GORE

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 13

GORE

LAWN TENNIS MATCHES TO BE RESUMED EA&LY (By HALF-VOLLEY) Dissatisfaction has been expressed by various tennis clubs in Eastern Southland from time to time about the late start made with competition matches after the holidays. The question was before the association at its annual meeting this season and it was decided to resume the B grade matches, at least at an earlier date. Rain, however, nterfered and the B grade matches set down to be played last Saturday had to be postponed because of the unfavourable weather. If the games are played this Saturday the association will still be about a fortnight ahead of time and it will be the earliest the matches have been resumed after the holidays for many seasons. Because 'of the small number of teams taking part in the A grade competition, it is not so important that these matches should be resumed as early as the B grade matches, and. it will be another fortnight before there will be any activity in this section. . With many good players available, the Southland selectors will have a difficult task in selecting the men’s team at least, for the match against Otago at Dunedin next month. There will be several country players with claims for inclusion and among these will be D. S. McLeod, A. Sharp and L. T. Cqckerill, of Eastern Southland. The last-named player probably would not have been considered, but in a recent challenge for second place on the Eastern ladder he beat A. Sharp 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and now has definite claims for consideration. In this match Cockerill was in splendid form and he volleyed, smashed and served brilliantly. If these three players are selected it will be the first time in history that three players from Eastern have represented Southland in the men’s team at the same time. It is perhaps too much to expect that they will all gain places in the team, but if their play is up to the required standard it is only right that they should be selected The Town-Country match will be played at Invercargill before the match against Otago and the Southland team probably will be chosen after this match. In this match the Country team is chosen by the Southland selectors and this is regarded by the majority of country players as an undesirable procedure. This year the Eastern ladder rules were altered and now any player on or off the ladder can challenge up to and including the player in the seventh position. When the change was made the impression was gained by the majority of players that it was necessary to challenge the player in the fifteenth position and first gain a position on the ladder before it became possible to challenge a player from the seventh position down. This, however, is not so and the secretary of the association (Mr L. O. Wallis) states

that it is not necessary to challenge the fifteenth player first. The draw for the B grade rpatchc to be played on Saturday is as follows:— Anglican No. 2 v. Gore No. 2, at Gore; Mataura v. St. Patrick’s, at St. Patrick’s; Anglican No. 1 v. Wyndham, at Wyndham; Edendale v. Gore No. 1, at Edendale; St. Andrew’s a bye. FIRE BRIGADE At the annual meeting of the Gore Fire Brigade, Captain F. Wallis presided over a big attendance of members. The annual report stated that the year had been outstanding for the small number of fire alarms and the remarkably low fire loss in the town. “Practically all of the fire calls were of minor importance, the chimney fire being the most prevalent,” it stated. “The brigade considers that the attention of the public should be drawn to the trouble and expense the brigade is put to when answering one of these calls. It is on very rare occasions that a chimney fire becomes dangerous, and with ordinary care a householder can deal with such an outbreak. On most occasions, however, the brigade is called out, and if it is during the day some 20 men have to leave their work to find later that their services are not required. Further, the ratepayers are faced with a certain amount of expense every time the engine is taken from the station. The brigade trusts, therefore, that the public in future will make sure that the brigade’s services are required before calling it out. “The fire loss for the year would scarcely amount to more than three figures, which must be considered very gratifying indeed. One fire that could have assumed serious proportions was at Greenfield’s woodware factory, but fortunately this was extinguished without very much damage being done. Last August one of the brigade’s old and esteemed life-mem-bers, Mr W. Baker, died. Members of the brigade paraded at the funeral and also acted as pall-bearers. Mr Baker continued to take a keen interest in the brigade even after advancing years had compelled him to relinquish active duty, and news of his death was received with regret. Fireman K. Martin was transferred to Qamaru during the year, and has joined with that brigade. Apart from - this the personnel of the brigade remains the same as last year. Fireman L. O. Wallis brought honour to the brigade during the year by being eleote dpresident of the Southern Districts’ Fire Brigades’ Association. Throughout the year various members have given their time to the servicing of the ambulance, which is under the competent charge of Fireman E. D. Henderson, and to them the brigade offers its grateful thanks. “The coming year the southern districts’ demonstration will be staged at Gore during Easter, and the brigade looks confidently for public suport in order that it will be staged efficiently." The report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected:—Captain, Mr F. Wallis, jun., senior lieutenant, Mr J. A. Wallis; junior lieutenant, Mr H. G. Wallis; foreman, Mr L. O. Wallis; secretary and treasurer, Mr L. G. Thomson; auditor, Mr D. F. Tait; sergeant of ure police, Mr D. F. Tait; corporal, Mr A. N. Stevenson.

The following service honours were announced: Captain F. Wallis, twoyear gold bar; Lieutenant J. A. Wallis, 25-year gold star; Fireman H. D. Stewart, 25-year gold star; Foreman L. O. Wallis, 2 year silver bar; Firemen E. Wallis, M. Ussher, G. Smith and G. Allison, 2-year silver bar; Fireman C. Pawson, 5-year medal; Fireman K. Henderson, 3-year certificate; Lieutenant H. G. Wallis, 6-year gold bar. PERSONAL There was a big attendance of members of the staff of the Gore railway station and goods shed and friends at a social evening when Mr W. Lawrence, a member of the goods shed staff, who has beet transferred to Alexandra, was bidden farewell. Mr C. P. Penman was chairman, Mr W. J. Mackay presented Mr Lawrence with a sum of money on behalf of those present and wished him every success in the future. Messrs C. P. Penman, T. J. Stark, D. McDougall jun., E. Clutterbuck, C. McMath, W.- Muir, J. Broome, W. Thomas, E. W. Edie, G. H. Burrow, J. Gallagher, R. A. Familton, R. M. Broome, J. W. Butterfield and C. R. Ross also spoke. Mr Lawrence replied. Items were given by Messrs W. Muir and B. A. Familton during the evening.