LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2314, 23 November 1914, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS

\ MUNICIPAL COURTS GPENED AT WILLIAMS PARK ■' - v ■ •"-. Williams Park;' Day's Bay, wa6 formally opened, for municipal lawn tennis on Saturday afternoon by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). The original idea when the City Council took over the property waß to lease the tenr nis grounds to the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association, but the association and the Reserves Committee were unable to agree upon terms, and negotiations fell through. Subsequently 'the City Council decided to institute a system of municipal'tennis, and the charges were fixed at the ordinary meeting hold on November 12.. The courts are to bo open to' the public on week days at a cost of. Is. per court per hour, the council to'.have the use of the association's nets and material. ; Season tickets, will be;issued at a guinea, arid when charges are -made for tournaments the. conditions governing the charges for city reserves will apply. , : At the official opening oh Saturday the attendance was limited owing to tho unpleasant Weather conditions. In addition to the Mayor (Mr.-J. P. Luke), those present included the. chairman.or the Reserves Committee (Councillor G. Frost), Councillor L. M'Kenzie (member of the committee), Mr. H: M. Gore (president of the Wellington Lawn. Tennis Association), and the Hon. A. L. Herdman and Councillor H. Buddie (both vice-presidents of the W.L.T.A.).

.In declaring the courts' open, the Mayor congratulated the Lawn Tennis Association on the satisfactory arrangements for the furtherance of the gamo. The Day's Bay property would not only be a valuable asset as 'a ground to the citifiens'of Wellington, and those on the'eastern side of the harbour, but under the new conditiajis it would be of immense benefit to visitors to .the' city as an oulet for recreation. The placing of the grounds under municipal control was another indication of the progressiveness of the City of Wellington: •. Referring to the problem of finance, which had to be overcomo when the! movement' to secure the grounds was first set on foot,: _Mf. Luke paid a tribute to the enterprise of the citizens responsible for 'the campaign to raise the necessary money/ and remarked that the their efforts was largely due to the'substantial support given by, Mrs. M.. A. Williams, whose, assistance had been recognised when the .newly-acquired reserve was called Williams Park. Mr. Luke went on to trace, the negotiations . between the Government and the City Council in connection with the purchase of the When the required money was not forthcoming from-the public in time to close the deal, he had (on behalf of the citizens) communicated with the Prime Minister, and obtained _ a promise of assistance, though 'the Prime Minister ( could not pledge Cabinet until a meeting took place. : Mr.'Luke then interviewed all the Ministers in Wellington, and he now felt sure that 'the Government would, in conjunction with the City Council,. shoulder as much of the cost ,as' was 'necessary. By their assistance the' Government were already; 'assooiating the national spirit with' the movement, and the City: Council had taken a wide view of the scheme, and would not slacken in the efforts to carry it on 'successfully:'. ■■' ■'". '•' -

';: Councillor. G. Frost, in. the' course 'ofa few remarks, explained the Reserves Committee's connection with the :pa'rk;. The responsibility^for:' its .control' had been- assumed-iafteij the annual allocations,' and the. expense at the present time was something like £30 per week. The- onIy ; inco.mo.in_ the first place .waa rent from the pavilion, but the results from the new system of charges prom.: Ssed to furnish fetter returns than-would have been the case had the proposed arrangement with the Lawn Tennis 'Association been carried out. "The Reserves' Committee .was fully alive 1 to the necessity of proceeding with necessary improvements, 1 and would go on'with the most suitable.-' ■■-' ''■'■''.'.".

The Hon.' A L. Herdman also spoke, emphasising the fact that the Government, was anxious to lose no 'opportunity of assisting the people Jo secure 'proper.outlets for fresh air and recreation. He wished the'new movement every success, and promised to do anything he could to assist'towards that end. ■• . J . ■

Councillor M'Kenzie pointed put several lines on which the new scheme could be developed for the benefit of the and indicated work which might be undertaken by the Reserves Committee in connection with the.'bush, the beach, and,the playing ground. The courts were then opened by- the ball being sent across the net' by the Mayor and Councillor Frost, the rally beings of short duration. Mr. Gorej who acted.as host for the occasion, afterwards entertained the' visitors at afternoon tea, and the gathering terminated 'with three cheers for the Mayor., ", BROUGHAM HILL CLUB. Progress results in connection with the Brougham Hill LaWn Tennis Club's handicap events ore as. follow :— / Men's Handicap Singles.—D. Grace !.(8) defeated G. Grace (10), 50-39; Edwards (scr.) defeated Morison (8), 50—41. ■•'--

