Foxton Lawn Tennis Club.

Manawatu Herald, 17 September 1896, Page 2

Foxton Lawn Tennis Club.

The annual general meeting of the Foxton Lawn Tennis Club was held last night in the Masonic Hall at 8 o'clock. There was a good attend* ance. The chair was occupied by one of the vice-presidents (Mr W, $. Stewart.) The minutes of the last general meeting were read and confirmed. Mr P. Curtis, the secretary, read the. following report and balancesheet : — ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1895-96. Ladies and Gentlemen, — The Committee have to report that the season just ended has been a fairly prosper* ous one to the Club, considering that great depression has been felt in the town generally. On tho books we have 19 lady members and 17 gentle* - • men, but from these we are sorry to J say must uow be ducted Mrs Cowles, Miss Burr, Miss Williams, and the Missss Lamb, also Mr Cowles, Dr. i Lamb and the Rev. Mr Aitkens, totalling 6 ladiei and tore* gentlemen,

The loss of these players will no doubt be severely felt by the Club. However, it is hoped that the incoming officers will ba able to induce others to join, and so make up the deficiency — three or four have already promised to join. The Committee are pleased to be able to say that the innovation made last year in reducing the subscriptions all round has not resulted in any disaster to the Club whatever. The balance-sheet will show you that we started the season with a balance to credit of £6 Oa 2d, but the Committee had to pay a heavy bill of £5 for tar, incurred two year's back. This ran away with the £5 0$ 2d balance brought forward, and the balance-sheet just about to be read to you will show there is now a credit balance of £1 03 5d in hand. The Club is therefore that amount better off than at the start of the season. Considering the reduced subscriptions, the severe depression prevailing, and the fact that last year's income was only £16 6s Cd as compared with £25 16s the previous year, the Committee think they have every reason to congratulate themselves and the Club on being able to compare their financial position so favorably with the year before. They have only been able to achieve this resftlt by doing all necessary labor, &e.» themselves. The past year has been rather a quiet one in the matter of tournaments played off. but this is accounted for by the fact chat economy had to be practised in the matter of expenditure. On tha other hand we have launched out in an entirely new direction, that of playing matches with other Clubs— Otaki and Sanson. The following events have been got off during the year :— On 22nd October the Ladies' Singles Tournament was started and it eventuated on 29-b November in a win for Miss Whyte. On 28rd October the Gentlemen's Singles match was started, and it resulted on 29 ih November in a win for Mi % Cowles. On 6th January we had a visit from the Otaki team. In the Singles we were badly beaten, but in the Doubles we almost held our own against them, being only 8 points behind at the finish. Later on we endeavoured to play a return match with Otaki, but at the last moment they informed us that their court was unplayable through bad weather. On 15th February we started a Combined Doubles match, and it was finally won by Miss Purcell and Mr Curtis. On 17th March our Club played against Sanson on their own ground, and the match resulted in a win for Foxton in every game both in tbe Singles and Doubles. At the commencement of the year the Committee put the clay court into good order themselves. It now requires doing up once more. As you all know that is the usual thing for the incoming Committee to have to4o at the start of the season. The asphalt court is in good order and is wearing well. The Committee wish the Club a successful and prosperous incoming yaar. BALANCE SHEET FOB 1895 96. Receipts :— Balance brought forward, £5 Oa 2d ; members' subscriptions, £15 43 6d ; keys sold, 2s ; subscription to combined doubles, £1. Total, £21 6s Bd. Expenditure : — Linen for netting, 4a lid ; new keys, 6s 4d ; rent to Ist June, 1896, £5 ; P. Hennessy, fir; cartinq roller and timber for repairing fence, 5s ; entertaining Otaki team, 12s 6d ; painting court lines, 4s ; paint and new padlocks, ss ; trophies won by Mr Cowles and Misa Whyte, £8 ; cinders, Is 6d and spade 59 ; Mies Purcell's trophy, £1 ; Palnunton Gas Company, £5 ; ■tampt, postage and commission, 2s ; A. Fraser, tennis balls, £3 14s; balance in hand, £1 Os sd. Total, £21 8s Ba. The annual report and balanceibeet were adopted unanimously. The election of officers for the learon resulted as follows :—Presi-d-jofc, Mr JR. C. Bruoe ; vice-presi dents, Messrs E. S. Thynne and W. S. Stewart, both gentlemen being u-elected. For the position of seoretary, the meeting regretted that Mr Curtis Would not allow himself to be reelected, and Mr W. Cook was elected to the vacancy. Committee, Messrs P. Curtis, \V. Hamer F. Eure and W. Little, the two latter re-elected ; auditor, Mr C. Austin. Messrs Wilkinson, Geo. Lamb, C. Austin and Miss L. Austin wtre proposed as members and accepted, and mention was made of several other likely members. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers, and also to the ladies who provided afternoon tea during the season just ended. Tbe committee decided to get the clay court into order and fit for play M soon- as possible. A vote of thanks was passed to the chair, and the meeting concluded.