Lawn Tennis.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14, 2 October 1912, Page 9

Lawn Tennis.

WELLINGTON.

(By

“ROMULUS.”)

W'.P.L.T.A.'s Annual Meeting. The annual general meeting of the Provincial Association was held last Wednesday night, Mr G. A. Hurley In the ehair. The number of delegates present was about twenty. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr H. M. Gore; vice-presidents, Hon. A. L. Herdman, Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Professor Hunter and Messrs. E. Y. Red ward, G. N. Goldie (Wellington), Dean McKenna (Masterton), Rev. T. Morrah (Palmerston North), W. H. Siineox (Otaki), and the president of the Feilding Club; vicepresident of the New Zealand Association, Mr 11. M. Gore; delegates to New Zealand Association, Messrs R. St. J. Beere, A. G. Henderson, C. A. Lawrence, G. A. Hurley and "D. M. Kean; lion, secretary, Mr D. Murray Kean; hon. match secretary, left to management of committee; lion, treasurer, Mr W. J. Robertson; management committee, Messrs R. St. J. Beere, A. G. Henderson, C. A. Jeffery, C. A. Lawrence, F. A. Lewis, E. J. Simpson and Dr. Isaacs; hon. auditor, Mr J. S. Barton, F.I.A.N.Z. Mr Barclay moved, in accordance with notice given: "That the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's levy on this association of up to threepence per member bo in future charged against the several clubs for transference to each member, in addition to the present annual subscription; and that rule 7 be amended accordingly.” In speaking to the motion the mover said the fee charged by the New Zealand Association had been increased from £3 3/ to £l7 9/, and the association had not funds to meet this unless some special charge was made. Dr. Isaacs seconded the motion. After numerous amendments had been moved, it was finally decided that consideration of the motion be deferred to a future meeting. The following notice of motion was given by Mr F. I’. Wilson: “That the New Zealand's Association's levy on this association be met, and a fund be inaugurated for the provision of grounds in the future, by a levy on the affiliated dub's of one shilling and threepence per member of city clubs and sixpence per member of country elubs, in addition to the ordinary subscription; such surplus levy to be kept in a separate fund, and that the attention of clubs bo drawn to the benefits of such provision of grounds, and the small tax imposed on each member, and that rule 7 be amended accordingly.” Other business matters decided were: —- (T) As the final of the continued doubles at the Provincial Championship Tournament, held in January last, had not been played owing to a misunderstanding, it was decided that the Hon. F. B. M. Fisher—Miss E. Travers, and Mr E. Salmond—Miss E. Williams, be bracketed as the champions. (2) On the motion of Mr W. J. Organ it was decided that the grades in the Inter-club < 'ompetitions be known as senior, junior, third and fourth class. The mover stated that he did not see why grades should be disguised under names (shield, cup, pennant and racquet) which the public did not understand. (3) An application from the Pahiatua Club for the next Provincial Championship was referred to the incoming management committee. (4) The trophies won during the season in the inter-club contests were presented to the delegates of the suceeessul elubs by the chairman, and bonuses of ave and two guineas respectively were voted to the lion, secretary and hon, treasurer. Wellington Club. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Club was held on Tuesday evening last at the Town Hall, Mr. H. P. F. Blundell presiding. The report and the balance-sheet (already published) were adopted on the motion of the chairman. In commenting upon the financial aspect—a shortage of income compared with expenditure of £72 —Ml - . H. W. Brown urged that efforts be made to secure more members for the coming season. The balance in hand was some £42, and was so far satisfactory, but it was essential, in view of departures and intended departures, that new members should be secured. On the motion of Mr. Jeffrey it was decided to alter the rules to provide

that the subscription should be £2 12s. for gentlemen—a reduction of 10s., which would be further reduced by 10s. if paid before December 1. Officers were elected as follows:—President, Dr. Young (re elected) ; viee pre sidents, Messrs H. P. F. Blundell. Reid, C. Watson, T. M. Wilford, -w..., the lion. A. L. Herdman, M.P., and Dr. Gilmer ; committee, Misses Francis and Williams and Messrs W. Fraser, A. J. Ferule, F. W. Crombie ; hon. auditor, Mr. G. Shand ; hon. treasurer, Mr. M. C. Stranger ; hon. secretary, Mr. O. A. Jeffrey.

It was mentioned that eleven new members had been elected in the previous week.

A motion of appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. A. W. McNicol as committeeman and treasurer was recorded. General Notea. Brougham Hill, and Newtown clubs were to have had their official openings on Saturday afternoon but the weather circumstances when the mail left Wellington did not point to much tennis. Wellington and Petone clubs start the season in earnest on Saturday next when their official functions take place. • The City of Sydney Ghampif iship Doubles have just been won by A. B. Jones and G. Wright (N.S.W. champions 1909), who defeated E. L. Jones ami Horace Rice in the final, 14—12. 6—4, B—6.

A. F. Wilding has definitely announced his retirement from serious first-class tennis (in the strict sense of the term). Although there have been many rumours lately to the effect that Wilding intended to retire from big tennis, his own definite announcement on the subject will doubtless come as a regrettable, surprise to the many 'thousands who know and admire Anthony Wilding as one of the foremost figures in the history of lawn tennis. Though only twenty-nine years of age he has not only won and retained, for three years in succession, the highest honours of the game in England, but statistics show 4,’iat during the past eight, years, the achievements of the champion (all England) on the Continent, in Australasia and South Africa have never been equalled or approached by any living player.