CRICKET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 916, 20 September 1889, Page 13

CRICKET.

WELLINGTON CRICKET CLUB.

The annual general meeting of the Wellington Cricket Club was held at the Club Hotel on Saturday night. About 25 members were present. Mr E. B. Brown was voted to the ‘chair, and called upon Mr A. R. Meek, the secretary, to read the following report and balancesheet During the past year the Club has maintained its high position in Wellington cricket, and has displayed a continuance of the same vigour that has marked its operations during the past few, years. Though it had not, as in the previous season, the good fortune to win both the Senior and the Junior Cup, yet the eleven won the former "in the easiest manner possible, and proved itself to be the foesf; team the Club has ever sent into the field. This is the third successive year m which the Club ha,? won the Senior Cup. The second eleven began well in the Junior Cup matches, but fell away as the season advanced. The list of matches played shows the season to have been a busy one, though the want of grounds ill Wellington hampers the Committee in their endeavour to arrange matches, especially in the case of the Junior elevens. The first eleven played four Senior Cup matches, thr.ee of. which were won with an innings to spare ; the fourth was closer, and resulted in a creditable victory for the Club by four wickets. This career of success is largely due to the consistent bowling of A. Gore, the good all-round fielding of the team, and above all to the excellent generalship of Dr. Collins. Mixed teams, including some members of the first eleven, played three matches, winning two and losing one. In one of these E. W. Brooke played a capital innings for 88, the highest s.core for the Club during the year. Members of the eleven also took a prominent part iu matches against the Pacific Squadron and the Christchurch Wanderers, promoted by Mr W evry, and in matches played in Christchurch by tfie Wellington Rovers. Of four Juniof Cup matches the second eleven won two and lost two ; and three extra matches were all won. The third eleven played three matches, winning two and losing the third. In computing averages for trophies those matches only are counted in which seven of an eleven have taken part. Last year five matches count for the first eleven and four for the seconds. First eleven —Dr Collins wins the club cup and bat with an average of 34, H. A. Morey coming second with 30‘6 ; W. J. Cotteriil third with 26’7. Mr Bates’ bowling; ttophy falls, as usual, to A: Gore, with the following figures maidens, 253 runs, 40 wickets, average . 6 - 3. Second eleven-—ln batting C. Gore i comes first with 17 ’5, closely followed by Newbold with 16 T, and Leckie 15‘8. Gore wins the President’s bat. E. J. Robinson wins the bowling trophy pre-

sented by Mr Werry, his 14 wickets having cost him seven runs apiece. Newbold is well up with 17 wickets for nine runs each, and Kreefb with 15 for 11. An attempt was made during the season to average outside matches, and the first of What it is hoped will be a series of annual matches with Masterton was played on the 9th November. An effort to send a team away at Christmas was fruitless. The Committee, however, wish to impress upon members the desirableness of having annual fixtures with clubs outside of Wellington, and think that if possible a team should be sent to visit Christchurch and Dunedin at Christmas. It is a matter of much concern to the Committee that during the coining season the Club will be deprived of the services of three of the best cricketers who have ever worn its colours —A. Gore, W. J. Cotteriil and H. A. Morey. All three were chosen to play in ’ the representative eleven last January, and well deserved the honour. They took a high place in the batting averages, and more than this, Cotteriil w r as perhaps the best field the Club ever had, while Gore was without a doubt its best bowler. During the last three seasons, in Cup matches, Gore batted 20 times for 419 runs, an average of almost 21 per innings, and sent down 2452 balls for 755 runs and 104 wickets, an average of 7'26 runs per wicket. By the removal of these members to other cities the Club loses three men, remarkable not only for their skill in the game, but also for that manliness and courtesy inseparable from the true cricketer. The second . eleven’s social reunion was held on the 28th March, and though most, enjoyable to those who were present, its complete success was marred by the paucity of attendance. Unless members generally take more interest in this event in future, it would be wise to discontinue it. In conclusion, the Committee have again to congratulate the Club on its financial position. Notwithstanding the large amount of expenditure during the season there is a small credit balance at the bank, and we venture to predict, that owing to the fact -that the Club is now in possession of so complete a stock of material the expenditure throughout the coming season will be considerably reduced,” The balance-sheet showed that the re eeipts during the season had been LB9 17s lOd, and that in addition to the cash in hand (L 4 4s 8d) there was a sum of L 5 2s still outstanding for subscriptions. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report 'and balance-sheet, expressed an opinion that the Club was in a very satisfactory condition, both regarding the cricket and other items connected with the Club. Mr T. S. Ronaldson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr W. H. Levin ; Vice-Presi-dents, Dr Collins and Mr H. D. Bell ; secretai’y, Mr A. R. Meek ; treasurer, Mr T. S. Ronaldson ; auditor, Mr P. P. Webb ; general committee, Messrs N. W. Werry, E. Boddington, C. V. Kreeffc, A. Newbold, and H. Brooke ;match committee, Dr Collins, Messrs C. A. Knapp, and T. S. Ronaldson ; delegates to the Association, Messrs A. T. Bate, A. R. Meek, and P. P. Webb. A vote of thanks go t}ie Chairman brought the proceedings to a .close.