OUR CRICKETERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 224, 21 September 1893, Page 3

OUR CRICKETERS.

■ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CRICKET ASSOCIATION. PRESENTATION TO THE SECRETARY. The annual meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association was held in the British Hotel last evening. There was a large attendance of cricketers and others interested in the game, including hia worship the Mayor, Mr W. Crowther. The President, MrJas. Russell, occupied the chair. THE AXNUAL REPORT. Mr C. S. H. MacKinney, the Secretary, read, the annual report, which was as follow*):—" In presenting the 11th nnnual report-, your Committee have much pleasure in congratulating fche cricketora of Auckland on the increased interest taken in the game laafc season, althoughthe efficiency attained was nob perhaps as high as usuai. The only interprovincial match played was that with Otago, and for the first time Auckland had to lower its colours to tlna now formidable province, our representatives lo3ing by eight wickets. It la to bo hoped, now thab Otngo have at last journeyed so far as Auckland, the lizture will be a regular one. Tho championship matches produced souna sxcellonfc contests. For tho Seniors, Gordon have asrain asserted their superiority, although run very closely by the United. Out of eight competitions Gordon havo iron no leas lhan five times, Auckland, twice, and United once. The Junior Championship was w.m by the Wanderers, who were unbeaten throujjhoub tho competitions, and are to be congratulated on their record. A supplementary round for juniors was won by Gordon 11. Tho Second Junior Championship, after a very keen contest with the winners of the proviciiß season, was won by the Auckland College and Grammar School, and no one will begrudge the young playora their victory. In order to stimulate tho game your Committee communicated with New South Wales with n viaw of arranging a visit from the Ausfcrslinn Eleven, but as they do not return via New Zealand nothing could be done. It is anticipated thab a team from New South Wales will pay us a visit during tho coming season, and as it is proposed to send an elevon to the Southern provinces about Christmas, and that Wellington will visit m in November, promise is given of a very busy (iflaoon. Ibig bo be regretted that tho Association have losb the services of sover&l prominent players, notably, W. Gardiner, D. Miller, H. J. Goulstone andD. Moldrum, butib is to behopod, with the numbers of now players coming on, their place* will soon bo well filled. Death has also removed one of our oldosb representatives, Mr J. Mumford, whoso name will long be remembered in the annals of cricket in Auckland. With reference to tho many complaints made in the past season as to the bad work done by the mowing machine, the Committee have used all their influence ■with the City Council to obtain a now one, bub without avail. The Council, however, havo ordered new part? for the old machine, and say that when repaired ib will bt aa good aa new. Ib will be seen from the financial reporb presented thnb the Association has a fair credit balance to bring forward. In conclusion, your Committee desire to thank most heartily those pentlemen who havo so regularly contributed to the fund now open for promoting the Southern tour."

The balance - sheet presentod by the Treasurer, Mr C. B. MncOormick. showed the receipts for last season to have been £99 8a od, and the expendituie £89 6s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £10 Is Bd. The Chairman (Mr Jas. Russell), moved the adoption of tho report and balancesheet, and in doing co, thanked the Crickeb Association for the honour they had done him in choosing him as their president. Mr Russell mentioned thab ho played for Auckland in their fir3b interprovinciai contest, which took place in 1860 againsb Wellington, and stated than there wore only two members (himself and Mr Steadman, of the Thames) of that team at present in this province. He also gavo the history of the Domain Crickeb Ground, whiefi at one time was a swamp, bub had been converted into a cricket ground by private subscription raised by the cricketers. Bo considered thab for the past few seasons the cricketers of Auckland bad been scurvilly treated. Mr Russell was pleased to notice the presence of His Worship the Mayor, and he trusted Mr Crowther would fully consider bha position of the young Aucklanders, and see that cricketers wore treated better in the future.

