The Sun. — 1870-06-29 (London, England)

THE ALL ENGLAND CROQUET CLUB.  The All England Croquet Club opened their annual prize meeting on the new ground which lies close to the South Western Railway, near the Wimbledon Station, and which, viewed from that line, must have been an object of admiring envy to hundreds of croquet players travelling between Surbiton and Waterloo. This ground, being laid out on what was originally a slope, has been levelled into three terraces, one above another, trimly ambanked and communicating by means of short flights of steps. The long drought has told somewhat against the condition of the turf ; but by the unremitting use of the roller and the garden hose a good deal has been done to supply the want of those heavy showers which are looked for at this time of the year. In fact, the ground was wonderfully good, considering all the disadvantages which have beset the formation—a work only commenced last October. The club, which has for its president the Earl of Essex, enrols many ladies among its members ; and the play on Monday was well maintained by the fair experts, among whom was the wearer of the lady's medal, won at Bushey, and of other marks of distinction. Competitors were matched single-handed, the best out of three games to be winner. The three terraces afforded ample space for four -pairs of players each ; and eleven games were in full swing at the same time, the twelfth space being appropriated to addition and substraction sweepstakes, open to all comers during the meeting, the gentlemen at twenty yards, and the ladies at fifteen. Tents were pitched on all the three terraces in anticipation of rain, which seemed to be impending, but which did not fall. On the upper terrace a refreshment pavilion was well supplied and assiduously superintended by Mr. Darke, of the Swan Inn, at Wimbledon. There was a very fair attendance of members, but the number of strangers on the ground was small, the principal attraction being reserved for to-day, when play will be opened for the champion prize, a silver cup of the value of fifty guineas. The holder of this trophy will have to play the winner of the Allcomers Contest next season, or to resign the prize ; but, should the champion be victorious in three consecutive seasons, the cup will henceforth belong solely to him. Five matches by ladies were played on Monday, and nine by gentlemen ; and only two of either list were decided. On the whole, the present meeting gives promise of being as entertaining and agreeable as that which was held by the members of the Club last year i while the acquisition of ground which they can call their own, and which is so prettily situated that fetes unnumbered seem to shine in its future history, must have an additionally encouraging influence.  —Mr. W. Johnson, M.P., has brought in a bill to alter and amend the law relating to the municipal franchise in Ireland. He seeks to lower the qualification of burgesses from £lO to £4.  A new and original operatta, composed by Virginia Gabriel, and entitled " Lost and Found," the words by Mr. George March, was performed at the Alexandra Theatre, Liverpool, on Monday.  Mr. Toole will start on a short provincial tour through the principal towns on the 4th July. He will be accompanied by Mr. Billington, Mr. J. Eldred, and Miss K. Irwin.  Tuesday was the thirty-second anniversary of her Majesty's coronation. The ceremony took place on June 28, 1838.  The New York Times says that it is now definitely ascertained that the cotton crop of 1869 is very largely in excess of what it was estimated to be.  The most encouraging accounts of the state of all the crops are arriving from every part of Ulster. Of the flax crop particularly the reports are very favourable. The Leeds Mercury understands that the Poor Law Board has decided to grant an inquiry into the case of fabricating voting papers at the recent election of guardians for one of the Leeds wards.  A. case of murder and suicide is reported from Westmoreland. The wife of a labourer, at Deepdale, drowned herself and her infant son, under circumstances which leave no reasonable doubt that the act was premeditated.