Football.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 19

Football.

RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of . delegates of the Rugby Union was held at the Club Hotel on Monday. There were thirty-one delegates present and Dr Newman, M.H.R. (Vice-Presi-dent), occupied the chair. Mr G. F. C. Campbell moved the adoption of the annual report. Mr J. M!. King seconded the motion, which was carried. The report was as follows: Gentlemen, —In presenting the report the Committee regret that the past season was not so successful aa those of previous years. The annual representative match with Hawkes Bay was played at Napier in August last, and resulted in the defeat of our representatives by six points to three. This is the first occasion since the annual fixture was instituted in 1885 that victory has fallen to cur Northern friends. The only other foreign match was played against the Woirarapa Union, and took place in town, it being impossible for several reasons to send a team up country, and ended in a decisive victory for W ellington by 13 points to 4. The Senior Championship matches in the first round were well con-

tested, bnt were shorn of some interest iix the second round in consequence of the withdiawal of the Poneke Club from the competition. The Wellington Club were successful in winning all their matches, and carried off the coveted honour, the Poneke Club having been at the bead of affairs since 1886. The Junior Championship was won by the Petono Club, they having been runners up for the two previous seasons to St, Patrick’s College. Considerable chaugea having taken place in the personnel of some of the Clubs, it would be well for the incoming Committee to rearrange the classification of those associated to the Union. The BBme trouble with regard to grounds ia likely to arise this season, and the new Committee will, we trust, bo able to arrange, if possible, for the accommodation of all clubs. The retiring Committee would suggest to their successors the advisability of making enquiries as to what terms tba Union could make for the uee of the Butt Park for the season. The mo3t important matter for the consideration of tho Union this year will be the re-paying of the long standing visit due to the Canterbury ami Otago Unions, and it is to be hoped that during the incoming season all the clubs will pull well together so as to enable the Soleotion Committee to choose a really strong and representative team. The annual match with Hawkes Bay will this year be played at Wellington, and there is also a prospect of matches being arranged with Nelson and Marlborough, so that the coming season promises to be an exceptionally busy one. The Union is in a sound financial position, aa the balance sheet shows, tho wonder being that situated as we are with but one ground and getting permission to charge admission to it but once or twice in the year, we are able season after season to come out on the right side, and hold our own with other unions in the Colony who .have the use of private grounds, and consequently are enabled to levy a charge for every match that is played on them. It may be of interest to the ddlegatea to know that during the past season the Union held three special general meetings, besides the annual general meeting, whilst your Committee held twenty, the majority of which were well attended. In conclusion, the retiring committee would like to place on record their appreciation of the loyal support accorded to them by the members of the Union during their term of office. This was especially noticeable when it became the unpleasant duty of the Committee to take action in reference to one of the associated clubs, whose attempt to dispute the authority and to override the decision of the Committee, would probably, bad it been successful, have caused the disruption of the Union. It may be mentioned iu connection with this matter that there will be laid before you to-night a proposal to amend the particular by-law, the administration of which gave occasion to the Poneko Club last year to dispute the ruling of tha Committee, which resulted, as is stated earlier, in their finally withdrawing from the Senior Championship contests. For the Committee, H. McCardell, Acting Hon. Secretary. The balance-sheet shows that there is a balance in hand of £27 15s 9d. It was decided to admit the Pioneer Club to the Union.

The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R. (re-elected) ; Vice-Presidents, Dr Newman, M.H.R., Messrs H. D. Bell, H. Gully (re-elected), and A. W. Brown ; Secretary, Mr E. D. Goimley ; Tresurer, Mr H. McCardell (re-elected for the third time); Management Committee, Messrs Pownall and Collins (Wellington), Sims (Poneke), Wilford (Petone), King (Athletic), and Eyre (Melrose) ; Match Committee, Messrs Wilford, Marchbanlis, King ; Auditors, Messrs J. F. Dumbell and J. Reich (re-elected). Mr li. Sim moved, and-'J.-E. Smith seconded, That by-law No. 4 be repealed and the following substituted : —“T.nat no one but a bona fide msmber of a competing club, who has resided in the district for not' less than two weeks prior to the match in which he is to be played, be allowed to play for such club in any such matches, provided that upon written application being made, the Management Committee may allow such member to play before the expiry of the two weeks.” Messrs G. F. C. Campbell and J. M. King opposed the motion. expressing the opinion that the fortnight’s disqualification would open the door wider than ever to cases of importation. Mr Campbell moved as an amendment that the by-law should be expunged altogether, Mr Kelling thought they should have a rule similar to that in the Cricket Association, which provides that a man should be a resident a month before he was allowed to play, leaving nothing to the discretion of the Committee. He moved an amendment to that effect. Mr C. Earl seconded this amendment, which on being put was ear ried by a large majority. Mr E. D. Gormley moved that each Club in Junior contests be drawn to play each other. Mr F. Kelling seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Skinner asked if the new Management Committee would make arrangements for a junior representative team to be sent away during the coming season. A team of Napier juniors had visited Wellington some time ago, and he did not see why the visit should not be repaid. The Chairman said if the junior clubs would make a recommendation upon the subject the Management Committee would no doubt consider it. On the motion of Mr F. Kelling, a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the .retiring officers, and a special vote was passed to Mr B. p. McMahon, who filled the office of secretary last season. The newly-elected Management Committee of the Rugby Union decided at a meeting held on Monday to warn the town clubs from competing in the Carterton tournament, to be held on Easter Monday, as it infringes the rules in reference to professionalism adopted by the English Rugby Union. At the annnal meeting of the Zealandia Club, held recently in Sydney, Mr H. J. Taperell, late of our reporting staff, was elected a Vice-President, and Mr W. Galloway, who skippered the Rival Club of this city through their victorious career for the Junior Cup two years ago, was elected to the important post of Vice-Captain, and he was also pricstl on tho Match Committee.