PAEROA TENNIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5490, 21 October 1929, Page 2

PAEROA TENNIS.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF SEASON. A DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON. On Saturday afternoon, in perfect weather, the opening of the Paeroa Lawn Tennis Club for the season took place. The courts presented a fascinating picture with the deep green of the grass emphasised by the mat of vari-coloured flowers bordering on the courts. The trellised greenery and bright shrubs made a beautiful background to a beautiful picture, and with the bright-coloured frocks of the ladies presented a fascinating scene. A large number of tennis enthusiasts attended, and besides the members and their friends were visitors from Thames, Ngatea, Kerepeehi, Hikutaia, and other neighbouring clubs. There would have been an even greater number of visitors present had it not been for the fact that the Morrinsville club was holding its opening on the same day. The vice-president, Mr C. N. O’Neill, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr D. G. McMillan, and welcomed the members and friends. He then called on the club’s patron, Mr W. Marshall, to perform the official opening ceremony for the seventh season.

Mr Marshall commented on the growth the club had made from the occasion six years ago when he had opened the courts at the commencement of the first season. No new courts had been laid down during the past year, but the splendid appearance of the grounds and the condition of those courts which had been completed reflected great credit on the members responsible. The club was fortunate in having such a strong body of officers, and it was very nice to see Mr and Mrs McMillan undertaking the duties of public office in the way they were doing. Mr Marshall said he considered that the great advantage "of tennis was that instead of having, as in some sports, a few selected exponents taking part in the game and the great majority doing nothing but looking on, in tennis all had an equal opportunity to play the game.

On the conclusion of the opening address Mrs McMillan opened the courts ,by hitting a ball over the net of one of them, after, which several friendly, games were played. During the course of the afternoon a dainty and delightful afternoon tea was served by the ladies.