FOXTON TENNIS CLUB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3572, 7 December 1926, Page 3

FOXTON TENNIS CLUB.

OFFICIAL opening of new COURTS. On Saturday afternoon the official opening ceremony in connection with the Foxton Tennis Club’s new Courts, on the corner of Johnston St. and Avenue Rd., took place. The weather was excellent for the occasion and there was a large attendance. The Foxton Silver Band was also in attendance and enliened the proceedings with a programme of suitable music. 1 The President (Mr R. Me Murray) extended a welcome .to the visitors and said he was particularly pleased to see present with them that day Mr Watson, President of the Manawatu Association, and “father of tennis in this district.” There was no keener tennis enthusiast than Mr Watson. He was also pleased to welcome Mr J. T. McDonald, whom he termed “the foster mother of tennis in the Manawatu.” Mr McDonald had been responsible for bringing on many young players. A- welcome was also extended to Dr. Hooper (Palmerston N.), Mr Fergie (Palmerston N. and one-time secretary of the local iclub); Mr Salmon (chairman of the Lytton St, Club, Palmerston N., and first chairman of the Association). Mr McMurray said he was also very pleased to see the Mayor present and the Foxton Silver Band, and he took the opportunity of thanking them for their assistance at the opening. He hoped all present would feel at home and enjoy thmselves. The Club members were deserving of great praise for the manner in which they had paid up their subs, and assisted in the laying down of the new courts. In the latter connection Mr Kershaw, of Lytton St. Club, Palmerston N„ was deserving of the local club’s best thanks for his assistance in the initial stages of the work. Mr McMurray then called on the Mayor to officially declare the courts open for play. In doing so, Mr Perreau congratulated the club on its new courts ' and said they were deserving of commendation for the manner in which they had gone about the work. The Foxton Tennis Club was the, oldest existing sports body in Foxton and he wished them every success in the future. He then called on Mrs McMurray to drive the first ball, which she did, with the assistance of Mr N. Ross, ’midst applause. Sets were then formed and play was inudlged in during the rest of the afternoon. A tasty afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies. • The whole of the playing area is netted in to a height of 9ft. Gin, the netting being on a framework of 11inch pipes, the uprights of which have been embedded in about IS inches of concrete. All the framework has been given a coat of paint and the whole presents a very neat appearance. The posts for the nets are also in keeping, being pipes of three inches in diameter tpid set in two feet of concrete. These posts have been made removable so that the positions of the courts can be shifted from time to time as they become worn. ■ The advantage of the hill on the northern side of the courts was in evidence on Saturday. Spectators were able to sit on tb** fr,r> of the ridge, from whence they .ould obtain an unobstructed viev of the play on the whole five -eoirts. Visitors were very favourably impressed with the new courts and were of the opinion that they would be hard to beat in any part of the Dominion.