LANCASTER PARK CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2634, 15 September 1882, Page 3

LANCASTER PARK CLUB.

The first annual meeting of the above club was held in the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association last evening. There was a very large attendance, especially of the younger members of the club, Mr A. O. Wilson in the chair.

Mr P. Wilding, hon. sec., read the anno al report and balance sheet as follows : The committee at the end of the first year are glad to bo able to resign to their successors the management of the club with its affairs in a satisfactory state. The balance sheet speaks for itself, and taking the property of the club at 30 per cent, below cost price, the statement of assets and liabilities shows a moderate but reliable surplus. Considering that the outlay for the first year is always exceptionally heavy, and that an increase in the number of suoecribers for the forthcoming season may confidently be anticipated, the financial position of the club may be regarded as thoroughly sound. Belerring shortly to the play dnrieg the past season, the club can fairly cUim considerable credit for nearly doubling the amount of organised cricket in Christchurch, Many players have taken an active part in the game, who but for the existence of the Lancaster Park would have retired altogether; while the opportunity given to the juniors to practice on a really good wicket on each remarkably easy terms, promises to make your club a most valuable nursery for future interprovincial champions. The first eleven have played twelve matches daring the past season, winning six and losing four, while two have been drawn. The fielding of the team has been quite up to the average of association play, and nearly all the players have ecored freely at times; but the bowling, when met by anything like steady batsmen, has been lamentably weak. Still in view of the fact that only two or three of the team bad previously taken part in senior cricket matches, the result, ou the whole, has been far from discouraging. The second and third elevens have played a large number ef matches, and have been fairly anccessfnl. The keen interest taken in many of the contests, and the marked improvement shown by several of the players, have demonstrated the wisdom of encouraging junior matches as much as possible. Your committee therefore recommend their successors to appoint at an early date, second and third eleven cap. tains to arrange regular programmes for their respective teanrs daring the approaching season. Perhaps the most consistently successful play has been shown by the youths under eighteen, and the committee consider that great credit is due to them for sustaining the honor of the club throughout the season with scarotly a reverse. Several of them are rapidly becoming qualified for places in the first eleven, and they may with confidence look forward to representing the province at no distant data, if they continue to practise _ with the same energy and perseverance hitherto displayed. Tour committee regret that the tennis players of the club have not been so energetic in practice as the cricketers. But now that the pavilion is oomp'eted, and the separate tennis lawn will shortly be available, it is to bo hoped that the lady members of the club will be more regular in their attendance, and that the approaching season may be productive of a number of interesting matches. Tour committee warmly approve of the action of the association in establishing cup matches for the Canterbury clubs. They believe that the result will be most beneficial to cricket general'y, and that local matches will prove more interesting and produce _ far closer and keener contests than in previous years. They trust that all active members of the club will do their utmost to make the Lancaster Park Eleven sufficiently strong to _ meet with credit the powerful teams that will be opposed to them in challenge cup matches. The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year had been £246 18j, the expenditure £240 3a ss, leaving a Or. balance at the Bank of £6 14s 7d. The assets were £4114s 7d, and the liabilities £23. The accounts were certified to by Messrs F. Loughnan and W. M. Ollivier, auditors. The report and balance-sheet were received and adopted. Mr Wilding, in moving their adoption, spoke briefly on the necessity of appointing captains who should have the power of selecting teams for competition in cricket. The ground was now in first rate order, and the roll of members was rapidly increasing, there being no less than thirty-three names lodged with the committee for nomination.

Mr W. P. Reeves followed, briefly speaking in favor of the election of captains for the first, second, and third elevens of the cricket teams, and urging the necessity of economy, he pointed out that the items caretaker £lO, and cricketing material* £6l 16s 9d seemed very large. He had no wish whatever to insinuate that the money in these accounts had been badly spent, but thought there was room for retrenchment. The election of officers was then taken, with the following result; —President, Mr A, O. Wilson; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Beeves and J. L. Ooster; hon. secretary and treasurer, with power to obtain clerical assistance, F. Wilding j committee, B. O. J. Stevens, W. D. Mearos, O. W. Yallange, W. Ollivier, W. H, Ataok, F. Loughnan, A. M. Ollivier, and W. P. Beeves. On the motion of Mr A. M. Ollivier, it was resolved that the L.P. Cricket Club enter in the competition for the Cricket Association's challenge cup, and that £3 3s be subscribed by the club. The opening day of the season was fixed for September 30th. After some other business the meeting terminated.