RANGIORA CRICKET CLUB.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3636, 11 September 1872, Page 2

RANGIORA CRICKET CLUB.

The annual meeting of the member! of thi« club took place at the Junction Hotel on Monday evening last. Mr 0. Merton occupied the chair, and, there was, a fair attendance of members present. . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman read the following annual report of the committee . "The committee of the B.C.C. has to congratulate the members again this seasdn iu bringing before them their annual report, upon the prosperity that has attended the club during the past year, as not only have the number of matches played been greatly in excess of those of any former year, but the: number of members has been more than • double that of any previous season—forty-one gentlemen haying joined the club,—and the play has also greatly unproved. “ During the season, ten matches have been played—two with the Lyttelton Times Club, three with the Oddfellows Of the North Canterbury district, on! with the 'Ellesmere C.C., one with the Moeraki Downs C.C., and three between the married and single members of theclub. Withregard to those played with other clubs, your teams have been singularly unfortunate, only winning two out of the eight matches'played, having beaten the Oddfellows in the first match with them, and the Lyttelton Times in a match played at Bangiora on March 9, when your eleven won by 62 runs, the numbers being 135 to' 83, and the game being decided by the first innings. In this match Mr Thome made the highest score of the season—sß. In the previous'match with the Times Club, played at Kaiapoi oh December $ your eltv«h was defeated by 8 wickets, the one innings on your side closing for onlv 18 runs. " The match with the Ellesmere Club was played on ■ the U.C.C.O. ground, when . the game was again decided by one innings, the numbers being—Ellesmere, 93 and 28 ; Bangiora, 51; and hod there been time to finish the second inhings, there is a probability that your eleven would have been victorious. “ The Oddfellows have won two of the three, games played with them, and the one with the Moeraki Downs was won by that club, as in consequence of the inclement state of the Weather several of the Bangiora team did not come on to the ground, and they were obliged to play several of Mr Merton’s boarders as substitutes. " The matches Married v. Single have helped considerably to keep up the interest in the club, and have been well contested, the two first being won by the Single,, and the third by the Married. « The committee has not thought it wise to spend any money in improving the present ground, as there is an uncertainty as to how long they may be allowed the use of it, the owner having offered to let a portion of it for

building purposes; but your committee would suggest that steps should be taken to bring the Recreation Reserve under the control of the inhabitants as soon as the present lease on it has expired, and then spend their surplus funds in laying down a permanent ground. “ With respect to the finances of the club, the committee have with much pleasure to announce that, after paying all liabilities there is a balance in hand of nearly £5, which is no doubt attributable in a great measure to Mr Merton’s kindness in giving a concert in aid of the club, which realised over £6. The committee have again to thank the Rev Canon Dudley for his kindness in allowing the club to play on his paddock for the third season. “In conclusion, your committee would suggest that a special meeting of the members should be held shortly, to take into consideration the necessity of altering some of the rules of the club, and when the propriety of increasing the annual subscription to at least 10s should be determined. “ 0. Mehton.” Mr E. R. Good, treasurer, handed in the follow annual statement of accounts ; Receipts: By Balance, 14s fid j members* subscriptions, £l2 17s fid; donation, &c., 13s; tickets sold for annual dinner £4 4s ; subscriptions by committee, 17s fid ; proceeds of concert, £8 16s; total, £2B 2s fid. Expenditure: Mowing ground and sundries, £2 9s 2d; printing, £1 15s fid; material (from Grand) £ll 10s; six balls, £2 8s; cost of dinner, £5 4s; balance in hand, £4lss 10d: total, £2B 2s fid. The committee’s report and the balance sheet were received and adopted, both of which were considered very satisfactory. It was resolved that the annual subscription to the club be 7s fid, as formerly. It was also resolved that the secretary write ts the Rev Canon Dudley, asking if he will allow the club to use his paddock as a cricket ground for next season. Messrs W. B. Percival, W. Eckersley, and R. Pridgeon were proposed and elected members of the club. The meeting then proceeded to elect a managing committee, when Messrs Merton, Thome, W. A. Burt, Pridgeon, and E, R. Good were unanimously appointed. Mr C. Merton was unanimously elected President of the club. Mr Thorne was also elected Treasurer, and the election of a Secretary was deferred till next meeting. This concluded the business, and a vote of thanks having been passed to the retiring Officers and Committee, a similar compliment was paid to the Chairman for presiding, after which the meeting adjourned.