PARK LAWN TENNIS CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 82, 27 September 1911, Page 7

PARK LAWN TENNIS CLUB

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report to bo presented at to-night's meeting of the Park Lawn Tennis and Croquet dub:— ''Your committee, in presenting tile first annual report and balance-sheet, wishes to congratulate the members on the successful launching of the club, and the successful operations of the iirst year. Before proceeding, however, to review the year, the committee would place on record its appreciation of the keen and active interest taken in the formation of the clut) by our late Mayor, Mr. G. Tisc-h, who was a vice-president and one of tlie club's trustees. The club was represented et the funeral, and a. beautiful wreath, for which we owe our gratitude to Mrs. A. M. Williams and Mrs. Brookman, was forwarded on your behalf. We have also lost Messrs. M. Rudd and T. C. Sehnackcnberg, the two remaining vicepresidents and trustees, by removal, and Mr. S. L. Mark, a member of the committee. All of these gentlemen were actively associated with the actual formation of the elu.b. Mr. Rudd, by reason of his long and active experience in the management of tennis clubs, was an exceedingly valuable member of the committee.

'Mt is interesting just now to note that the first actual step towards the formation of the club was taken when on June <i application was made to the Pukekura Park Board for a lease of an outlying and apparently waste portion of the park. The Board met the provisional committee very fairly, and on .Tune 30 the club was formed at a meeting of about seventy persons. A tender for levelling and other earthwork was accepted on July 18, and on September 27, exactly a year ago, the grass seed was sown. By dint of remarkably good work on the part of the custodian, and with the help of some of the members, the courts were ready and opened for play on January '2, in the presence of a good gathering of members. The late Mayor, Mr. H. Okey, M.P., and Br. Leatham, president of the Taranaki Lawn. Tennis Association, were present. A good deal of work in digging, hedge-planting, etc, was done prior to the opening by working bees, some ten or a dozen of the men giving up their afternoon, and several early mornings to the club. The aiternoon ''bees" were provided with afternoon tea by the ladies' committee. '•The club-house was erected prior to the opening day, costing the club for material only. Mr. P. W. Sandiford is entitled to our hearty thanks for his gratuitous work and supervision, and also to Mr. L. Little for valued assistance. A small expenditure may be necessary this season in completing the building. "The lawns, considering their newness, played wll, and as a result of several weeks of enjoyable games a large number «f members made their entry into the world of tennis. The enjoyment was enhanced by the abundant afternoon teas provided by the "tea" committee and presided over by the lady members in turn. "The season closed at Easter, and immediately afterwards the lawns were thoroughly top-dressed. During the spring, too, they have received another liberal dressing, and we are assured ol a good turf for this season's play. "Finance.—As will be seen from the balance-sheet the club's liabilities amount to £l4l 17» lOd, of which ,€IOO is promised by a bank overdraft granted on the personal guarantee of several of the office-hearers and committeemen. It will be necessary to renew the guarantee, and the committee recommends that the amount of it be increased by at least sufficient to wipe off existing liabilities. The expenditure for the year was £241 10s 3d, of which £l9O may be termed non-recurring, being for club-house, liftenrmg; 'earthwork, grass seed, hedge plants, nets, etc., whilst it is unlikely that the cost of fertilisers will again reach this year's figures in any one season. Receipts were £l4O ()s lOd, of which £9O 10s came from members' fees (tO men and 53 ladies). The sum of £l2 lis 9d was raised at the garden party at "Ovordale," £2 18s lOd from the opening social, £ls 0s 3d from the Imperial concert, £3 lis from the annual social. The committee's thanks aru tendered to all those ladies and gentlemen who assisted in the management of these functions. It will be necessary this season to make further efforts to reduce our liabilities, and the matter may well be discussed at the annual meeting, for framing a recommendation to the incoming committee. With the active cooperation of all the members it should be jiossible to raise a much larger amount than that which rewarded the efforts of the various committees lasfc season. Many members are anxious that facilities be provided for winter play, but the outgoing committee is of opinion that before the cost of asphalt courts is undertaken the club's financial position must be greatly improved. Referring again to last year's working, we would point out that the total liabilities incurred by the club were £291 13s Bd. Ot' this sum roughly £OO was fairly chargeable as the. cost of working.

"it has be mi suggested that many residents, whilst not desiring to play either lnwii tennis or croquet, would lie glad to become honorary members, to enjoy the usual privileges of membership and Imve a. recognised standing when they come to enjoy themselves by watching the 'play. The. rules provide for honorary members, and these will be welcomed. •''The committee, in conclusion, desires to thank all those who have assisted tins elnb in its first year's work, cither by advice or in other ways. Our hearty tluiuks are due to the 1 oe.il press for very liberal support and concessions; tov Messrs. E. (irill'iths, Ambury liros. and H. .T. Dfare for pronii-es of trophies; and to the members of the I'likekura Park Board for their readiness to fall in with the suggestions of the committee." The accompanying statement of assets and liabilities shows an excess of £i2 2s 2d of assets over liabilities.