LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

SEASON OPENED AT NEWTOWN. Tho Newtown Lawn Tennis Club open* cd tho season on Saturday in the prosonoo of a largo number of members and their friends. Included in the visitors were tho Hon. C. M. Duke, Councillors Frost, Trevor. Fuller, and Dr. Cameron, Mrs Frost, and Mrs Fuller. Councillor W. H. P. Barber, president: of the club, in performing the opening ceremony, welcomed his fellow councillors ’ in this their initial visit, and hoped it would be tho forerunner of many more. Ho regretted that tho weather was not quite what they' expected. Had it been more in keeping with tho ceremony they would have had a record' attendance. As everybody was aware, the final for tho Davis Cup would bo played in New Zealand this year. ■ They would have been more pleased had Wellington- been chosen for • the ba'iile. However, the scone was not far distant, and ho was sure a large number of tenuis enthusiasts- from tijis city would journey to Christchurch to witness it Tho event would certainly give an impetus to tennis in the Dominion. Ho was a great believer in the apportioning : of parts of the Town Belt, such as they were now on, to clubs for recreation purposes, providing attempts -were made to improve the surroundings. The Newtown club had expended over ,£6OO on their courts, and had themselves cleared tho ground of gorse, which had practically covered it. and planted trees, some of which were kindly given by tho Corporation on Arbor Day. It was only a matter of a few years when the ground would bo one of the beauty spots of Newtown. In conclusion the president wished the club a very prosperous season, and then declaxed the courts open in tho usual way. Throe cheers were given for Mr Barber, and tea having been dispensed the courts were kept busy for .the rest of the afternoon, a goodly number of players from other clubs participating. An apology for absence was received from his Avorship tho Mayor and Mrs Wilford.