LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11520, 3 November 1900, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

Several of the clubs have been compelled to postpone their opening days, owing to the unsettled state of the weather. It is ■unlikely that much tennis will be played before the 9th.

The committee of the West End Club has drafted a set of rules to govern interclub marches during the ensuing season. The proposed rules, which appear very complete, provide for a pennant trophy to be held by the champion club for a year. The delegates of affiliated clubs will meet next Wednesday to confirm these rules, making any alterations that may be necessary. Contrary to custom, the Auckland championships are to be played immediately the season opens, in order to finish the events before Christmas. Hitherto the practice has been to reserve these tournaments till about the end of February. The new system will ensure more interest, as player. are far keener on the game early in the season than tcxards its latter end, and, moreover, it will provide splendid hard practice for representatives of Auckland who intend taking part in the New Zealand championships. Entries close on the 12th. and the first round will probably start on the ]7th inst. The trophy for each event; will be the gold medal of the association.

' A. Dunlop, who is negotiating for the visit of the Victorian team to Christchurch at Christmas, will, if 'he is in form, prove a tough nut to crack. Ho plays a most brilliant game, and his volleying is particularly clever. He and Diddams, an old Auckland boy, made about tho best pair evor seen in Australia, winning the doubles for three consecutive years. • R.'D. Harman won the Canterbury championship recently, beating F. Fisher, the ox-Wellingtoninn, in tho final: 6—2, B—6, 6—l. Fisher was very erratic, and for a player who once promised so well, his display was disappointing. Harman played a very good game, and although well in the veterans' class as far as age goes, he is as hard as r.ails, and as quick about the court as ever.

- J. W. Collins and Harman intend playing together in the championship doubles. It will be remembered that this pair won the event in 1895, when tho championships were heir! in Wellington. To prevent clubs from growing fossilised, it in desirable and even necessary to introduce a little fresh blood occasionally. The association, recognising this, has appointed Messrs. T. F. Upfill and A. A. Davis a subcommittee to confer with headmasters and report on the best method of inducing the pupils in secondary schools to take up the game. It is suggested that an open tournament should be held each season, and that the association should arrange for prizes for tho champion boy and girl of tho year. Work lias been in progress for several weeks at the grounds of the Eden and Kps< m Club. Cutting and rolling have been carried on steadilv, and a few of the more energetic members have been vigorously splashing the paint about, hanging wire, etc. 'lho.-e >" a fine strong sole of grass on tho courts this season, which should stand a eori-»vle/able imount of drought when that distant visitor chances along. Some 20 new members have already been enrolled, and from present appearances the club should have the most successful year for some seasons past. Owing to tho wot weather, and consequent softness of the turf, the opening day has been postponed from to-day to the Prince of Wales Birthday (Friday next). The visit of an M.C.C. team to New Zealand, which was dependent on the visitors being able to compete in championship events, seems in a fair way to bo realised, for Christchurch, at least, will now probably throw open all ovents of this kind at their forthcoming meeting to all players, irrespective of colony or provinco # (says "Conway," in tho Australasian). A wise resolution this. District championships can always be added to the programme of a meeting if it is felt to be absolutely necessary that the question of local supremacy should be settled, but the main championships should, for the good of the game, if for no other reason, be always open to allcomers. With tho lawn tennis season commencing, 8?d tho various clubs holding meetings, perkaps it would not be ah inopportune motent to draw the attention of all tennisplayers to "the"'state of the New Zealand Association rules (says the contributor el tennis notes to the New Zealand Sportsman). Further, it is tho duty of each club to thoroughly discuss tho matter, and when tho proper time comes instruct their delegates accordingly. Rules 16 and 17 of the\ew "".©aland Lmto, T«nn is Association dew** that

there shall be held an event ' to be styled " ioterprovineial doubles," and ' competitors for tliis event "must reside in the same provincial district." This latter pari has done much damage to the game, inasmuch as it has put several good players out of action. For instance, supposing Hooper, Parker, and Peacock came down from Auckland—then it is quite certain one of them must sit out the event. In Ohristchurch Harmon and Collins play together, and Fisher will probably have to' sit- out. In Wellington the Gore ' Bros, will play together, and Laishly will have to •it out. Of course, any of these men might easily obtain an indifferent partner, but that would bo almost as exasperating as sitting out. But the rule is decidedly bad, not only on account of narrowing this event down to four or five entries, but also because it places Now Zealand in the position of having no champion doubles, and that is an evont that should be on the programme. Inicrprovincial doubles should be arranged by the provincial associations, and at the championship we should have champion doubles pure and simple.