TENNIS IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue IV, 25 January 1896, Page 93

TENNIS IN WELLINGTON.

LAWN tennis in Wellington received a big fillup on account of the Championship Meeting, which was held there on the 26th, 27th, and 28th December, and the fact that both the lady and gentleman champions belong to that city. This is all the more creditable to the Empire City when it is taken into account that, owing to the scarcity of available ground, it has for many years possessed practically only two Clubs—the Thorndou and the Te Aro. Within the last few weeks, the lease of the latter Club having run out, the Courts have been sold for building purposes. The members are making a big effort to secure another ground, but land is a very scarce and dear commodity in the Empire City. It is to be hoped for the sake of lawn tenuis ( which is undoubtedly one of the most sociable and best allround games), and also for the sake of many young and very promising players, that a site suitable for establishing new Courts will soon be secured. The Championship Meeting is held under the control of the New Zealand l.awn Tennis Association, of which Mr J. Hurst Seagar is the hon. secretary. To this is affiliated the different local Associations, which in their turn contain the principal clubs in their district. Previous to the last Championship Tournaments, meetings had been held only in Auckland, Napier. Christchurch, and Dunedin in turn. Now Wellington and Nelson will each in their turn have a meeting. Next year the Championships will be played in Nelson. The local association hording the meeting has the entire management of same, and is responsible for the success or otherwise thereof. The following are the officers of the Wellington Association : —President, R. M. Simpson ; vice-presidents, H. M. Gore, F. A. Pearson ; hon. secretary, Arthur Young ; hon. treasurer, Jas. Wilson ; committee, F. A. Kebbell, S. R. Kennedy, H. J. Reid, W. Clayton, J. Harrold, F. J. Parsons; and C. C. N. Barron, referee. The Championship Meeting was voted by all a great success, and the visitors were charmed with the magnificent weather and the good courts. Many old playeis who had attended former Championship Meetings were loud in their praise, and said that they had never attended a more satisfactory or better-managed Meeting. Not a single hitch occurred, and the proceedings generally reflected much credit on the management. The attendance each day was large, and the spectators were very enthusiastic, and impartially applauded the many good and exciting bits of play. Some very fine play was shown, noticeably in the Championship Doublesin the games between the Christchurch cracks, Messrs Collins and Harman, and the two Marshalls, and Collins and Harman against the two Gores. These games were well worth witnessing, and were much appreciated by the onlookers. The play in the final Championship Singles between Parker and Hooper was rather disappointing. The players seemed afraid of each other, and would not hit strongly, and a lot of solt play resulted. Towards the finish, however, Parker played with more confidence, and made some verybrilliant shots. He proved too fast for his opponent. Undoubtedly the feature of the Tournament was the clay of the Lady Champion, Miss Nunneley. She proved tr and away superior to any other lady player in NewZealand. She was one of the best players in England, and there are very few gentlemen players in Wellington who can beat her. Some of the visiting players did not think it possible for a lady to beat them, and after the Tournaments arranged matches with her, and, much to their chagrin, they found that she was far too many for them.