FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WKLLINGTON RUGBY UNI OX. The annual report of tho secretary to the Wellington Rugby Football Union (Mr D. McKenzie), to be presented to tho meeting of delegates which will bo held at tho Trocadcro on Saturday night next, shows that tho total receipts for last season were £729 13s 4d, and the disbursements .CG3;) 12s 7d ; credit balance, £9O 2s 9d. Tho assets of tho union now total- £2BB 18s Gd; liabilities, nil. Tho gross takings at the Athletic Park during 1900 amounted To £lOOl 9s, against £854 13s Gd in 1899 and £770 5s 6d in 1898. being an increase of .£146 13s 6d on the previous season, and £231 3s Gd on 1898. Out of this sum tho union received as its share £4SS os lid. 'Touring teams last season cost the union £2ll 12s 2d. » The committee sent tho representative team on tho bi-annual northern tour,, and, although not of as successful a nature as they could have desired, the results of the matches left honours easy—a win being scored against Taranaki, a- loss to Auckland, and a drawn match was played with Hawke’s Bay. After tho return of the team from the north, another team was sent across the Straits to play against Nelson and Marlborough, and it was successful in both its matches. Home and home matches were played with Wairarapa, tho two games ending in favour of onr representative.'}. Canterbury, Otago, and Southland sent their representative teams to Wellington, tho two former matches resulting in wins to tho Wellington teams, and the latter ending in a draw. Tho Horowbenna Union sent its team to tho city while the representative team was on its northern tour, a second team inflicting a defeat on it. The match with Manawatu was nut played, the country union not being able to raise a team. With reference to the non-arrival of a Now South Wales representative team in Now Zealand last year, tho report says :—“The nroposecl visit of the New South South Wales representatives did not eventuate, much to the disappointment of lovers of the game in the colony. There were many reasons (for this, the one given being that the amount guaranteed by the various unions was not sufficient for the New Zealand Union to finance tho tour. In this connection, tho union affirmed the desirability .of each colony financing its own tour. Tho visit will probably be made this season; but to facilitate matters the committee recommends that positive instructions bo given tho delegates to the New Zealand. Union to the end that matters may be pushed iDeward at once." In the matter of tho proposed amalgamation of all Wellington district unions' for tho purpose of putting inMho field a thoroughly representative Wellington team, the report points out that iu accordance with a resolution passed at a general meeting of tho union, the committee forwarded a circular letter to tho Wairarapa, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua. and Bush Rugby Unions., asking them to discuss terms of amalgamation in view of representative matches, but no reply has yet been received from any of the country unions. Tho report concludes with an appreciation of tho sendees of the Referees’ Association, and tho expression of tho committee’s thanks to Mr J. P. Firth for a donation made by him to the funds of the union.