PHŒNIX CRICKET CLUB.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 951, 23 May 1890, Page 29

PHŒNIX CRICKET CLUB.

A general meeting of the members nf tha Phoenix Cricket Club was held at the Posh Office Hotel Monday night for the rjurpose of receiving the annual report and presenting the prizes won during the season. Thera was a good attendance, and Mr W. H. Levin (president of the Club) occupied tha chair. The Secretary (Mr F. E. Brittain) read the report, which was as follows : - On behalf of the Committee I have much pica, sure in submitting to yon the eleventh annual report of the Pkeenix Club, and in doing so must congratulate the members on the success which the Club has obtained, both on the field and financially during tho past season* The report and balance-sheets are presented at the beginning oi tha season, but your Committee have decided i that it is more, satisfactory to close tha -financial yoas at the end of that period. In referring to the attached balance-sheeft you will see that wa have a balance of £lf> I3s Id, the liabilities nil, and the assets £3ts 9s, which, I believe, as the most satisfactory position the Club has ever attained. Tha receipia from all sources during the pasU eight months amounted to £97 18s whilst the expenditure wa3 £S2 5s 6d_ During the season 14 new members jpinedl tho Club, making a total membership of 56. The first eleven played four Cup matches, winning all, and they deseve the greatest praise for their assiduous practice, which, no doubt, won them tho Senior Cap. The second eleven played two Cup matches, losing both, bub .1 trust in future they will have a better record. The Club was represented by Messrs Cross, Frith, Hewat, Moorhouse, Morice, Ogier, and Taylor in tba matches against; Auokland, Canterbury, anti

New South Wales. The thanks of the Club are due to our captain, JVlr Moorlsouse, for the energy he has displayed in bringing the Club to the position it now holds. His splendid average of 50'2 speaks for itself. Special thanks are due to our President and "Vice-Presidents for their generous support, the trophies presented by Messrs Benbow, Cock, Gully, and Major Gudgeon being exceedingly handsome. Thanks are also due to Messrs J. Cruickshank, T. M. D. Davies, A. Lindsay, A. B. Van Lodder, M. Moorhouse, and A. Motley for the trophies presented by them. I must express the deepest regret that the Club have lost the services of Mr A. Motley, he having beeu compelled to retire from the Committee owing to ill health, but trust he may again be able to resume his duties. Mr Niven has been elected to till the vacancy. Mr Alpe having retired from the Match Committee, Mr Morice was appointed in his place. Mr Varnham not being able to devote the necessary time to the duties of secretary, Mr Brittain was elected to the office. The Club are greatly indebted to Mr J. Ililey for his kindness in allowing the members the use of his rooms for meetings. In conclusion I must express my sincere thanks to the members for tiie way in which the>y have paid their subscriptions. without any trouble on my part. Also to Mr C. W. Benbow for his untiring efforts in procuring honorary members.— F. E. Brittain. The balance-sheet was also read. It showed, in addition to the items mentioned in the report, that the amount of the subscriptions collected was £7O 11s, and that the outstanding subscriptions were nil. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, referred to them as of a highly satisfactory nature The record of the Club during the past year was one which the members might justly feel proud of. The fact that the Club had no liabilities, and had about £ls to the good, and all its plant, showed that it had a perfect and thorough vitality. An innovation had been made in the present year iu presenting the annual report and balance-sheet at the end of the season instead of immediately before the succeeding season, and he considered it a great advantage to members, as they were able to discuss the affairs of the Club while everything was fresh in their minds. That the thanks of tbe Club were due to the officers went without saying-. He had never been connected with any Club in which the official work, such as the bookkeeping, etc., was so well done, and as for the boons, it was quite a treat to see them. All the subscriptions had been paid, and the fact that the secretary had obtained them without any trouble on his part showed that the members themselves did not want to be reminded that they owed a duty to a Club which occupied such a proud and prominent position. Mr F. M. Morico seconded the motion, which was carried without further discussion. Mr Morice moved that a hearty vote of thanks should be awarded t.o the donors of trophies, and in doing so he said that the presentation of trophies was somewhat new with regard to this Club. At least they never had anything like the very handsome trophy which had been presented by their Vice-President, Mr Cock, this season. Several other gentlemen had also come forward in a most liberal manner and give:a trophies of a lesser value. That these trophies had stimulated the men to practice assiduously, and to study their averages, went without sayir.g, and he had no doubt that it was their attention to practice which had placad the members in such a proud position. Mr Webb seconded the motioD, which was carried unanimously. The health of the gentlemen who had presented prizes was then drunk with musical honours. Mr Cook, who was received with great applause, in returning thanks on behalf of the donors of prizes, said he was sure that they were all more than gratified by the result of tbe operations of the Club during the past season. The feeling he had was that the Club had deserved all the success it had attained, and that success had been the result of constant practice and hard work. The Chairman, before presenting the prizes, stated that before deciding who should receive the prizes, the committee had Bpent some little time over the matter, and be might say that in each case the prize or trophy was awarded unanimously. He then presented Mr Moorhouse with Mr Cock’s trophy, the recipient returning his thanks in a suitable manner. The remainder of the prizes were then presented. The list of the prize-takers ha 3 already been published. Mr Moorhouse moved that a vote of thanks should be awarded to the secretary, and he referred to the energy and zeal that officer had displayed in carrying out his duties. The motion was unanimously agreed to, and Mr Brittain briefly returned thanks. Ihe remainder of the evening was spent in a convivial manner. Songs were given'by several of the members, and a number of toasts were duly honoured.