LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. Seventeen lady members and sixteen gentlemen were present. Dr. Lcatliani, the president, who was in Wellington, telegraphed an apology for absence.

The annua] report unci balance-sheet, as already published in the News, was taken as read, and its adaption moved by Mr. Pa ton, who said the club's position financially and otlierwi.se showed a considerable improvement on Unit at the last annual meeting. Mr. Stow seconded, and the motion was carried after a brief discussion.

Dr. Leatham was re-elected president, and Dr. Home vice-president. Other ollii'crs for the year are:—Secretary and treasurer, Mr. 11. Stocker (re-elected) j committee, Messrs. J. Pa ton, .1. <"'. Nicholson, 11. Stow, J. Morton, C. 11. Weston (others nominated were .Messrs. Medley, S. J. Smith, F. S. Johns, and K. Matthews); auditor, Mr. 11. ]!. Armitage. I'pon the motion of the chairman, it was decided to connect the clubhouse with the telephone exchange, and to make a levy of a shilling n member on all members, whether tennis', croquet, or honorary.

Mr. Medley moved, and Mr. John Smith as an amendment, that at least sivjiew names be added to the guarantee ml.--The amendment was carried unanimously, as was a subsequent motion that of the six there should be three members of the committee.

■Mr. Smith advocated tin- cause of "the five and six o'clock ppuplu." There were many players who could not go to the courts until after oll'icc hours each even ing, whilst others had the whole alternoon. Their should lie some rule to make the hitler give up the courts to Hie later brigade on arrival, as in the New Plymouth Howling C'luli. Mr. Paton agreed, with the suggestion. Mr. Johns pointed out. that some players could get to the grounds at four o'clock, lie and others had Saturday afternoon only. Surely the latter were not going to lie ordered off at four o'clock on tlieir one tennis day.—Kcfcrred to the committee.

-Mr. Johns, in apologising for Mr. E. Critl'iths' alisense. announced that tile latter would present a racquet for this year's lady champion of the club. Votes of thanks were accorded the outgoing officers and tlic press. KAWERA CLUB.

At the annual meeting of the Hawera Club, the report stated, inter alia, that "the tennis players met the following clubs in friendly matches: Xew Plymouth, a loss; Patea, two losses'; Waverley, one win, one loss; Eltham, one win. The croquet phiyors went through the season unbeaten, meeting representatives from New Plymouth, Stratford and Okaiawa. This was most creditable for so young a club, and should be an incentive to more constant practice this season. A scheme is being formulated in New Plymouth to form a norlhcn and southern division of tennis flayers, each division to play inter-club matches and at the end of the season the winner of each division to play off for the premiership of Taranaki."

The election of officers resulted as fob | lows:—President. Mr. W. Dingle; vice; ; presidents. Messrs' (!. E. Major, W. : Robertson and I!. 11. NTolan: pint secretaries. .Messrs YV. J. Bright and (!. Hell; treasurer, Mr. J. L. Anderson: committee. Mesrs Webster, Sellar, X. C'aplen and Tudhnpe; ground committee, Messrs Chalmers and Web-ler; match committee. Messrs Pell and Webster; auditor, Mr. Chalmers.