PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9893, 25 January 1911, Page 5

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

The presentation of prizes took place at the couciU?iou of the tournament, this important function beiug in the very capable hands of the esteemed president of the Mastertou Club (Rev. Dsau McKenna). Vory ably he carried out his duties, his speech covering every detail and being interspersed with those flashes of wit for which the Rev. Dean is so noted. The President, in his remarks, traced matters relating to Mstertoa obtaining the honour of being the centre at which the provincial championships were to be decided in 1911. It was a feather in the Mastertou Club's cap to have obtained this distinction. It was a big thing, aud only those who had had previous experience of such a function could have any idea of rhe amonut of work that was required to bring it to a successful issue. "But," said the speaker, "we've got the workers in our ranks aud how could failure be possible with such a splendid secretary as Mr Sclauders and such enthusiasts as the general committee and others, who were only too pleased to assist. We had the workers, we had the courts, aud we got the champion players to come, and the result you all know," (Loud applause). The Rev. Dean then road a letter lie had received from Mr H. M. Gore, president of the Wellington Association, in which that gentleman referred in eulogistic terms to the way in which the Masterton Club had managed the meetiug, and to the splendid courts they had, which, he considered, were the best grass courts iv New Zealand "Visiting players," said the speaker, "had also complimented the Masterton Ulub ou its courts, which were generally admitted to be second to none in the Dominion." (Voices: "Quite right.") They owe the Dannevirke Club a word of thanks for having altered their dates so as not to clash with the gathering at Masterton. (Hear! Hear!) He was prond of the honour of being president of a club which could organise and so successfully bring to a conclusion a tournament of such au important nature as the one just concluded. Though in the past they had had many champions coutestiug at tournaments in Masterton—including Wilding, the World's champion—never before had such a number of brilliant topuotch players been gathered together as at the present fuuction. Such competitions did much to promote good tenuis, and he was pleased to see that this splendid summer pastime was increasing in popularity all over the Dominion. As a test of endurauce and skill the game deserved every support. They had been very fortunate in the mattur of trophies, and he desired to thank tho douors, He paid a high compliment to the honorary secretary (Mr Sclanders) for bis self-sacrifice in undertaking the onerous secretarial duties counectod with the tournament, aud for the manner iv which he had done his work. The Club's groundsman also deserved a word of praise for tho excellent order in which be had the courts. The tournament had been rendered all the more pleasant by the sportsmauslike conduct of the competitors. The Rev. Dean concluded his speech amid applause.

The trophies were then presented to tbe successful competitors and three hearty cheers for the president of the Masterton Club brought the ceremony to a conclusion.