LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXVI, 29 December 1900, Page 1206

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

“Vantage.”)

The photograph of Mr. J. Paton, hon. sec. of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, was unavoidably held over last week, and appears in the current issue.

Mr. J. Patterson left for the championship meeting last Tuesday by the Talune. The rest of the team left by the Mapourika on Thursday, the complete list being Parker, Peacock, Patterson, Goldie, Vaile, Davies, Upton, Caldwell and Young.

Miss Gore left last week for Christchurch, with the view of getting some practice in the Southern city before the tournament. She will play with her brother, Mr. H. M. Gore, in the combined championships. A Christchurch correspondent sends me the following information about the meeting, which will doubtless prove of great interest to players in all other parts: The secretary went through the handicap entries last night (December 14), and they are excellent. Seventy-one competitors for the men's single handicap would be rather unwieldy but for our provision for dividing into two grades. AU the leading players of the colony except Marshall seem to have entered. Marshall, I understand, disapproves of the Victorians being allowed to compete in our championships. The men’s handicap doubles has 32 pairs, the combined handicap doubles 33, and the ladies’ events have filled up to last year’s numbers. Dunedin sends a very strong contingent of players numerically, most handicap players, and have supported us most loyally. There are a number of players from Oamaru and a couple from Invercargill. The local entries are good, and there are a good many from Wellington, mostly weU-known names. The West Coast of the North Island and Hawke’s Bay are unrepresented. Shearing being late has, I know, kept Dickie and some others away. Nelson has also sent nothing so far. There are a good many fresh names among the ladies from the South. It remains to be seen how they turn out.

As there has been some speculation as to whether the Australians will visit Auckland, the following extract from a letter written by a member of their team to Mr. A. A. Davies may prove of interest: “The M.C.C. team, consisting of Dunlop and Diddams, Waters, Saxon and McKean, leave Melbourne on the 12th inst., per Monowai, for Christchurch, due to arrive there on the 21st inst. It is onr intention to take pari in whatever matches we may be qualified for at the New Zealand tournament, a match against our team is to be arranged, and on the 2nd or 4th of January we expect to leave for Wellington, and, provided time permits, a game will be played at this port. If this is not possible we disband, three of our party, together with myself, will continue our holiday to Auckland, while the remainder go direct to Sydney. I very much regret

indeed that my partner, Dunlop (of some six years’ standing), and the winner of several single championships. will not be able to accompany me farther north than Wellington. However, those who are able to proceed to Auckland, while not being in any way representative tennis players, are enthusiasts, and are sure to spend a jolly time.”

The quality of the balls used in the recent match betw’een Parker and Hooper has given rise to some little argument in the columns of the Press, but it certainly would be prudent on the part of competitors, especially after the match, to refrain from fighting the match over again on paper. Rather take special precaution beforehand to have best quality balls in readiness yourself. In any case, it should have been the duty of the secretary to the Association to see that proper balls were supplied, and not leave it to the Club on whose lawns the match was played, or to the president of that Club. We understand that Mr S. Diddams, of the Victorian team now visiting New Zealand, will pay a visit to Auckland after the holidays, and a match is already talked about between him and Mr Hooper, which will certainly be very interesting to watch.

Auckland will be fairly well'represented at the Christchurch tournament, and we hope to hear of our boys securing some of the valuable trophies. It may not be too much to expect that they will return with the championship banner, but the Victorian players probably carry too many guns for the New Zealand players.

West End, as usual, have sent their quantum of players, some five or six representatives of that Club going South. J. Patterson left some days in advance of the others via the East Coast. Evidently he intends to arrive early on the scene of action, in order to secure the necessary practice with the Southern and Australian cracks, but players here Well remember that when last he visited Christchurch he Improved so rapidly and exhibited such astonishing form that he caught it hot from the handicappers, and since then he has enjoyed the soubriquet of “Owe 40 Paterson.”

It is unfortunate that the weather was so bad on Saturday week last, causing the postponement of the in-ter-club fixtures. It is probable that a Saturday in each of the months of January, February, and March will be set apart to decide the premier club. Great interest is being manifested in the results.