NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 86, 12 April 1894, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report for presentation at the meeting of tho Now Zealand Rugby Football Union to be held on the 21st instant I— The year 1893-1 has boon one of steady progress on tho part of tho New Zealand Union. At tho beginning of tho Boaaon of 1893 wo wcro able to wclcomo tho adhesion of tho strong Woßt Coast Union and of Horowhenua, Buth Districts, and Poverty Bay luions, all of which are doing good work in their respective districts, and our Union has had the loyal and valuable assistance of the Unions which originally constituted it. It was ablo to pay off tho obligations of the colony to Australia in tho mattor of returning tho visit of tho Now Sonth Wales team, and a soaoesafal tour was the result. Tluh tour wob tho ohief oveiit of the football tear. The team left New Zealand towards tho end of June, and was absent for about six we'eka. During that time ten matches -were played— one against Parramatta, a Sydney suburb, three against combined New South Wales at Sydney, one against 18 juniors at Sydney, onoutgainst the combined Northern Districts at Newcastle, one against the combined Western Districts at Bathurst. Theao matches were all against teams under the Now South Wales Kugby Union. In Queensland three matches wore played— two against combined Queensland, and ono against 18 players. Nine matches were won and ono lost. Now Zealand scored 163 points to their opponents' 44. This reßult may bo considered very gratifying The tour was most successful, and reflected considerable oredit, not only on our players, but on the affiliated Unions, whioh, ono and all, loyally supported and assisted the project. This spirit of loyalty was notably shown by the Auokland Union, when it generously offered to p»y the expenses of the four additional mon who were sent to reinforce tho team. Happily it was not found necessary to accept tho offer. It is hoped that the lessons learned by the players of New South Wales. Queensland, and New Zoaiand during the tour will benofioially affect the game in each of the colonies named. Many of the leading blubs in New Zealand might well profit by more generally practising tho fast passing gtme in rogue in Australia, whioh not only gives equal chances of scoring to every member of a team, but renders the play moro interesting to the spootators, and Renerally more scientific in its principles. The cordial welcome whioh was accorded to the team both by the publio and the players on the other aide waa universal, and will not he lost sight of by Now Zealanders when the visit is returned. Affiliated Unions will do well to spare no pains in endeavouring to suitably receive the visitors when they come to us. There were various presentations made to the players, Messrs. Sidney and Henderson presenting a fern-leaf shield for tho best allround man in the combination, which, on the votes of tho members, waa awarded to Mr. Alf. Bsiyley, Mr. Jorvois being a close runner-up There were a number of local presentations, and at the. request of a publio meeting, presided over by Mr. H. D. Bell, Mayor of Wellington, a uniform presentation of a gold football, suitably inscribed, was made to the members of the representative team. Local presentations were also made throughout the colony, and Mr. S. Kohn has presented a trophy to the Union for the most useful player for the Wellington district, which was awarded to Mr. S. Cockroft by vote of the members of the team, and is now available for presentation. The {hanks of the Union are due to the President; Mr. Campbell, who successfully managed the team, paying his own expenses; to Mr. Bayly, of Taranaki, and Mr. Macintosh, of South Canterbury, who rondored valuable services to tbo team, also paying their own exponses ; and to tho publio of Wollington, who subscribed the expenses of an extra Wellington representative. To Messrs. Campbell, Logan, and Henderson, of tho Appeal Committeo, was entrusted the responsible task of selecting the team to represent this oolony in Australia. Enquiries wero made as to suitable men, good ohaxaoter being an essential requisite as well as the necessary skill in football When the required information was completed, a trial match was arranged to whioh players came from various ports of both blonds, and Messrs. Henderson and Logan oame from Auokland and Napier respeotivoly at their own expense, to see the play and aoleot the team. The success achieved by the team and the good record left by tho mon every whoro, both as players and gontlobuoh, iii sufficient testimony as to the manner in which the Seloction