ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 41

ATHLETICS.

DUNEDIN AMATEUR GIIOUSI> COMPANY. . '

The annual,, meeting, of .the above companywas held at the company's office. Mr JV P. Maitland, chairman' of directors, presided, and there' was a small attendance of shareholder*. Following is. the' directors'- re'porjf: — '.j >"' The directors beg to submit balance sheet and revenue "account for 'the 12 months ended 30th, September, 1897, "'which' they ate pleased to ".say stiowa an improvement' ra*the' revenue received as • compared with that ,for s last-year.' The balance* to dSSit-of profit and loas'which-at- 30tbTi:'epteMr ber, 189G, stood at £58 3s 3d is nq,w reduced to £2V Is lid. - This- debit wouW'haVe' beett' still further reduced but for absolutely necessary expendituie in repairs to , buildings, ifce. The ground and buildings — with the exception of the , old tennis pavilion, which is in a bad state— are nowaa fairly good order, and should x>ob require further expenditure' for some time. m . ; r The increase in revenue was derived mainly from the Otago Cricket Asxociation.who held threo matches on the ground, and the Otago Rnghy Football Union, who leased the ground for the football season. The directors trust that this latter body may see its way to continue its support in the future. During the year the directors entered into negotiations with the Dunedtu .Cycling Club regarding improvements to the track, which they are sorry to say came to nothing. It is much to ba regretted that this track, wh'ch has cost the compauy over £350, should be entirely unproductive, but it i 3 absolutely impossible for the companj in the present state- of ita finances to undertake the expenditure necesaai y to bring it up to the pr© sent requirements of cycling. , The accounts have, as usual, been audited by Mr A. Cargill, to whom the thanks- of the shareholders are due for his honorary services. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of. the report abd balance sheet;, referred to the loyal support ' given to the company by the Cricket Association *nd_ Caritbrook Cricket -Club, alao to the fact thMi-the Otago Kugby Football Union had bestowed a share of their patronage on • the , ground v which /support ; he tiusted they would : conHtiue/ lie' regretted that the . negotiations with . the . Cycling Club for impßoypments, to, the track, bad fallea through, and hoped that erelong some arrange* .msnj) might be^corqe,,td .by ;,wh'ich;.tjh^ trajjk^ould , ' b"e Wrought" up to'date:"lt'was'quite'iaipoesible, J '' •however^for the,company,,to 1 -do'.it.initß.preßen^ . financial'stftte. >" ' ' V --' '■? - ' '■ ~ ■ ~'y '• Mr C. W. RAf-frtAY briefly seconded -the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Mr C. W. RATTitAY, Mr A. Cargill was reappointed auditor. '

John Russell, a blacksmith, and *n old Westland identity at Ahaura, died on Saturday night. *- • ' The Wellington Garrison Band, winners of the first prize at the Oamaru bind contest, returned by theßotorua on Saturday, and were accorded a most enthusiastic reception by a .large crdwd assembled on the wharf. The mayor (Mr Bell) welcomed and congratulated the band on behalf, of the city, andJupp'a Band and the City Band played them through the principal streets. John James Atkinson, major in the New Zealand Militia, died at Invercargill on ! Thursday night.' Deceased, who - was 64 years of age, served ia the Imperial Army, I and won a commission when a young man, joining a West Indian regiment as lieutenant. , In 1863 he arrived in Auckland,, and took part in the Waikato campaign, Ha was officer in command of Otago and Southland districts some years ago, and afterwards in the railway service. For the past 16 years he- hag been resident -at- Invercargill. He had been ailing, .but death was not expeoted. He was accorded a military funeral.

At a meeting in North Melbourne the" other 5 , evening of the sympathisers of Mr Pre'ndergasb, the labour. le»der, who was defeated at the late election, Mr Haloney,. M,A., held up a cdpy of the Age and asked the meeting what ha should do with it. Apparently all present wera in favour of burning the paper, and Mr, Maloney applied a light to two corners of tha' sheet, which he held in his hand, and burnt ' it, saying as he did so, " Boys, ws'thall light such a spark of freedom to-night as will not be pnfc out until the -whole colonT i« in «. M^za," Tb» Age still lire*