Ngarua Tennis Club.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4479, 26 October 1909, Page 2

Ngarua Tennis Club.

OPENING OF SEASON.

A most enjoyable afternoon was spent last Saturday at the opening of the Ngarua Tennis Club’s lawn which was postponed from 16th inst., owing to the inclement state of i the weather on that day. ; Representatives from To Aroha i Walton, Matamafa, Waihou, and Waitoa were also present. Just prior to the opening ceremony Mr T. Hanna, in the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr J. Scherer, presented, on behalf of the members of the Tennis Club, an H.E.P. Special racquet and purse to Miss Wanda Scherer, ex-Secretary of the Club, to shew their appreciation of her valuable services while acting as Secretary. Mr Hanna, in the course of his remarks, spoke eulogistically of the energetic, enthusiastic, and efficient manner in which Miss Scherer had carried out her Secretarial duties, and accredited much of the success of the Club to her efforts. Miss Wanda very appropriately returned thanks. Miss Scherer was then called upon to strike the first ball over the net with her new racquet, whereupon the court was declared open. Mr Hanna, on behalf of the members, received the visitors and conducted*them to the court where, the sets were arranged by the above mentioned gentleman and his assistants. We must congratulate the Club on the way the members looked after their visitors; many of the former standing out in order to allow the latter to have more games.

Some very interesting games took place during the afternoon, especially a well-contested and brilliant gentlemen’s double set between Messrs E. Farrow and J. Torrens and Messrs Clarke and Scott, of Te Aroha. The court, which has lately been repaired for the season, playing fast and true. The ladies handed round afternoon tea which was greatly appreciated by all. During the tea adjournment Mr Hanna made a presentation on be-, half of the Tennis Club and residents of Ngarua, to Miss Lottie Scott, who is leaving the district, of a beautiful and unique gold brooch of the latest design, set with precious stones. Mr Hanna expressed the regret which one and all felt at Miss Scott’s departure, as during her sojourn here she has made her presence felt by her kindly sympathy with all and by the indefatigable manner in which she worked to help any functions that took place in the neighbourhood. Especially would she be missed from the Tennis Club, having been a prominent and eny thusiastic member of same since its inception; besides doing yeoman service for the Club, while acting as Secretary. He concluded by saying the presentation was a small memento to mark the esteem and respect with which the recipient was held by her many friends in Ngarua, and trusted that] tho presence of the gift in after days would bring back many happy recollections of her stay in Ngarua and the many enjoyable games of .tennis they had had together. Mr H. J. W. Scott, in a neat speech, returned thanks on behalf of his sister.

A great deal of the success of the opening function is due to Ibe genial Secretary, Mr E. Dmovan, who is a real tennis enthusiast; and we anticipate a good season’s tennis under his guiding hand. The weather during the afternoon looked very threatening, but only a few drops of rain fell and play went on all the same.

Tennis seems to becoming greatly into prominence among the country members, and local players had better look to their laurels unless they wish to have them wrested from them by smaller clubs.