Committeo carried out its very important duties under circumstances of difficulty. We have also to acknotvledgo tho manner in whioh playors oamo to the trial match at considerable personal exponso and inoonvenionco from great distances. Tho English Union has informed this Union that it considers there is no ground for the charges of encouraging professionalism which wore made to it against the officers' of tho Now Zealand Union. This Union has appointed referoos in various represontativo matches ployed with it. with results satisfactory to all tho teams ongaged. Opponents of tho Union in Canterbury published an official " manifesto*" giving their oaso against it. It was therefor officially replied to by this Union, Messrs Campbell L. Coupland, H. J. M'Lean, and E D. Hobon being appoined to draw up the roply, and tho Canterbury Union has now applied for offiliotion. .The Appeal Committee has had several Oases bofore it during the year, whioh have been satisfactorily settled by Messrs. Camp, bell, Logan, and Henderson, for whose disinterested services the thanks of this Union are dne. In one instance an important point in tho interpretation of a rule relating to pushing with the hands was referred on to the English Union, at the suggestion of the hon. secretary and with the approval of th» appellant Marlborough Union, in order to see whether alteration in the rule would not be advisable. Intimation has been received from the English Union expressing the pleasure with which a team representative of the New Zealand Union would be teceived in ELgland. Mr. Palliser has represented this Union in London during the year, and for the valuable servioes rendered throughout the season he deserves tho hearty thanks of New Zealand footballers especially for the ndmfrablo mannor in which ho bos kept onr Union posted respecting English events of general football interest. During the season it was proposed by Mr. E. D. Hoben that an Australasian Union should be formed with direct proportional representation upon tbe committso of the English Union. The matter was mooted in Australia by the President Mr. Q. P. C. C»mpbell, and subsequently Mr. Hoben met the Now South Waifs Union and the Rev. Mr. Hootson, of tho Viotorian Bugby Union, with the result that the project has been heartily taken up in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. The New South Wales Union informed Mr. Hoben, when in Sydney, that it would return onr visit at the end of the coming season, and he assured them of a cordial welcome on behalf of tbe Now Zealand Union. Our thanks are duo to tho various Vico-PrcMdonts ot this Union and to the officers of affiliated Unions for the cordial and roady assistanco v- ay A g / ant 1 d h ? them to «ny project whjoh had for its ond tho good of the game

During tho President's visit to Australia tie onouired into the working of the Referees Associations there, and as a result a sub-com-mittee consisting of Messrß. Campbell Firth, Coupland, and Hobon, was apP™^', 11 ™ drew up a constitution, which has boon submitted to the various amhated UnioDßfor their consideration. In this matter assistance was rendered by the visit of Mr. Durham, President of the Queensland Eeforces, Association. Tho Committee regrets that Mr. L. Coupland, who as representative of Auckland and Hon. Treafur-r has rendered valnablo service to tho Union since its inception, finds himself unable, owinpr to bnsint-Hs calls, to continue in office during tho coming >oar Mr. Couplond s services lo the Union havo been many and various A number of intor-union matches arranged under tho auspices ot this Union wore buc••CHsfully played last season by tho Anckluml, Taranaki, Wamjauui, Hawkea Uy, J'ovorty Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa V\ ellinKton, Marlboroogh, Nelson. West Grout, and South Canterbtfry Unions. Through the New Zealand Union the Wast Coast team wan for tho first time enabled to leave its own ground, and tho re Alt, showed that tho very oxcollont football material which exists on tho Coast was not exhausted by the brilliant Wost Coast representative in the New 'Zealand team. The Hawkes B» Union, at the suggestion^ this Union, vUited Fouth Canterbury, giving that Union theii- wolated representative match. In conclusion^ your committee looks forward to an mrftaw" l power for pood in the New Zealand Urtpn, as it« jurisdiction and influence is extenOitigwithin tho colony as well aa outside or f«. Wo trust that affiliated Unions may at one? consider their projected intor-nuion projframmo for tho year, and instruct tntur tloJcmitcß to tho annual mooting accordingly, for the committteo, E. D. Hohen, Hon bee.