CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12933, 29 September 1902, Page 6

CRICKET.

LORD HAWKE’S TEAM. [Per Press Association.] HAMILTON, Sept. 27. The local Cricket Association has decided to endeavour to arrange for a match between Lord Hawke’s team and a Waikato twenty-two, at Hamilton. CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The. annual meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association was heldl on Saturday evening. Mr H. D. Carter was in the chair, and about twenty members were present. The rules, as revised by the sub-commit-tee appointed for the purpose, were discussed. It was decided that there should he two vice-presidents, instead of four, as suggested, and l that they should have seats on the committee. A division was taken on the proposal that the committee should appoint captains, and it was decided that Rule 3, dealing with the matter, should be amended, so that the committee should have control of all interprovincial and other matches arranged by it, and that the captain of each iuterprovincial team should be appointed by the selector or Selection Committee. Some opposition was shown to the proposal that two Saturdays should l be allowed for matches, a strong opinion being expressed that three Saturdays ought to be set aside for that purpose. The former proposal, however, was approved by a large majority. All the other rules were passed. The report stated that the balance-sheet showed assets £25 11s lid and liabilities £3B Is 3d, being a deficiency of £ls 4s 4d, against the previous year’s deficiency, of £SO. The reduction in the liability of the Association was accounted for by the proceeds of the concert, amounting to about £52. The present liabilities included l five debentures of £5 each, which would, in all probability, be redeemed during the coming season. The three interprovinoial matches contested during the season by the yeprecenta lives bad caused a deal of genuine interest in cricket circles. The first of the former, against 'Wellington, which was played in the northern ■ city, resulted, after a close and exciting finish, in a win for the ;Association’s ’team by three wickets. In connection with that match special mention was made of the excellent bowling performance of Frankish, whose average reads seven for 26 in the first innings and six for 64 in the second, whilst A. Sims and! W. C. H. Wigley were complimented for their performances with, the bat. The Otago match played in Christchurch bad been, for the first time for a considerable number of years, played at Hagley Park, and resulted in a decisive victory for tbe southern team by 122 runs. Hawke’s Bay also, sent a team-to do battle .against Canterbury, and chiefly through the instrumentality of Albert Trott and T. Dent gained a,meritorious victory over the Association s representatives by six wickets. The chief cause of the many defeats sustained by the representatives was faulty fielding, a department of the game that was entirely neglected. The season’s play had emphasised the need for a professional bowler, and it was evident that if cricket in Canterbury was to make a forward step that need must be supplied soon. Cricketers in Canterbury would, no doubt, look forward to the coming season with special interest, as arrangements had been completed by the New Zealand Cricket Council for an English team to tour the colony, and would include Canterbury in the programme of matches. It was very pleasing to report a continuance of the old-time enthusiasm in the grand old game, as the sum of nearly £SOO bad been guaranteed for the £250 required by the New Zealand Council from Canteibury, and the heartiest thanks of the Association were due to those gentlemen who liberally responded to the call made. A noticeable feature of the Senior Cup Competition was the large number of drawn games. During the season a Senior Cup Committee had been appointed to control" senior cricket, and rib must be admitted that owing to its efforts there was greater satisfaction with regard to the appointment of umpires and punctuality in commencing-games. A matter whioli called l for vigorous action by the incoming committee was the customary waste of time during senior games. That alone was responsible for one or more of the drawn games, played last season. The Junior Cup Competition was interesting, as three teams at the commencement of the last round were fighting for supremacy. In regard to School Competitions, the committee recommended to the incoming committee the advisablencss of arranging for School Competitions to be played on Lancaster, Hagley and Sydenham Parks. In some respects there had been pleasing features in connection with country cricket. The committee had made arrangements for a country tournament and other matches, but, owing to the inclemency of the weather, the tournament had to be abandoned ; on the other hand, the senior clubs fulfilled their engagements with the Ashley County and Ellesmere Associations. It was hoped that this important branch of the work would always be kept in view by future committees. The thanks of the Association were due to those who* had rendered their services as umpires, also to the ladies who .'had presided at the tea tables on Saturday afternoons during the season. Mr Raphael had decided not to seek re-election as honorary secretary of the Association. During the five years he had acted in that capacity ho had given a great deal of his time and attention to the affairs of 'the Association, and the committee considered it onlj' right that the many valuable services he had rendered should be placed on record.

