PROGRESSIVE PALMERSTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 217, 18 August 1925, Page 6

PROGRESSIVE PALMERSTON

SUMMER SPORT. MANY FACILITIES FROVIDED. In yesterday's issue we dealt with th# rapid progress made in winter sport m Palmerston North, and that very fame progress is reflector! in summer sport. Time was when Palmerston North had only one tennis and bowling club for such enthusiast?,. but to-day finds each section of the town well catered for in this rc.-pect. Croquet lawns, too. arc an adjunct of several bowling clubs, and the combination of howling, croquet and tennis is one of the foatures of progress in sport ir. recent years. The bowling greens and croquet lawns are a splendid sight in the playing season, the well-kept areas being surrounded by nicely laid out gardens, ar.d an animated scene is to bo witnessed every fine afternoon, for in Palmerston North are many devotees of these summer games who take advantage of tho 6unny days from early summer until late autumn. BOWLING. The Palmerston North Bowling Club wu the first formed locally, its history -dating back to the 90’s, but the succeeding years have witnessed the growth of the game until to-d&y some 230 players in thi3 branch of sport alone are catered for hy the five local clubs, comprising Palmerston North, Terrace End, Alanawatu, Northern and Takaro. These clubs are very prosperous, and their greens are great favourites with outside bowlers. The Manawatu Easter bowling tourney is one of the biggest on this coast and attracts players from the Wairarapa, Wellington. Hawke’s Bay, Auckland and Taranaki districts. The game of bowls certainly shows marked progress in very recent years. DEVELOPMENT OF TENNIS. Tennis has, perhaps, witnessed a greater growth than any other branch of summer sport, the provision of courts being a less difficult matter than in the other branches, while the comparatively brief duration of the game enables a large number to participate. Despite the fact that there are five clubs locally, all boast a large membership which enables the holding of interclub contests weekly during the season. This branch' has a sister sport in the winter season —teniquoits—whereby active players, desirous of retaining their form, can continue their activities. The Palmerston North Club, the only one locally in existence, boasts a membership of about 70. The tennis clubs are: Palmerston North, Manawatu, Terrace End, Northern and Takaro, and each is wisely guided by the controlling executive. CRICKET. Cricket attracts the attention of a big section of the male population in the summer season and the local cricket association has under its control 21 teams who participate in the Wednesday and Saturday competitions. While the shopping centre of the town observes Wednesday aa its half-holiday, tho recreation seekers are for the main part from the office section and, whereas only four teams participate in the mid-week series, four senior, four junior and seven third grade teams take part in the Saturday fixtures. A x-emark-able growth has been evidenced in this branch of sport and the catering for the some 230 followers is, in view.of the cars necessary in the preparation of the playing pitches, a task of magnitude. A CROQUET CENTRE. Croquet, like tennis, has the advant*.jj« in that it caters for both sexes, yet its introduction locally is of but recent years. In 1913 a club bearing the name of Hinemoa, which was, however, more of a private nature, played on the private court of Air C. F. Spooner, and it was not till the year 1917 that a public club came into existence, the Manawatu Club being then formed which was probably the first incorporated club to be launched in the North Island. The succeeding years witnessed the formation of the Terrace End Club, which for a period had to conduct its activities on a small sized court, _ and the Northern and Takaro Clubs. A North Island Association was formed three years ago in Palmerston North and it has been the fortune of this centre to stage the Dominion and North Island championships on two occasions. From a small club of some half a dozen players, the Alanawatu Club extended its numbers to between 30 and 40 in the period of three years, while today there are about 150 players in this centre alone. The development of th* game of croquet in this town —indeed in New Zealand—was largely due to the activity of Dr E. L. Whitaker, who resided in this town for several years and who returned to England in 1921. Before coming to New Zealand Dr Whitaker secured the men’s championship of England and he was the first New Zealand men’s champion of the game. This honour having been secured at the first championship meeting held in this Dominion, Palmerston North having been tho locality of the competitions as a result of Dr Whitaker’* influence.

CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS,

llow well Palmerston North residents are catered for in tho matter of s',*orts_ and amusements is aptly set out in tho booklet, “Marvellous Alanawatu,” reviewed in this column the other day, while the beauty spots in and around the town are featured. In the corner of the booklet referred to devoted to children, there is much of interest to prospective settlers of this town, and the methods adopted in this town, as well as in other parts, to ensure the maintenance of tho child’s health are fully set out. 'The children's playgrounds are a feature of the recreational areas provided for the- little ones so that they can. -enjoy the pure open air as much as possible. Throughout the summer and on fine days in winter these facilities are fully availed of. No modern town or city can afford to be without these playgrounds if the children are to be healthy and Palmerston North certainly gives a lead to other towns ill this respect.