WELLINGTON CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume 27, Issue 77, 27 September 1907, Page 2

WELLINGTON CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

„ ' ANNUAL REPORT." 1 i Not quito so much trouble was experienced last season, says the annual report of tho Wellington Cricket Association, in getting grounds, nwinlyowing to wickets being available ut Island Bay, Petone, and Johnsonvillo. Tho working of the Day's Bay and Mharaar wickots was conducted on a more satisfactory financial basis than during tho past season, and it is hoped the same- arrangement can be made for this Geason. The wickets might with advantage be improved. Good wickets will probably be available nt Petone, and in the noar future on Kelburne and Mira.'mtir Parks, so that , the question of grounds should not be such t difficult one in tha future. The following were the winners of tfe* various competitions . Senior, Wellington College Old Boyfe; junior, Petbne; third-clncs, J6hnsonvill© ; fourth class, Thorndon A. Representative games v.-ore played as follows : v. England (M.0.C.) first game, drawn ; • v. England (X 1.0.0.). 0.0.) second game, drawn; v. Canterbury, lost by five wickets. Visits are due this season by Otago, Cantorbury, and Wairarapa, and visits due to Auckland' 'arid Hawkes Bay. The association was represented in tne tost gamea New Zealand v, M.C.C. by Messrs A. B. Williams, K. H. Tucker, J. J. Mahony, and E. F. Upham. Thanks nvo due to Messrs. J. P. Firth, 0. A.'&napp, and J. Duncfen for donations, to the honorary members for their support, to Mcssrß. Treweek and Dakin, your delegatos to the New Zealand CricKot Council, to the press, and to the Umpires' Association, which has continued to do good 1 service in supplying umpires for- oolh senior and junior games. More umpires are, ho w'every urgently needed. The Wellington Rugby Football Union has abolished its defaulters' list and now nllows no player to take part in matches until his subscription has been paid. It remains for tho Cricket Association to consider whether this scheme hhould not be introducpd into local cricket, so strengthening the powers of tho clubs and the association. One special general, sixteen ordinary, and 'one special committee meetings were held, the attendnnco at committeo meetings being : — Messrs. Blacklock 17, Salmon 17, Luckie 15, Vanco 15, Bato 14, Burton 13, Richardson 12, Jacobs 12, Wiren 11, Hood 10, Brodio 9, Ashbolt 8, and Pearco 7. In presenting the balance-sheet the committee regiets lhat it should show snch a heavy loss on tho past senson's operations, but a close examination of it will reassure members, as it will be seen that very heavy loss was incurred owing to the visit of tho M.C.C. team and tho pooling of all tho takings. A gfcat deal of additional expenditure by tho association, though^ charged against tho year's income, was of such a nature as not to bo rocurront, as least for sonio years to come, while' £61 of previous year's accounts had fcoen paid out of this year's mceipts, as agaiiiDt fill tho previous season. Purchase and hiio of hoite involved expenditure of £46 . more than last £?!£..' Thfite wfii's »d it- .

presentafcive games from which any profit accrued to the association, and the visit of your team to Canterbury cost over £50. One of the largest items of expenditure — £94 in plant, repairs, and material — is nearly £80 in excess of previous year's items under these headings, and practically all of this excess is non-recurrent. Further, owing to interruption in club cricket, ground fees received were about, £40 short of an ordinary season's cricket. A small balance is still due from the New Zealand Cricket Council, but' owing to the" very severe accident which befell the secretary (Mr. F. C. Raphael) a balancesheet has not yet been forthcoming.