, The report was adopted. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts had been £195 19s 6d, and the expenditure £l9l 17s 7d. Expenditure in connection with iuterprovincial matches was set down as follows:—Wellington, £44 14s 4d; Otago, £sl 8s 9d ; Hawke’s Bay, £2B. The Otago match, in Hagley Park, brought in £Bl 5s 3d, and the Hawke’s Bay match £32 Is lOcl net. The balance-sheet was adopted alter discussion. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes ; vice-presi-dents, the Hon E. C. J. Stevens and Mill. D. Carter ; treasurer, Mr T. W. Reese; secretary, Mr J. H. Williams; committee, Messrs R. Vincent, O. Garrard, J. D. Lawrence, J. O. Jameson, O. Oaygill, F. O. Raphael and A. E, Ridley ; selector, Mr J. Wheatley; delegates to the New Zealand Council, Messrs Raphael and J. H. Williams.

The question of engaging a professional coach was discussed at length. A motion that the question should be postponed for six months was lost by six votes to eight, and it was decided that the matter of engaging a professional should be left in the hands of Messrs Oaygill and Raphael to collect funds and report to the committee. Mr Raphael announced that the sum of twenty-one guineas had been collected in the room.

The Hom B. O. J. Stevens moved—“ That this meeting desires to place on 1 record its appreciation of the valuable support given to the interests of cricket by the retiring president, Mr Wynn-Williams, throughout the long period during which he has held office, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr Wynn-Williams.” The Chairman seconded the motion, and •endorsed the mover’s eulogies of Mr WynnWilliams’s work.

The motion was earned amidst applause. Mr R. Vincent moved —“ That this Association desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to cricket

try Messrs Raphael and Tapper during their terms of office as secretary and treasurer respectively.” This was seconded by Mr Wigley and carried.

A special complimentary vote was also carried to Mr J. Wheatley, for his services as selector, and a general vote of thanks was passed’ to the outgoing committee. It was moved by Mr Caygill that an endeavour should be made to. have the maten with Lord Hawke’s team played in Hagley Park. It was decided that the Genera! Committee should be recommended to take steps in that direction, if suitable arrangements can be made.

It was decided that the General Committee should meet at Warner’s Hotel at eight o’clock this evening.

The annual general meeting of the Ernst Belt Methodist Cricket Club was held on Thursday. The President, the Rev C. H. Laws, presided, and there was a fair attendance 'of members. A satisfactory report was read, and the balance-sheet showed a credit of £1 9s. * The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Rev Q. H. Laws; vice-presidents, Messrs J. A. Flosher, W. Harris, and W. 11. Seed and Dr Orchard; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. Wilson.; committee, Messrs Chapman, L. King and W. Sherris; captain, Mr H. Goodman. The seventh animal meeting of the Rangiora Veteran’s Club was held on Friday evening. Mr J. B. Wilson presided. The balance-sheet showed receipts £ls 8s 7d, expenditure £8 12s Bd, credit balance £6 15s. Officers were elected : —Patron, Mr D. Buddo, M.H.R.; president, Mr J. B. Wilson; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Carmichael, J. Sansom, M. Scott, and M. Macfarlaue; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. T. Wilson ; captain, Mr J. Judson, sub-cap-tain, Mr J. Reynolds; general committee, Messrs J. Reynolds, J. Sheppard, F. Brennecke, with the President, Captain and Secretary. The opening day was fixed for Thursday next, provided a match could be arranged with the Rangiora Club’s Thursday team. A donation of a guinea was voted to the Rangiora Club towards the cost of preparing the grounds. A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies who provided afternoon tea last season.

Mr T. R. Cresswell, secretary of the Ashley County Cricket Association, has arranged the following fixtures for the first round of the cup competition, matches to bo played in each case on the ground of the first-mentioned team: —Oct. 4—Kaiapoi v. Rangiora A, Woodend v. Kowai, Rangiora B a bye; Oct. 11—Kowai v. Rangiora B, Kaiapoi v. Woodend, Rangiora A a bye; Oct. 18—Woodend v. Rangiora. A, Rangiora B v. Kaiapoi, Kowai ai bye; Oct. 25—Rangiora. A v. B, Kowai v. Kaiapoi, Woodend a bye; Nov. I—Rangiora Av. Kowai, Woodend v. Rangiora B, Kaiapoi a bye. Matches not played on the appointed date are to’ be held over till the end of the round. j The cricket season was opened at Kadapoi on Saturday afternoon, when a practice match was played. The members were well represented. At the annual meeting of the Timaru Cricket Club, on Friday evening last, Mr 0. T. H. Perry was elected president, in succession to Mr S. A. Bristol, who had been president for eighteen years. The Chairman of the meeting, Dr Cox, paid a high tribute to the valuable services of Mr arid Mrs Bristol to the club, and a hearty vote of thanks was’ passed to Mr Bristol, who is retiring from the position on account of ill health. Dr Cox was elected captain, Mr C. H.’ Gresson vice-captain, and Mr V. Wright secretary.