RUGBY UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10919, 30 March 1896, Page 3

RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. T T ae seventeenth annual general meeting of t'Ae Canterbury Rugby Union was held at 'c lie Clarendon Hotel on Saturday even- , ing •; present--Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes (pj esideut, iii the chair), L. A. Cuff and W. J. Cofcterill (vice-presidents), T. li. Caverhifl, M. Lynskey, T. Hanna and ,1. M .’Gregor, Kaiapoi; A. E. Craddock, D. L ee and B. P. Gully, East Christchurch; Ij. W. Appleby, H. Frost, J. M. Thomson ?md F. W. Hobbs, Christchurch; G. Scott, 1A J. Denham and W. M; Allardyce, SydenNiam;' W. Irvine, E. M. Carr, V 7. M’Namara "i-nd J. Taafe, Linwood; F. T. Evans, B. j Hooper and C. Menaies, Morivale; E. | ,Harding and J. Daniels, N’tu Ahuriri ; 1 1 :A; &:n,y. and A.-Bell, Canter bury College ; jiJ. French and L. T. Watkins, Albion; NT. L. Smith and D. Jack, Lyttelton; G.' Ronnie, Laestou; J. Frost, Lincoln Gcl- - lego; vV. Walton, Boys’ High School; A. Beardsley, Rakaia; J. U. Collins, Christ’s * College; G. Milne, Richmond ; W. Pearce, Hororafca; T. Buntin, Oxford; A. E. White, Irwell; H. V. Styche, North Canterbury ; A. E, Flower - , Kaikoura; W. G. Garrard honorary secretary and P. E. Asquith honorary treasurer.

Iho following clubs were affiliated to the Union:—New Brighton F.C., dark bluo and salmon sash ; Le Eon’s Bay F.C., black and salmon hoops; Lakeside F.G., navy blue, white hoops, yellow sash. ■ A letter was read from the Southbridge Club, withdrawing from the Union. Tire annual report congratulated delegates on one of the most successful seasons the Union had ever experienced. Six interprovincial matches had been played, three in Christchurch and the others during the southern tour, and in all but one, viz, that against Otago, the Union’s representatives wore successful. The Union had also sent a second team to Akaroa to play the combined Peninsula teams, and proved victorious by thirteen points to nil. The Wellington match was the first under the new arrangement by which this became one of the Union’s annual fixtures ; the Union would, therefore, have to send a team to the Empire City, this season. The annual fixtures with Ota,go and South Canterbury' would bo played hero, and there was every probability of Southland and Hawke’s Bay paying the Union' a visit. Owing to the superiority of. the Linwood team thesenior contests were not of so exciting a nature as the previous season, still some good play was witnessed. Linwood was an easy first, Kaiapoi being second and Christchurch third. The Junior Flag was won by the N’tu Ahuriri team, which proved far too good for its opponents, Kaiapoi being second and Albion third. Tiie President’s Cup provided by far the most exciting - contests.. The competition ended in a tie between the Southern A and Linwood Third, the former winning in the play-off, Richmond beingthird. The Thursday Flay contest was chiefly remarkable for the large number of postponements; and the committee recommended that unless the competition was put on a better footing and more interest taken, that it should be abandoned. Linwood was first and Drapers’ A second. Only four games were played. During the season seven new clubs affiliated, leaving a total of thirty-four clubs on the! roll. The Referees’ Association was now in first-class working order, and had done good work throughout the season. During the'year the Union took steps to abate what it considered .was a serious, drawback to the improvement of the game, by confining their junior competitions in future, with a few exceptions, to clubs which were competing for the Senior Championship, and felt sure that much good would be the ultimate outcome of the scheme.

The Chairman moved the adoption of thereport, and in doing so congratulated the Union on the success it had attained during the past year. Mr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried. - The balance-sheet showed that the receipts had amounted to £72,7 16s 7d, and the expenditure to .£B9O 7s 2d. The assets were valued at .£l2l 3s 7d, and there were no liabilities. Mr Cuff moved and Mr White seconded the adoption of the balance-sheet. Mr Smith took exception tn> such a large expenditure as 96130 16s 4d being incurred over the southern tour. This amount would not. have been so high haid the Union decided to send one manager instead of two. The affairs in connection with the tour could easily have been attended to by one manager.

Mr Jack objected to the XT'(non spending its funds to provide afternoon tea at the club matches.

The balance-sheet was adopted. A letter was read from. Dr Jennings, resigning his position as vice-president owing to pressure of business.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes (reelected) ; vice-presidents, Messrs T. W. Stringer, W. J. Cotterill as id G. H. Mason; honorary secretary, Mr W. G. Garrard (re-elected) ; honorary treasurer, Mr P. E. Asquith (re-elected) ; management committee, Messrs H. Frost, J.l Buutin, P. T. Evans, J. Daniels and J. U. Collins; Junior Flag committee, Messrs T. Buntin, B. Harding and L. T. Watkins; delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr H. M’Cardell; auditors, Messrs T. L. Srnith and H. V. Styche (re-elected). I It was decided to call a special meeting to consider the question o: f registering the Union under the Unclassified Societies Registration Act. A letter was read from ( ' Mr G. P. Campbell, Wellington, stating that at a meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Union it had been decided to present a testimonial to Mr E. D. Hoben, late honorary secretary of t| he Union. Mr Carr moved —“ 1 .'hat the letter be received, and that no 1 action be taken in the matter.” Mr Irvine seconded Uhe motion.

Mr Styche moved, as an amendment—- “ That the Union subscribe towards the

testimonial to Mr Hoben, and that the amount be left in the hands of the committee.” The amendment was seconded by Mr Hobbs and carried by thirty-one votes to six. Mr Hobbs moved—" That in the opinion of this Union the head-quarters of the New Zealand Union should remain in Wellington.” Mr Cuff seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Smith moved—“ That this meeting deeply deplores the sad calamity which has recently eventuated at Brunnerton, and while extending - its sympathy to the ■ relatives of the deceased miners hereby instructs the executive of this Union to contribute the sum of .£23 to the National Fund now being raised for the relief of the sufferers.” i, ; ■ ■ Mr M’Namara seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. it was decided to open the season for cup matches on Saturday, April 18. After passing votes of thanks to the retiring officers the meeting closed.