CRICKET CONFERENCE.

FORMATION OF A NKW ZEALAND COtfNCIL. A conference waa held last night at the City Hotef of. delegates from provincial Cricket Associations to consider the proppjal to form a New Zealand. Association.or Council. There were present—Messrs E. H. - Williams, C. R. Smith, Hawke's Buy; A. M. Ohivier, Rosa Gore; Wellington; J. H. Wood, Nelson; R. D. Harmau, W. J. Cotterill, Taranaki; G. A. U. Tapper, Southland; L. A. Cuff, T. D. Harman, Canterbury; J. Stnythe, Otago; and Hon. E. <j. J, Stevens, Auckland.

Mr E. H. Williams, President of the Hawke's Bay Association, was voted to the chair.- He eaid he had to congiatulate thedelegatea on the meeting. It was a step in advance, ajid great good would be done to cricket by che establishment; of a ruling body to direct cricket) operations in the future. He hoped the outcome of it would be that New Zealand would see . intercolonial matches, and 'personally he hoped that the new Association would take undar its charge interprovincial matches. He believed everyone present would endeavour to work, - not for the interest of any, particular section of New Zealand cricket, but for the interest ot cricket as a whole. (Hear, hear.) The meeting proceeded to, diaoues a draft of the proposed constitution. of a ruling body. It was decided. to form' a Council to be. called the New Zealand Crickets Council, and its objects were resolved on as<under:—The advancement of the game of cricket throughout New Zealand; the. arrangement of intercolonial and foreign, cricket matched; the making of arrangements incident to visits of all teams to New Zealand and the management and control of all New i Zealand representative teams playing. within or outeide New Zealand ; the control and arrangement of all interprovincial matches; the settlement of all disputes or differences between Associations represented .' on the Council; the adoption of all rules or amendments from time to time passed by tho Marylebone Cricket Club. It was agreed that.the Council should consist of the Auckland, Canterbury, Hawke'a Bay, Obago, Southland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Nelson Associations, and all Aasociations subsequently . admitted in accordance with the rales ; one Association only to be admitted from each provincial . district; that the .annual meeting be held in. September, that Christchurch be the' head-quarters of the Counoil; the officers to consist of President) Vice-Presidents, Hon. Secretary, and Hon. * Treasurer, each . affiliated' Association 1 ' to nominate one Vice-President; the affairs of the Council to be managed by a Committee consisting of the officers and. delegated, who remain in office until their successor* are appointed; laterprovincial matches for tbe ensuing. season to be arranged at each annual meeting of the Council, such arrangement to bo a matter of mutual convenience ; the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Associations to pay an annual subscription of 2ga each and have two delegates each, all other ° affiliated Associations to pay lg and have one delegate each; representative colours to be black and silver facings, with fern-leaf badge; each Association registering, its colours to be entitled to the exclusive use ofthem in interprovinciai matches. - The other rules dealt with the conduct and management of the affairs of the Council. . ...

The following propositions were lost— "The' Committee to have power to appoint umpires in iuterprovincial and intercolonial ■matches; that the Council derive a per centage from all interprovincial -matches, such per centage to be settled on a mutual basis; that intercolonial teams be chosen by two delegates, one from the South and lone North Island, with power to call in an umpire." The election of officers resulted as under r— President, Mr E. E Williams (Hawke'e Bay); Hon. Sec, Mr C. R. Smith; Hon. Treasurer. Mr T. D. Harmon. I Oa the motion of Mr Cuff, it was decided" that the Committee be recommended to arrange for a North and South Island match daring each season when, no New, Zealand match'is being played, to be held alternately in the North and South Islands, the net profits of each match to accrue to the Council. It was, decided to adjourn the meeting natU Tuesday, 29th . January, for the election of Vice-Presidents and other bueineas. " -The proceedings were closed wifchavofee of thaake to the Oo&kmAo. " •