LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS.

. (Bl SIPE-LINE.) Tournament Fixtures. New Zealand Championships at Blenheim, December 26, 27, and 28. Entries closed.' Marlbotough . championships at Blenheim, December 29, 30, 31, and January 2. ' . - -Wellington Provincial Handicap Tournament at Day's Bay, December 26 and 27. ; Entries • closed; Pahiatua, Championship and/Handicap Tournament, January 2 and 3. Entries closb ' Wednesday,' December 28. Hastings 'Handicap Tournament,' December 26, 27, and 28. Entries-closed. Hawke's Bay Championship and Handicap. Tournament, • at • Napier, December 31', .January 2 ,and 3. Entries close today. x . ,- Kangitikei Championships, at' Marton, ;December. 26 ; and . 27. v Dann'evirke Championship and' Handicap Tournament, January 17, -18, and 19. Wellington Provincial Championship and Masterton Handicap Tournament, at Masterton, January 21,-23, and 24. Entries close January 20. . Southland Championship and Handicap, December 2G, 27, and 28. . South Canterbury Championship,' at Ashburton, December 26, 27, and 28.-

Provincial Handicaps. a'meeting of the Management Committee, held on Monday evening, the officers to ...be in charge. of the Handicaps at Day's Bay oil Boxing Day and Tuesday were appointed as follow—Keferee: Mr. TL. T. Eedward; committee: Messrs. E..T. Kedward,'A. G. Henderson, J. S. Barton, J. Longton, P. Staples;'secretary: Mr. .C. A". Lawrence;, handicapping committee: Messrs. D. M. Kean, J. W. Barclay,' C. A. Lawrence. Thei meeting prbmjses'to be a success, even \ though the'entries'of last year are not approacn'eij. In the events that are filled this year the.number of entries is as.follows: —Men's - singles, 39 ; men's doubles, 16; ladies' singles, 28; ladies' doubles, 15; combined events, ;22. The total, is 120 entries. ' Last year tho total was 173, the difference'being largely in the men's entries, as will be seen by tho figures:—Men's singles, first grade, 32, men's singles, second grade, 32—61; men's doubles, 30; •ladies' singles, 33; ladies' doubles, 15; combined", 32. This disparity is rather striking, but, when it is considered that the. business establishments in town are more generally observing holiday during the whole of Christmas week this year, and that there is thus an' opportunity afforded players of seizing on the chance of getting away from town, it is not to be wondered at. The New Zealand Tournament/also takes many players away— 6omo totake part, others to watch.' Day's Bay Courts. Week-end tennis at the bay is now tabooed in order to allow the courts to be properly prepared. The humid condition -of the early part of this week should have materially improved tho state of the turf which was showing the effect of drought and usage. In fact, in somo places, tho term "turf" can hardly i be said to apply, tho grass being quite I absent. These courts really require complete relaying before they can becomo of real value. The sandy nature of the subsoil militates against any chance of t'heta wearing to a satisfactory degree. Control Question. The Management Committee decided, when this subject camo up for discussion, that while being largely favouTablo to Auckland's notion, tho subject was one that must be considered by a. full meeting of delegates, aa it '.was. of great im-

portance, and involved such constitutional ohanges that it was beyond .the jurisdiction of a management, which should only deal with routine business. The .meeting of delegates will be called for the second week in January. Christchurch and Wellington. The invitation fo* the Christchurch annual match has been authorised, the match embracing botii men's and ladies' events. Should it be played at the end of the second week in January and if the visitors can afford the time, . they would liavo an opportunity to visit Dannevirke (whose dates have been put forward to January 17, 18, and ID), nncl then the Wellington provincial championship at Mastert'oii on January 21, 23, and 24. This would mako a capital outing and it is to bo hoped that it will be arranged. New Zealand Meeting. Blenheim will be eu fete for the New Tear, and already, it is understood, ac-commodation-is at a premium. Entries are much beyond anticipations and the crowd that will bo in Blenheim should give a great fillip to the game where it already has a great liold. Some, of the Wellington players going are Messrs. P. M. B. Fisher, J. C. Peacock, F. Laishley, G. F. Smythe, H. W. Brown, F. P. Wilson, Misses Nunncley, Travers, and Cook. Messrs. Holmwood, T. H. Jones, Geo. H. Goldie, Crowes, and many others will also attend the meeting. Dannevirke Tournaments. The action of tho Wellington Provincial Management in giving their championships meeting .to Masterton on the dates about January. 22 was rather re ; sented by the-Dannevirke people, who considered it to be—as in .fact it was intended that it should be—a direct blow at . them. Tho duties of "headquarters" at any time are surely to conserve the, interests of its several parts. This was the reason of Wellington's action. Masterton had held it's tournament every, season for. sorno sixteen years or so at anniversary time, and then Dannevirke, some six years ago, instituted an opposition 'tournament oil the same date, which is' not a holiday in Ilawke's Bay, no doubt to catch tho traveller from the Palmerston and. Woodville districts, who otherwise -.would have gone to Masterton. The result of this has been that the Masterton meeting lias suffered as much as the Dannevirke meeting lias succeeded. The result of - Masterton' being allotted the chariipionships this season .is already shown by the fact that Dannevirke lias put forward its dates. This is very satisfactory showing, as it does, that the justice of the management's action is recognised, as well as the position of Danne : virke in tho matter. Now many players' will b'o able to attend both meetings and legitimate-.rivalry only will prevail. Items of Interest, No definite word has yet come to hand from Palmerston North, and the tennis public are in the dark as to what the club intends to do. Many players would have taken advantage of a tournament to pass the holidays there. . G. A. Hurley, E. O. Austin, and' G. A. Duncan are going to Hastings; the last two 'also to Paliiatua.. Harry Howe and Edwards will make a double at Pnhiatua, where also a party from Newtown will be taking part. Miss Wellwood has been seen taking some good practice in town this week in preparation for - Blenheim. Messrs. Salmond and ICean will not attend the Now Zealand or any meeting, the call of the greenfields proving, too strong. It is understood that the handicaps'will be clayed wholly at Day's Bay, and that, under no consideration, will players be called upon to come into town • should the-weather bo unfavourable to'play.