AUCKLAND BOWLING AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 6

AUCKLAND BOWLING AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Auckland Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club took place on Saturday evening, at Robson's Rooms, There was the largest attendance of members which has yet taken place, there being about 50 present. The President (Mr. £. A. Maokeohnie) occupied the chair. Report and Balance-sheet.— Secretary (Mr. W. Tait) read the annual report and balance sheet, the former being of an elaborate and exhaustive character, and reviewing every phase of the year's operations. From it we learn that the club have purchased the green from the Government at a public land sale, at the upset price of £800, thus giving an additional recreation ground open to all who are willing to abide by the rules. A further sum of £200 has since been expended in improving the ground. It is believed the purchase will conduce to the growth, popularity, and usefulness of the club. The club were pleased with the hospitality shown by the New Plymouth bowlers to the team who visited that district, and a return visit is looked forward to with interest. A bowling green has been formed at Newmarket, and steps taken to establish a club, and it is hoped other suburbs will emulate this laudable example. It is hoped that the club will soon be able to send a representative rink annually to compete at Christchurch for the Cunningham Challenge Cup. Two ot the greens have been put in good bowling order for next season. A. suggestion had been made to create life and honorary members with certain privileges, details of which would be submitted. The committee desired to acknowledge the services rendered to the club, in connection with improving the green, by Messrs. W. C. Mirfin and H. Goldie. The following comparison of revenue during the past five years exhibited the steady progress made by the club. The revenue for 1881 and 1882 amounted to £32 lis ; 1882 and 1883, to £87 19a ; 1883 and 1884, to £65 12s ; 1884 and 1885, to £114 6s ; and 1885 and 18S6, the year just closed, to £145 7s. The revenue from all sources on general account for past year, including a balance of £23» Id brought forward, has been £147 10a Id, and the expenditure £134 10s lOd, leaving a balance of £12 19s 3d at the credit of the club. £1000 had been borrowed on mortgage of club property, and the assets consisted of the club's freehold property of considerable value. A revenue of £200 per annum will be required to meet current expenses, and provide a sinking fund to pay off the mortgage, The Lawn Tennis Club numbered 67 members, and had four courts open for play daring season. A large number of matches have been played on the lawns, and two chosen representatives— Messrs. Holdship and Gauntwell sustained the honour of the Tennis Club by securing the second pls.ee among a large list of competitors in the contest for the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's Challenge Cup. The committee recommended that the club for lawn tetania be kept separate and distinct from the Bowling Club, and that three courts for tenris purposes be let next season to the players of that game, on terms to be mutually agreed upon. Toe report concluded by paying a handsome tribute to the valuable services rendered by Mr, Tait as secretary and treasurer at a critical period of the club's affairs, and to whose energy and zeal its present prosperous position waa largely due. The chairman, in a brief speech, in which he reviewed the suggestions made in the report, moved its adoption. Mr. Winks seoonded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. With reference to the recommendation of the committee to .separate the lawn tennis section from the Bowling Club, it was resolved "That a committee be appointed, consisting of four members of each section, to consider and report upon the proposal." The following are the committee :—Bowling Club : Messrs. Gorrie, Kingswell, J. Frater, and J. Ross. Lawn Tennis: Messrs. Young, Baber. S. Hesketh, and E. W. Burton. Officers for Ensuing Year.—President, Mr. E. A. Mackechnie, re-elected by acclamation ; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Winks and J. Kirkwood, re-elected ; committee (by ballot), Messrs. J. Rosa, W. Gorrie, J. Miller, and W. C. Mirfin; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Tait, re-elected ; auditor, Mr. i>. S. Cattenach. Draft Rules.—Secretary read draft laws of game and rules of club. After considerable discussion thereon, it waa resolved, on motion of His Worship the Mayor, "That the rules, as submitted, be circulated among members, and be brought up for consideration and adoption at a meeting to be held that night month." New Members.—The following were elected : — Captain Olive, Messrs. Adam Brock, and J. S. Day. Presentation of Prizes.—The chairman in a few happy and humorous remarks made the presentation of prizes to the successful competitors as follows — New members' bowls, Mr. W. H. Skinner; Hardie's bowls, Mr. J. C. Taunt; E. W. Page's bowls, Mr. W. Gorrie; subscription gold medals, Messis. Moore, Gorrie, Mirfin, and Winks (skip); club cup, Mr. R. Saunders ; champion bowls (with handsome case presented by Mr. W. 8. Jones), Mr. J. Scott; President Mackechnie's prize, Mr. C. Kingswell. Lawn Tennis : Mr. G. Holdahip's racket, Miss .Spiers; Mr. Choyce's, Miss A. M. Niccol; Mr. Ching's, Miss .E. Spiers; and Mr. K. W. Burton's greenstone tennis brooch, Miss M. Slator ; prize tennis racket (gentlemen's tournament), Mr. Fripp. The recipients made characteristic responses, some of them causing considerable amusement. Mr. Burton moved a vote of thanks to donors of lawn tennis prizes, and Mr. W. Gorrie a similar vote to donors of bowling prizes. The votes of thanks were carried by acclamation. The chairman, and Messrs. Holdship and Jones (the only donors present) briefly acknowledged the compliment. Presentations.—The Chairman, in a neat speech, presented the secretary, Mr. W. Tait, on behalf of the olub, with a davenport, constructed of New Zealand woods,in recognition of his services. Mr. Tait appropriately responded, stating that he felt amply rewarded for all his labours in having the goodwill and esteem of his fellow members. The Chairman, in a humorous speech, then presented Mr. G. M. Main with a handsome pencil case, bearing a suitable inscription engraved upon it, as a souvenir of his attendance as a Press representative for years past at the matches and meetings of the society. Mr. Main briefly expressed his appreciation of the kindly feeling and goodwill shown towards himself by his fellowmembers of the club. The healths of the presentees were drunk with musical honours. Phizks for Next Season. — Mr. P. Oliphant stated he would give a pair of champion bowls; Mr. W. S. Jones, a case for same ; pair of bowls for best driving, Mr. Kingswell; pair of bowls for general play, Mr. Winks ; and Messrs. J, Rosa and W. Gorrie also offered prizes. Votes of Thanks Mr. Ralph Keesing moved a vote of thanks to the president for his services during the past year, and Mr. J. Frater moved a similar vote of thanks to the vice-presidents, Messrs. Winks and J. Kirkwood. Their healths were then drunk with musical honours, after which they in succession acknowledged in appropriate terms the compliment paid to them. The Chairman said, before separating, he desired to propose a toast which would be agreeable to all, " The health of His Worship the Mayor, Mr. Waddel," who, during his civic career, had fulfilled his official duties with promptitude and good sense. The toast was heartily drunk. His Worship thanked the company for the manner in which they had received the toast. His desire had been to do his duty, and his best reward was the good opinion of his fellow oitizens. The gathering, which throughout had been of a most harmonious and agreeable character, then broke up. During the evening, refreshments, tea, coffee, etc,, were handed round,