LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

[By Backhand.]

CENERAL NOTES AND FIXTURES. January 22, 23. and 24—Wellington Provincial Championships and Wairarapa Handicap meeting, at Masterton. January 22, 23, and 24—Dannevirke Lawn Tonnis Club's Tournament (championships and handicaps) at Dannevirko. January 29, 30, and 31—Waipawa Lawn Tcnnia Club's annual open tournament, ad Waipawa. Local items. On Anniversary Day a team representing the Victoria College Tennis Club will play tho Otaki Lawn Tennis Club at Otaki. At the-time of writing the selection of the team i& not complete, but it will consist of from six to eight men and a number of ladies. Copies of. tho rules to govern tho new scheme of inter-club matches in Wellington wero being typed during tho week, and as some challenges are already in, the matches will won be courmencea. The rules provide that a challenge must be accepted within seven days, and stipulates that games in connection with the competition must be played on Saturdays. Every club must forward tho. names of the members of its team with the challenge. Officials of the Masterton Lawn Tennia Club anticipate having all the best New Zealand players present at tho provincial championships, to be held at Mastorton during the coming week. Entries closo to-day with tJio secretary (Mr. H. M. Boddington), P.O. box 23, Masterton. In Auckland. On account of the Now Zealand championships being held in Auckland during Christmas week, the club matches did not progress, and up to the present tho Dunlop Shield matches hare not commenced. It is to be hoped that these matches will not be permitted to drag on as was the case last year (says "Lynx" in tho "New Zealand Herald")," although it is admitted' that with the championship tournament in tho foreground thero will not be much opportunity to got the matches under way' this month. The Auckland championship tournament commences on Saturday week, January 24, and will be continued on Anniversary Day, January 29, and on the following Saturday. The ground on which the championships will be decided has not yet been definitely fixed, but it is expected that tho first two days' play will be on tho Itcmuera Club's courts, and tho finals on the Eden and Epsom courts. Tho returi match. Auckland Association against the King Country Association, is to be played at tho Eden and Epsom ■ courts to-day. It will be remembered that a team of colts journeyed to Taumarunui at the end of last season, and somewhat easily defeated tho country players. It is not intended on the present occasion to select an Auckland team quite up to tho strength of last j-ear'e team, and a close and interesting match should result. Tho Now Zealand Champion. Wallace, tho New Zealand tenuis champion of tho. present year, lvas a Christchurch boy, "being a'son-of the late F. M. Wallace,, the well-known musician. A southern writer savs that ho learnt his tennis as a Echoolboy on the Cranmer squaro courts, that nursery of so many famous New Zealand playand he then showed skill which was surprising in one so young. Upon Wring school he loft for Taranaki to follow farming pursuitSj but unfortunately 3iis now homq'Va's in'"an. r ;isb!nte'd I 'part, .jnd his tennis 'suffered for l.iok of praotice. He, hc-wever, met as a friend that sterling player, Dickio. and they seized tho few opportunities which offeied to got Rood play. His win must be very gratifying to him, for it is the reward of a steady persistence against obstacles which very few players have to surmount. New Davis Gun Rules. The new Davis Cup rules arc really the old rules slightly altered, and nil tho prophecies in the "Field" that tho naturo of the contests would bo altered so as to restore tho alleged original idon of an annual contest between England and America, or to hnve the locality fixed of changing ■ bv definite rotation, have proved, unfounded. Is is pleasing (snyfl the "Australasian") to oee that the threats made in some quarters a vear or so neo that the rules would be altered so as to prevent Australasia at any time holdins tho cut> for more than a limited period, or, rather, having the challenge round played in Australasia for more than a definite number of years should she regain the cup at a future date, havo not materialised. Tho only alteration of importance which results from tho recent conference of the countries who have competed is that tho entries mast state tho kind of court and surface to bo used, and it must bo a natural gritty surface; wood or such surfaces as asphalt or concrete arcs barred. Cencral Jottings. 11l connection with tho Waipawa Lawn Tennis Club's open tournament at the end of the present month, tho secretary (Mr. Geo. Hunt) advises that entries close on Monday, January 26. At tho annual meeting of the Lawn Tennis Association (England) held in London last month, a resolution was adopted in the following form: "Now that the World's Lawn Tennis Championships on grass havo been accepted bv tlio.L.T.A.'on behalf of the British Isles, it is desirable that, tho Council consider method of selecting the ball for tho championships." With a view to encouraging "colts" in Victoria, Mr. C. S. Galgraith has presented a shield for competition between thoso who are .not quite good enough for tho open championship singlos but too good for tho "second open singles." Gordon Inglis, the representative, in England, of tho Australasian Association, has been honoured by being mado an honorary life member of the Sport- j ing Club do Paris, tho leading club in France, corresponding in a great measuro to Queen's Club in London. As thero are in nil only six honorary life members of the French club, tho honour is undoubtedly a big ono. In tho Rotorua Tenuis Tournament which concluded on Saturday last Mrs. Scott Watson (Rotorua) won tho Ladies' Championship, and W. Pearso (Canterbury) won tho Men's Championship. Exhibition games wero subse-; quently played:—Fisher beat W. Pearse (Canterbury), fi—G, G—l, 6—4. Fisher and Gillon beat Pearse and Snelling, 4-6. 8-6. 7—5.