; Men's Handjcajr Doubles.—Final: J. A. B. and H., V. Howe (owe 6) defeated Roberts and Ward- (10), 50-33.: Combined Handicap.—Miss Davib and J. A. B. Howe', (2) defeated Misß Sullivan and Sullivan. (24), :.'..' •Ladies' Handicap. Singles.—Mrs. W. E. Howe (owes 4) defeated Miss E. Stevens. (4),' 40-38 Miss.Miller (18) defeated Mr?. W, E. Howe (owes 4), 40-20.- ,'■ ■■.:''■ ■■■■'..', ■■■.-.-. Ladies' Handicap-Doubles.—Miss Sullivan arid' Mrs. ■ Burton (10)-. defeated Miss Howe and Mrs.; W. E. Howe (2); ,40-rl2. Final: Misses Miller and Buchan (20) defeated Miss Sullivan and ' Mrs. ■Burton (10), 40—21, WELLINGTON OLUB. \ In the Wellington Lawn Tennis Club's' handicap events, results in the initial rounds are as follow:— ■ Ladies'-Handicap Singles.—Miss Plimmer (5) beat Mißs Muir (18), 50—47; Miss Allman (24) beat Mrs. Henderson (15), 50—43. Second Round: Miss Rout (80) boat Miss D. Veitch (18),- 50—33; Miss Webb (2) beat Miss Thompson (12), 60—35; Miss Maok (5) beat Miss Pearson (8), 50—35; Miss Hayes (18) beat Miss Hannah (scr.), 50—41; Miss Plimmer (5) beat Miss Atmore (scr.), 50r-46; Miss Allman (24) beat Miss Mil:ligton (27), 55—53. Third Round: Mies Hayes (18) beat Miss Mack (5), 50--40; Missßout (30) beat Miss Rigg (10), 50 —34; Miss Plimmer (5) heat Miss P. Veitch (18), 50-43. Men's Handicap Singles.—Grady (2) beat Reidy, (20), 60-50; F. Marshall (25) beat Russell (17), 60—48;.0'Hara- ' Smith' (7) beat B. Van Staveren (10), 60—36; Eggleston (30) beat Hyams (12), 60—54; Correll (scr.) beat Irons''(2o), 60—54; Grant (owes 20), beat W. Irons (5), 60 —45). Second Round: Henley (owes 5) beat Grady (7-). 60—50; O'Hara-Sm'ith (7), beat Marshall (25), 60—45; Clinkard (15) beat Grant (owes 20), 60—52. ' . . . • v NEWTOWN CLUB. Capital progress has been made with the Newtown Lawn Tennis Club's handicap events. Results of-games to date are as follow:— . Men's Handicap Singles:—First Pound: Norris (8) beat Sissons (12),' [50-48. Second Round: Harvlo (16)

beat Pratt (6), 50-42; M'Kenzie (8) beat Collins (10), '50-48; Bowen. (10) beat Clark (6), 50—44; Bray (10) boat Murray (14), 50-46; Dumbell (25) beat Read (12), 52—50.'

Ladies' Handicap Singles.—First Round: Mrs. Bell (owe 7) beat- Miss Jenkins (scr),, 50—38; Miss Dempsey (scr.) beat Miss M'Lean (9), Hendry (15) beat Miss Pointon (20), 50—46.' Second Round: Miss I. Clark (7) beat Miss Carson (18), 50—44; Miss Printzen (3) beat Miss F. Watson (15), 50—41; Miss Robinson (owe 10) beat Miss A. Webb (20), 50—48? Mrs. Nagle (owe 15), beat Miss Yeitch. (5), 60—47; Mrs. Rhodes (7) beat Miss M. Watson (20), 50—47; Miss Hendry (15) beat Miss M, Webb (18), 50—47: Miss Clark (owe 5) beat Miss Redward (10), 50—43. Semi-final: Mrs. Nagle (owe 15) beat Mrs; Rhodes (7), 60—36.

Men's Handicap Doubles.—First Round: Clark and Pratt (4) beat Sissons and Jackson (10), 50—43; Collins and Bray (15) beat Jones and Read (10), 50—38j Redward and Smith (scr.) beat M'Kenzie and Harvie (12), 50—47. Second Round: Collins and Bray (15) beat Redward and Smith (sor.), 50—35. Ladies' Handicap Doubles.—Mrs. Naglo and Mrs. Bell (owe 16) beat Misses A. Webb and Hendry (20), 50— 41. Second Round: Mrs. Nagle and Mrs. Bell (owe 16) boat Misses Robinson and Smallbone (scr.), 50—41. /