FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 677, 29 March 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

OLD BOYS' ANNUAL MEETING.

There was a large gathering in the supper room of the Opera House on Saturday evening at the annual meeting of the Old Boys' Pootall Olnb. The President, Mr B. D. Hoben, was in the chair. . The annual report and balancesheet showed that there was a balance of £3lßs 7d in hand. Reference was made <to' the faot ■ that though the clnb was rnnner up in the Hankins shield and Abraham oup, and wpn the seven aside tournament, it would have done better still had the members trained and kept together more systematically. Individually the senior team was the strongest the club had yet had. Several prominent players were no longer > available. Messrs Gordon MoMinn, Amodeo, Lowe, and Aidridge had left the district, and the alterations of the trains wonld prevent L. Smith coming over from Woodville to play. Mr AlexMcMinn, the oaptain, who had played for tho club since its inception, was also retiring from the game, and Messrs Hall and Raid, tlio secretary and treasurer respectively, were retiring from office.

Twenty-three new members were elected (including four Oarrolls, late of the Feilding Club) and there was a general discussion as to the need for practise and for a gymnasium, it. boing ultimately decided that the delegates should bring the matter of the securing the use of the sheds at the Showgrounds before the Rngby Union. Tlio ohairman said bo felt sure that the A. & P. Asso-

oiation would meet the footballers in any way they could in the interests of the game. The following officers were eleoted -Patron, Mr E. D. Hoben; president, Mr O. Smith, vice-presidents, Messrs W. Strang, W. T. Ward, W. T. Wood,Pawson,andJ. Hurley; management committee, Messrs Hall, Fraser, Jamieson, Mullins, Oootes.

Delegates to Rugby Union: Messrs Hoben, Manning, Freeman, Pawson, Pearoe, Russell. Secretary, S, Russell. It was deoided that the various teams eleot their own oaptainß and the management committee to

classify the olrtb into seniors, joniors, and thirds for this purpose. The matter of elebting a club oaptain was left in the hands of the committee after thw had been done. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs M'Knight and Moodie for the use of the sale ring for practise, and a Bpeoial vote of apppreciation of the servioes rendered by Mr Gibbons, the retiring president to tint Rngby Union, was recorded on the motion of Mr Gny Reid. and oarried with acclamation. It was pointed out that Mr Gibbons had taken the Union in hand when it was at a very low ebb and as secretary and thon as president had done admirable Bervioe. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring secretary and treasurer.

There is said to be a rnovoment on foot to move the headquarters of the Manawatu Rugby Union to Feilding.