DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4780, 24 November 1924, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITAKAKUBU. OPENING OF POM AIN. The Waitakaruru Domain and the tennis court thereon were officially opened on Saturday afternoon in ideal weather. There was a large attendance of residents and many representatives of the various sister tennis clubs on the Plains. The tennis court was laid down by direction of the Domain Board, and the use of it has been granted to the Waitakaruru Tennis Club at a rental sufficient to meet the interest and sinking fund on the amount of money invested thereon. It is of concrete top-dressed with rar. A pavilion has been provided on the domain near the court with funds donated by the Waitakaruru Sports Club. A donation of £l9 was made last season by the Tennis Club to the Domain Board, and the remainder of the financing has been by bank overdraft guaranteed by members of the board and Messrs H. L. Berney and A. McClean. Much work has been done on the domain by voluntary labour, and more will shortly be undertaken. The ground was originally very rough, but has t been levelled and made ready to receive paspalum seed. It is intended to provide two football fields, with a concrete cricket pitch between the goal-posts. The domain comprises an area of ten acres, and is situated about a mile along the Pipiroa road from the canal. It was granted by the Government upon representations made some years ago by the Waitakaruru- Farmers’ Union. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr C. W. Harris, chairman of the board, whd outlined the activities of the board since its constitution and thanked those residents of the district who had so generously assisted with the improvements that had been effected. He mentioned that shelter trees had been planted, and they were growing well, and all that was how required in addition, m what had been authorised to make vthe reserve an ideal spot for recreation was the provision for seating. In that connection he offered to supply one seat if five others were donated. The domain would be for the use of the people for all time, and he suggested that if any of the sports clubs in the district had any accumulated funds they could not do better, than donate them for expenditure on the domain. Referring to tennis, Mr Harris paid a tribute to the generosity of Mr W. Stretton, who for many years had permitted the tennis club to use his court. Mr Stretton was really the father of tennis in Waitakaruru, and Mr Harris said he was very glad that Mr Stretton had been made ah honorary life-member. Mr Harris then drove a tennis ball over the net and declared the .tennis court and domain open for the use of the people for alj time.