HIKUTAIA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4622, 7 November 1923, Page 4

HIKUTAIA.

ALLEY MEMORIAL PARK. OPENING OF BOWLING, TENNIS, AND CROQUET SEASON. The official opening of the Hikutaia bowling gr,een, tennis courts, and croquet lawn for the season 1923-24 took place on Saturday at the Alley Memorial Park, where between 500 and 600 people assembled to take part in the games or participate in the ceremony. Though a large number of visitors had been expected, the attendance was much greater than anticipated, but the heartiness of the welcome accorded them, and the evident pleasure,their visit gave to the members of the local clubs, gave everyone feel so much at home that everyone found it incumbent upon them to do all that could be done to reciprocate the hearty greetings by entering fully into the spirit that pervaded the function. Thames and Paeroa were well represented, while Netherton, Kopu, Turua, Ngatea, Kerepeehi, To Aroha, and other places sent their contingents, so that with the local residents the assemblage was as large and representative of the district as it was sympathetic and enthusiastic. The Alley Memorial Park looked well, both the bowling green and the crcqiiet lawn, reflecting the care and attention that had been bestowed on them, during their spell of rest The only “ fly in the ointment ’’ was the disappointment of the tennis players when they saw from the absence of the usual white lines that the (courts were unplayable, but that feeling soon passed away, to be succeeded by sympathy with the members of the local club, all of .whom had to the ve’y last moment been buoyed up with the hope that play would still be possible. The mixture used in renovating the courts, however, refused to set, and the grounds superintendent (Mr H. Morrison) did not care to risk, with likelihood of untoward results, the damage that might follow. The very great majority soon stifled anv personal feeling, and found pleasure in meeting old friends, making new ones, and watching the quieter games of bowls and croquet, or listening to the excellent music. rendered by Mr C. Smith’s or'chestra. which did so much to add t,o the enjoyment of the. day’s proceedings. The advent of so many visitors!, it was feared, Would strain the commissariat to the utmost; but from 2.30 1 on to 5.30 relay after relay passed into the tent and emerged fully satisfied, and still there was abundance, not only of tasty and dainty cakes, but of the luscious ice cream that «s so palatable on a bright, warm day. The hostesses, Mesdames Alf. Alley, W. H. Alley, L. Alexander, J. Elliott, I. M. Murdock, A. R. Robinson, I. M. Robinson, and M. C. Smith, together with Miss Frost and a band of willing and energetic assistants excelled themselves, worked like Trojans, and well deserved the compliments sc freely showered upon them. Punctually at 2 P.m. MT A. R. Robinson introduced M!r T. W. Rhodes, M.P., to the large gathering that in obedience to the summons of the bell assembled in front of the pavilion. Mr Rhodes, after contrasting the park of some 18 months ago with its appearance that day, expressed his pleasure at forming one of so large a gathering, and his gratification on seeing the vast improvements effected, as well as the wholesome appreciation of a notable playing area, not only by the local people, but by the representatives of the numerous places round about from Thames to Te Aroha and Waihi. The generous gift of the land by Mr W. H. Alley for the purposes it now subserved had made this beauty, spot possible, and the hard work engendered in laying it out in ,so fine a manner must have somewhat repaid the donor for his munificence. The gift, of the land redounded to Mr Alley’s credit and would perpetuate his name as long as Hikutaia was Hikutaia. In the preparation of the various portions many had laboured ungrudgingly, and while the list of workers was a long one he thought that Messrs Hugh and R. R. Morrison were deserving of special mention: the former for supervising all the work done, and the latter for laying put the grounds and determining the levels. How well they had done their work was evidenced by the greens they were about to play on. The members of the club appreciated not only the gift but the amount of labour expended, and to commemorate the donor it was decided to put in the place of honour in the pavilion the fine picture of Mr Alley, which he had now to unveil. Loud prolonged cheers were given for Mr Alley, these being followed by the hearty singing of “ He’s a jolly good fellow.” On the call of Mr A. R. Robinson a similar compliment was paid to Mr Rhodes. Mr Alley, who is president of the Bowling Club, thanked Mr Rhodes for the flattering terms in which he had alluded to his gift of the land for the present park. He felt proud to see so many with them, and hoped tihat the outing would prove satisfactory and enjoyable. If these grounds provided the means for the enjoyment of clean and healthy sport he would be amply repaid for the little he had done. He was sorry that the tennis courts! were not playable, and hoped .that their tennis friends would visit them shortly, when for the followers of that fascinating game the opening, he hoped, would be repeated. He truste d that the games played that afternoon would prove enjoyable and well contested. Amid loud and prolonged cheers Mrs Alley rolled the jack up the green and the president declared the season 1923-24 duly opened. Simultaneously, Mr Geo. Avery, president of the croquet club, heartily welcomed the numerous players present, and in a few well-chosea words declared the lawn open after Mrs A. Robinson had successfully driven a ball through one of the loops. Flay then started and was continued until cows, trains, or darkness

demanded the departure of the visitor's. Before leaving the presidents of the various clubs present thanked the “ baby ” club for the abounding hospitality which all had ,sp much enjoyed, eulogised the keenness of the green, complimented the grounds superintendent on the result, of his labours, acknowledged the excellent efforts of the orchestra, and expressed their appreciation of all that the ladies had effected to impress on their memories pleasant recollections of their visit to Hikutaia. Cheers for the 'local club, the visitors, the orchestra, and the ladies brought proceedings to an end. Appended are details of the bowling :— Pringle, Jonassen, Handrup, Frogley (skip) 21 v. Mcßeynolds, M. Morrison, McCullough, Hamilton (skip) 22; Mettam, Lloyd, Henry, Wf.tson (skip) 29 v. Delampre, R. Hamilton, Southberg, Wells (skip) 17: Black, Hudson, Cater,, Hovell (skip) 21 v. Valentine, H. Murray, Bird, Franklin (skip) 16 ; Hale, M’annix, Ellis, G. Cordes (skip) 19 r. Hitchcock, Fern, Cameron, de Castro (.skip) 16 ; Pivott, Murray, W. K. Morrison, Taylor (skip) 23 v. Say, Phillips, Hague-Smith, R. Hill (skip) 18 ; Olsen, Gibb, Dare, Clark (skip) 26 v. M. Morrison, G. ■ Buchan, Alexander, A. R. Robinson (skip) 21: McCullay, Long, Johns, P. Williams (skip) 26 v. Her.wood, Sing, Morland, Carr (skip) 12; Walton, Cullen, Brown, Inglis (skip) 24 v. Bonice, Stansfiield, R. M. Rhodes, Power (skip) 16 ; Lane, Spencer, E. Elliot, Adamson (skip) 18 v. Hutchinson, Robson, Bateman, Pinder, (skip) 29 ; Thorp, R. R. Morrison, D. Simpson, Collins (skip) 35 v. J. Pringle, Causley, Duffield, Cameron (skip) 9. The games resulted in a decided win for the president’s side, the total score being 242 as against 176 made by the vice-president’s (Mi; A. R. Robinson) rinks.