The Mayor, in seconding tho adoption of report and balance-sheeb, made a lengthy speech, in which he said that he could inform the cricketers of Auckland they had a better future before them. With regard to the mowing machino, referred to in tho report, holeavntfor tho first time thab it was broken, The City Council had receivod an application for £40 for a now machine, which staggered the Council. Thoy, however, had ordered now parts for bhe machine which would arrive shortly, and ib ■was bis intention to look aftor tho machino himself in the future, and he would guarantee the mowing machine would do its duty. The City Council never courted the control of the Domain, thodebb of which continued to grow larger. Various delegates of athletic bodies had from time to time interviewed tho Council for tho purpose of getting improvements effected, and he (the Mayor) had made endeavours to geb prison labour to keep tho roada and paths in order. Ho hoped tho cricketers would interview the members of Parliament aboub the subject on their return. Mr Crowther also referred to the Domain Vesting Bill which was before Parliament, which, when passed, would give the City Council complete control over tho Domain as it would be includod in Auckland endowments, and tho Domain would therefore not roquire to supporb itsolf. In a fow years, rents on Domain property would ba increased, aud in futuro there would bo moro money to spend on tho ground. Mr Crowther considered thab had hia views with regard to leasing allotmonts facing the roada been accepted, a largo sum would have been received annually for rentals. His scheme would have done no harm to the cricket ground, and the dwellings would not have been an eyesore to anyone. He considered a large source of revenue could have been gained and afforded ample money to keßp the ground in splendid order. In reply to questions from Mr J. R. Lundon, the Mayor said that tho deaf horse used on tho oval had been got rid nt. Tho Mayor did noc think ib fair that the wholo debt of tho Domain should be saddled on the Cricket Ground, bub the Council found ifcimpossiblo to keep separate accounts for the Crickeb Ground and the Domain. _ Mr Crowfcher wes certain thab tho Cricket Ground itselt was paying handsomely.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officer were elected for the coming season :— President, Mr James Ruasell; vice-presidents, Messrs A. J. Denniston, J. H. B. Coates, B. J. E^aua. H. Hung George, A. E, WhiUaker, W. Onth^aite, G. Lankham, W. Crowther (Mayor of Auckland), Captain Lamberb, and Colonol Burton ; secretary, Mr C. H. S. MacKinney; treasuror, MrC. MacCormick; auditors, Messrs W. Speight and J. Wobster; committee, Messrs, R. N0i11,.). Fowfeo, R. L. Hollo, R. Wynyard, and J.

i'oilDJ*. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr C. 2. Bom-no foe his past eervicos as vicepreeident-. This Chairman, in appropriate- terms, maflo inference to fcho death of Mr J. Mumford, during which s largo photo ot the

deceased gentleman waf) unveiled. The portrait was a very faithful ono, and the work of Mr F. W. Edwards. .Mr Russell said the picture would remind Aucklanders of one who had taken a warm interest in the gatno, and who had done a vast amount in helping the cricketers of Auckland. Mr MacCormick informed tho meeting thab the Secretary had, by his scheme of collecting one shilling per week from many enthusiasts, already a sum of £44 153 towards the cost of eending an Auckland representative team to tour the colony at Christmas time, PRESENTATION. Tho Chairman eaid he had a vory pleasing duty to perform in presenting a purse of sovereigns to their indefatigable Secretary, Mr C. S. H. MacKinney, showing tho approbation and good feeling which exists throughout Auckland towards that gentleman. Mr Russell spoke in eulogistic terms of the services that Mr MacKinney had rendered to Auckland cricketers, doing 5 great amount of work for which ho received no thanks. The Chairman eaid the perse of sovereigns was in appreciation of the silent and good work that Mr MacKinney had done for the cricketers and athletes in Auckland. The purse, which contained seventy sovereigns, was handed fco Mr MacKinnoy amidst loud applause and three hearty cheers. The recipient), Mr MacKinney, Baid tho present came as a greab surprise, for until thab evening he had nob heard a murmur about the gift. Ha heartily thanked the cricketers and athletes for tho presenb, and ho hoped he would long be spared to give his services for tho advancomanb of athletics, and especially cricket in Auckland. AVliilo co much praise had been awarded to him, he (Mr MacKinney) considered thab his brother officer, Mr MacCormick, had worked every bit as hard.

A vote of thanks to fche outgoing officers and the chair concluded one of the mosi; enthusiastic meetings our cricketers havo held.