HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 10

HOCKEY.

The various hockey clubs are now holding their annual meetings, and it is probable that the season will be opened on the Saturday after Easter. ,f; It is expected ths.t the Auckland Hockey Association will be again granted the use of the polo ground at JRemuera, which has been drained since last season. The hockey season last year was by far the most successful one yet experienced in Auckland, but from present indications the coming year will be even more successful. New clubs are being formed in every direction, A noticeable feature is the number of cricketers joining the ranks. The game is also fast gaining a hold in the country districts. Great interest, for instance, is being shown at Hamilton, where a meeting to consider the advisableness of establishing the pastime in that town was to have been held last evening. As showing the enthusiasm displayed there, it might be mentioned that 50 names had been handed in to the secretary up till Tuesday evening,

[In consequence of the formation of & ' many new clubs there must also be. a coi ->'■■ responding increase in the ranks of the it 1 ' feree-s if' the games are to be controlled pre [■ perly, and any -, enthusiast who is willing f rf give his services its that direction is request* • i to forward his name and address to th« s^crf ■ } tary of the local Referees" Association '(Sit ' : i ■■■'Th'os. 'H.''Wright)rFot%-sireet v ' !■" At the annual* meeting of the Hawke' ' 1 Ba« Association it was stated, says a Pres ,;{-r Association telegram, that at present User i are 32 clubs in the province, and more it I prospect. ' Being a young association, th i fund* had not been sufficiently large to sent j a. representative teum 06 tour to fight in i I the New Zealand shield, but it was hope- , f. to be able to send one this season. ] The annual .meeting of the Auckland A* I soc.is.tipn v.ill be held on Monday evenin: 1 at the Amateur Sports Club. '' ! A number of the members of the Pousonb; ' ! -'C-lab visited Ellerslie on Saturday list, am [ indulged i" a practice game will; ten- loca J team. The ground was in good order, am i play was fast. Delaney, a !jisborne rep ' i halfback, turned out for R-msonby, am j ..shaped well, Young notched tour goals fo | the visitors, and Norton and dimming* om ) each for Ellerslie. .Mr. E. E. Madden he! i the whistle. I Colonel Gudgeon, British Resident a | Rarotonga. has been elected the first lift j member of the Auckland Club. < j Already the Southern Associations havt ! fixed their eyes upon the New Zealand chain ! pionship challenge shield, which was won las i season by the local representatives. A' thI -annua! rnetting oi th.- Manawatu Associatioi I on Tuesday the executive was instructed « j immediately consider the advisableness el ! sanding a team in search of the trophy. I Mr. H. Kerslake. who so ably manager, 1 the tour of the Manawatu representative! j throughout the North. Island last season, ha: been re-elected secretary of the Manawati Association. UNITED CLUB. j' A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. i The annual meeting of the United Chit i was held at the rooms of the Amateur Sports ! Club last evening, when 30 members, boll ■ old and new, wera present. j The annual report which was presenter j by the secretary (Mr. D. Kerr Porter), statec ! that the past season was the most successful I the club had had for some j-ears. the seniot | team having won the Auckland Association'* | challenge, shield and banner, while the first ' and second junior teams had each suceeedec - in gaining championship honours, and at th< | opening of the wnson the club's represents j lives proved vie.virions in the seven-a-sidt j, tournament promoted by the association. I Regret was expressed at the death of Mr. T ' Doyle, the club'.-: most prominent player ii ! the forward line, win; succumbed to injuric- | received from an accident off the field last < September. Mr. Doric was selected as the j winner of the hockey stick presented foi j competition amongst the Auckland reprcs-m- ---| tativc forwards, but unfortunate!-.' he passer ! away before the trophy could be' given him. i His loss would be severely felt. 'The club ; was well represented in the Auckland reprei sentiuive combination. Mr. Shirriffs (a j member of the club) was elected captain, and i had the .pleasure of ~ee.ing his team win ih« 1 New Zealand Association's challenge shield, ; Credit was also due to Mr. R. W. Barry for ! 'his fine performance .of shooting 30 goals ! -luring the season. The thanks of the 'club ! for donations were due to Messrs. R. A. Carr i J. Miller, Graharne Read, and W. Sholto |. Douglas, and to Mr. F. S. Shirriffs. who kindly f placed his rooms at the service of the comI mittoe, and thereby saved the club considerj able expense. Tim balance-sheet was of „ j favourable nature, and it was adopted in comi pany with the reporl • The election of officers for the ensuing ! year resulted jus follows .---President. Mr. .i. ! Miller; vice-presidents. Messrs. It. A Carr j VV. Sholto Douglas, W. R. Freeman, and j Choyce; hon. secretary. Mr. A. W. Taylor: I hon. treasurer Mr. N. Falconer: hon. audii tor, Mr. W. Hamlin ; delegates to Auckland | Hockey Association, Messrs. F. S. Shirriffs | and Falconer: Selection Committee, Messrs j W. Bloomfield, G. Miller and F. S. Shiri riffs: committee, Messrs. G. Miller R. W. | Barry, W. Bloomfield. and W. A. ' Ca'thro.' twenty new members were elected.