NGATEA TENNIS COURTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4936, 8 February 1926, Page 3

NGATEA TENNIS COURTS

OPENING ON SATURDAY. INNOVATION OF CHIP COURTS. An event that moved from Ngatea the stigma of being the most backward place on the Hauraki Plains in the eyes of tennis players and placed it in its rightful position as the tennis centre of the county, took place on Saturday, when the Ngatea Tennis Club’s four new courts' were officially opened. There has been a tennis club in Ngatea for years but most of its members held no stake in the district and settlers seemed to take little interest, so it was not until recently that a “live wire” appeared and got the club moving in foe direction of. providing courts for itself. This was Mr J. N. Anderson, the late Assistant County Engineer, and it was also due to his efforts that an agreement was made with Mr T. McLean, whereby he was, to provide land and lay down three concrete courts for which the club was to pay its annual instalments. It was> while preparing for this work that the advantage of chip courts was discovered. Chip courts are less- costly and much to be preferred .to hard concrete for the playing of lawn tennis, as. they have the advantages of a sward with none of its disadvantages. Messrs. Anderson and A. McClean were deputed ".to make further inquiries and to proceed as they thouught advisable and as a res,ult the club hats' now four chip courts that will probably cost much less than the . three concrete courts previously authorised. The work was done under the supervision of Messrs, Anderson and A. McClean, and it is acknowledged that an excellent job has resulted, great credit being due to Messrs Me--Clean, Douglas, and Mclnnesi for their workmanship. Some work was, also done by the few members of the club who took an interest in its affairs at that stage. The method adopted in construction was to remove the peat soil from above the clay with scobpis and then lay a coat of red metal and roll it firm with a ten-ton road roller. On this was laid a coat of clay, which was, worked fine and then rolled firm. Some delay was experienced in the delivery of metal, chips on account bf the erratic working of .the Hikutaia quarry, but this proved of advantage, as it permitted greater consolidation of the clay during the wet weather. On the arrival of the chips they were spread on the clay during rain and rolled in .to form the wearing surface. The result is that the courts are .as springy and as easy on playersi as grass ones, yet as true and almost as lasting as' concrete without the 'cost of maintenance of asphalt. They have been well designed, and the condition and general arrangement should meet the requirements, of the most fastidious. The opening of the courts was- held as soon as. possible, taking place on Saturday, despite .the bad weather that prevailed. The residents of Ngatea and members of kindred cl’ubs were invited to be present; preparations being made for the entertainment of a big crowd of visitors. On Saturday morning the question of postponing the function was considered, but in view of the difficulty of this, ,and the hope that the ,weather would improve—it being remembered that not for three seasons has a tennis match on the Plains been abandoned on account of wet weather —it was decided to proceed. Some sixtyodd persons,* were present, comprising many intending members and representatives- of several other clubs. Several showers fell during the afternoon, but these only stopped the play while they lasted, as the courts dried up almost immediately. Mr Bertelsen, president of the club, in a short address, in the temporary pavilion during one of the showers, thanked the visitors for being prepent and expressed the hope that they would have many pleasant games on the Ngatea courts in the future. After urging the people of Ngatea .to join the club and help make it one of the premier clubs of the district he called on Mrs Bertelsen to drive a ball over a net and declared the courts open tor play. On account of the high wind tennis was difficult to play, but the courts were kept occupied between the showers. Visiting players spoke in high terms of the courts, and predictions were made that other blubs would watch them with interest this season in case extensions became necessary at their courts. ' The Hauraki Plains Tennfe Association has' made the Ngatea club an offer to lease the courts for its important matches, so the way is, now open for Ngatea -to become the tennis centre of the Plains, What is needed is the people of the district to take a greater interest in the welfare of the club, and players to become members.