TENNIS TOPICS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 19, 7 May 1892, Page 476

TENNIS TOPICS

Lovers of lawn tennis in Auckland were favoured with a beautiful day last Saturday for the winding up of the season. The ladies of the Eden and Epsom club were fortunate in having two prizes presented for the handicap singles, viz., a handsome gold brooch, won by Miss Claudia Hardie, and a racquet, which was carried off by Miss Bull. As the afternoon was drawing to a close the President (Mr Heather), in a neat little speech, presented to Mr Blytb, one of the most prominent and energetic players, who is on the eve of his departure for Christchurch with an excellently finished photograph of the Eden and Epsom Club members, taken in Mr Hanna’s best style. There is a feeling of genuine regret amongst tennis players as well as friends and acquaintances at losing Mr Blyth, whose enthusiasm both as a player and supporter of the game is well known. It is chiefly owing to his efforts that the Eden and Epsom Club owes its existence, and he, no doubt, feels great satisfaction in the fact that this club for the second time holds the premier position in Auckland. The Eden Club will most probably give an entertainment this winter, partly as a means of keeping the members together during the close season, and also to augment the funds of the club to enable them to still further improve the surroundings, etc., of their already beautiful ground.

Quite a crowd collected on the New Plymouth tennis ground on Saturday, firstly to witness the match between Hawera and New Plymouth, and secondly because of the closing of the courts for the season. Hawera was represented by Messrs Tonks, Mair, and Smith, and there being one man short, Mr Rolleston (of the Bank of New South Wales, New Plymouth) also played for the visitors. The local players were Messrs Lightfoot, Jack Wilson, Stanley Smith, and Little. Hawera had the best of the game throughout, and won both doubles and singles easily.

A CORRESPONDENT from Wellington says :—‘ With great reluctance we have had to give up. playing on our grass lawn tennis grounds, and lawn tennis on the concrete and asphalte courts is now beginning in earnest. I hear that in several towns in New Zealand lawn tennis is dying down to a certain extent. In Wellington it is quite the reverse, for I have never before seen such active interest taken as in our recent tournaments, or indeed such keen competition. It is a capital winter game, but unfortunately we have so few winter courts that very few can keep in practice during the offseason ; but even then there is no lack of interest.’