1£25 at the back of and adjoining the present bowlers' pavilion. Considerable work has been done in the off-sea-son in improving the courts, which will be in excellent order. The asphalt court has been dispensed with,* and the club propose to lay it down at once in grass so that it will be ready for the present season.

Up Opunake way things are not booming exactly. When Mr Rutherford was there an excellent club was in full swing, and there were two good courts. Since he left both club and courts have rotted. It is to bo regretted that there was not someone in that locality who had sufficient energy to keep this going. I understand, that there are two or three private courts so that the game is not likely to go out altogether. • • • ■

In Manala the game has always progressed satisfactorily, but I have not yet heard what its prospects are for the coming season.'