LAWN' TENNIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 2

LAWN' TENNIS.

; THE AYONSjipE CLUB. PRESIDENT'S DAY. A GAY AND SUCCESSFUL GATHER- ■ ING. ■ V One of the prettiest, spots, on the banks of the lower reaches of the Avon is the site of .the Ayonside Lawn • Tennis Club’s grounds. Two years ago the grounds were almost .a wilderness, but now they are a charming pleasure resort. A picturesque pavilion has been erected, courts have, been formed,’ trees planted, and grass sown, and; those who go down the Avon in boats,.or pass-on the road,.look with pleasure on the grounds of the Avonside Lawn Tennis Club. It has, had a short .history, but in,its two years of existence it. has made remarkable progress.' There are on its books over 200 « members,: and it has formed four asphalt , tennis courts, one'.grass court, and one ciro-s, quet lawn. . . - , , In the summer hazily,an afternoon passed without seeing at least half a dozen on the courts. To-day the grounds pre-f seated a specially gay and animated Gentlemen in their tennis suits, and 'ladies*, in cool costumes, played, tennis and croquet; walked to and fro, laughed, chatted, ana enjoyed themselves in the summer sun, ' It was' “ President’s Day,” . the first that has been held in the history of the club, and,perhaps, in the history of tennis on,; the, colony. Captain ; M’Clalchie, president of the .club, decided to institute it, and in-* augurated the custom' to-day under many favourable circumstances, “ These young, people need a little encouragement, ’’ he ce-s ■marked 1 , to ,a representative of this jour-, nal, “and it is very good to see them here* enjoying themselves, and getting the bene-s fir. of freohi Mr and exercise.” •; Th©, only drawback .was a. rather severe north-wes wind, but even this seemed cool and coming down the reaches of-the, liver and!' over high trees. There was a large number of, v-k-ifcp« present, and several games w-eret played. ■ During the afternoon, Captain’ M’ClatciueJ handed to Mr F. J. Murray, the .secretary, of the club, a handsome silver cup, to bd competed for by members, the names of the winners to be engraved on the trophy, whiciM would remain the property of the club. Captain- M’C’latchie explained that when hq was elected president, he had to choose be-j tween being a mere figurehead and -an actives member of the club. He decided that hdwould not be a figurehead, but would dot his best for the-club, and he had done it-; 1 (Hear, hear). He thoughjb the best- way of proving that- he - took a real interest in tennis was to present the club with'a cup, for corns petition, (Applause.) .. ... Mr Murray, on behalf of the club, thanked Captain M’Clatchie for'his gift. Those present then,-sang--" For: He’s a Jolly Good .Fellow,” and gave cheers for; ; both the President and the Secretary, as Well as for Mr E. Whitehead, who had presented the ease for holding the cup. . Refreshments vrere dispersed by members .of the club, and during the afternoon a progressive tennis.-match was played..