PING-PONG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12278, 23 May 1903, Page 7

PING-PONG.

The Grafton Ping-pong Club open the season for play on Tuesday next, May 26, at St. David's Hall, Khyber Pass. Members are reminded that the first night is open to their friends and visitors from other clubs. The club promises to have a successful season, and they will have a fair team to represent them in the interolub matches. _ The first meeting of the newly-formed Fonsonby Table Tennis Club was held on Wednesday evening in the Ponsouby Hall, when there was a full attendance of enthusiastic members. Mr. C. H. Jones was elected hon. secretary for the ensuing season, Mr. «■ H. Burton was appointed treasurer, and ladies' and gentlemen's committees were also elected.' The membership of the club is complete, and the executive are to be congratulated on the arrangements made for the inaugurating of this latest branch of the association.

The Auckland Association has decided to retain the "below the table" serve. At a meeting held during tho week the whole matter was fully discussed and a motion to adopt tho " bounce" servte was defeated. The question will be opened egain, however, before the inter-club matches conv mence, as the supporters of the "bounce' serve claim that several of the clubs had not given the innovation a fair trial, and that.when it is better known the fact that it is a much better opening to the game and does away with most of the difficulty of umpiring will be recognised, and the serve will be adopted. The new rubber-faced bat has evidently come to stay. Most of the leading local players have tried it and recognise that the screwing powers it possesses are a big advantage over the plain-faced bat. The association has dropped the name of " ping-pong," and is now the Auckland Table Tenuis Association.

The Hauraki and Ponsonby Clubs were affiliated at the last meeting of the association.

The secretaries of the Auckland, Grafton, and Parnell Clubs have been appointed a sub-committee to arrange the draw, etc., for the inter-club championships. The Parnell Club had a very successful opening night last Tuesday. * Mr. Hugh Campbell (president) congratulated the members on the condition of the club, and announced his intention of giving a trophy to bo competed for during the season. A large number of members and their friends and members of other clubs were present, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. In future the club will meet on Thursday instead of Tuesday. The association has decided to adopt the Tema ball for play in the inter-club matches, and instead of one game of 50 up the best two out of three sets of 25 up will be played.