THE RETURNED TENNIS PLAYERS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 507, 14 May 1909, Page 6

THE RETURNED TENNIS PLAYERS

■ COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.- . ■ Last evening, :at the Grand Hotel, a complimentary dinner was given by the New Zealand Lawn Tonnis Association to the New Zealand ladies' team just newly returned' from thoir trip to Sydnoy.. ilr. H. M. Gore, president of the i Wellington Association, occupied the . chair, .and about forty-five members and friends sat down to dinner. ;Tolcgrams had been'- received by Mr. Goldie, the secretary of the New "Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, from Mr. Bioad, president of the New .Zealand Association, Mr. Logan, vice-president of the Auckland, and Mr. Harraway, vice-president .of the Association) DrJ Leatham, vice-president of the Taranaki 1 Association; Mr. Goss, vice-president of tho Canterbury Association; Mr. Holmes, vice-president o£ the Auckland Association; and Mr. Jones,'secretary of . tho Wellington . Proj vinoial Associationj also'from Dr. Newman, Mr. A. L. Herdman, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, Mr. .A.' Young, and; very, many others, all congratulalting the team on their victories, and regretting their unavoidable absence. > Mr. Malcolm'.Rossi in proposing ; the New South Wales Association, remarked that this occasion was unique in the history of sport in New Zealand.' He also paid" a 'tribute, to. the - nay. in which the Australian ladidq:had taken 'defeat, and the sportsmanlike way in which thoy had played all through. They were all worthy of tho great sport of: lawn tennis. Mr. Blair, in responding, 6aid how pleased he was to see tho Now Zealand ladies win. No one could begrudge them their victories, for they had hot done one unsportsmanlike action. If the other tide were.anxious to promote good feeling, between the States they should give the j'Now Zealand team their right plaoe in the Davis Cup. ~ „ The Chairman, in proposing vThe New Zealand Team," 6poke highly of their play in Australia. Not only had they played a good, solid came, but' they had surpassed all anticipations. New Zealand was to, bo,congratulated on having so many good, sterling - lady players ■ to draw upon in future. It was the third time that New Zealand had been victorious, it remained for tho ladies to win more decisive victories. They had all played well together, interstate matches did a good 'deal to raise the status of the game, and tho Davis Cup gave a still further stimulus to it. Ho wished to congratulate Miss Powdrell on her splendid victories in the New South Wales championship, and to acknowledge how much she and all ; players woro indebted to - tho splendid oxttmplo of Miss Nunneley. -From her they had learnt very much indeed. - Mr. Peacook, m replying: to the toast, said that ho had been asked to say for the ladies that thoy fully appreciated the honour done them. The faot that they had earned with them so many wishes for their succoss helped them tremendously. Ho also wished to pay tribute to Miss Powdrell, whose sterling play had earned her the title of ohamman of all Australia He also wished to say how much players hero i owed -to the : high ■ standard of. play set by Miss Nunneley. Whilo more ladies were be-coming-good players, the same thing could not be said of the men. It was possible that much could \bo done to remedy this by having - coaches. . . ~ , ~,, Professor Hunter, in proposing the health of Mr Gore, remarked on how much tennis in New Zealand owed to him. In roply, Mr. Goro thanked all present for the kind way in which his health had been drunk. Our Musical Friends" was proposed by Mr. Goldie, and responded to by Mr. Hill. Miss Nunneley was called upon to mako a speech, which she did, thanking the association for tho splendid month they had just had, Miss Nunnoley also mentioing how prond she was of Miss Powdrell's play, stating that it was magnificent.. During'tho evening songs were sung by Mr. E. J. Hill, Mr. D. Kenny, and Mr. Parker.