DUNEDIN CRICKET CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 6

DUNEDIN CRICKET CLUB

'■ The annual meeting of the Dunedin Cricket Olub was held in Wain's- Hotel, Manse street on Saturday, loth inst. There was a very large attendance, of members, and the ' chair -was tiken by.Mr.L. O. BeaL

ANNUAL REPORT.

The SECHETAP.r read the following report :'— ;. In presenting their usual annual report and balance sheet,- your' Committee have; to congratulate the Club upon its improved position and prospects- as, compared with last seasoD Outstanding Uabilitieshave been reduced, and the Qlubs.pavilion put iuto a.thorough-state of repair. The balance-sheet, including liabilities certainly sho was a deficiency of some L3O, but against this may be placed a sum of L 26 of unpaid subscriptions, ivhich, with' a little effort might, be easily obtained. On reference to the balance-sheet you will observe that expenses in connection with the lawn mower and necessary repairs ta pavilion, amounting to L 39 10s, are among the chief items of expenditure. This outlay has.improved the Club's property, ahd greatly added to the comfort and convenience or members: No expenditure for mateiial will be necessary for some time, as the Club have in hand a supply suflicient to'meet its immediate requirements.

Yeur Committee refer with great satisfaction to the increased interest and activity, shewn by members in the cricket field duiing last seasou. At no previous period has there been more en-thusiasm-evinced- with regard to the Club's' engagements. A number of country matches were arranged, and, with two exceptions' eventuated satisfactorily. In preparing last* season's programme of matches, your Committee were especially careful to afford every facility to young members, and are glad to be able to report a decided improvement in the play of the juniors of the Ciub. The progrimme referred to embraced 31 matches, of which 5 were country ones; Bof the 31 were Ciub matches, and of the remainder the Club won 9 lost 4, 3 were drawn, and-7 fell through owhi" to.unfavourable weather and other causes. • .: Tlie usual Interprovincial match-was played at Christchurch, arid resulted in a victory for Canterbury> as had been anticipated, though our members played pluckily and some did good .execution,. ... , .... . ...

,-,. A aware, the recent match 6ta"»o' Eighteen v,: All-England'Eleven'was played upon the ground of the Club, and ifris exeaedmgly gratifying to be able to report that the most prominent members of the English team pronounced the wicket placed, afc their disposal second to none in New. Zealand. No doubt the excellent state of the turf was in a great measure due to the use of the lawn mower.in the Cliib's possesion, arid which has proved a great boon to. cricketers who frequent the Oval. '-' Your Committee have to reportthe resignation of Mr; W. Meares, President of the Club. Smce his arrival in Diiaedin, Mr Meares has been indefatigable in his endeavours to promote the best interests of the game,. and he will be much missed in cricket circles. The spontaneous expression of esteem and regard which resulted in the presentation made to Mt Meares before^ his departure for Christchurch proves that his devotion tb the game was not altogether unappreciatedl by- you,-and your Committee1 now desire to record their extreme-regret at the loss of so efficient and energetic a President; Your Committee have; been unfortunate in losing the services of MrR.: P., Macdonnell, one of the oldest ar.d most enthusiastic members of this.- Club, and they, take this opportunity of testifying to the valuablo aid which he at all times cheerfully rendered to the cause of Cricket : ' : ::.;..

In conclusion, your Committee would strongly urge upon their successor^ the necessity of at once taking step 3to place the ground of the Club in proper order for the ensuing season's pfoy-:' -.' lhe balance sheet showed that the expenditure of the Club during the past'yeur was Ll31; 12sl0d, and the receipts Ll2O. lis 2d. ' The CHAiRjfAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said thafc he had but little to say in support of it,, as it ajipeared straightforward, and there was nothing to grumble at. "He thought: that during the ensuing season, they would_ find a formidable opponent inthe Carisbrook Clab, one of the members : of. which greatly, distinguished, himself .last year in the match against the All England Eleven.- r. He hoped, if; the .Victorian cricketers would come down here, that the Duriedin men would be able to give, as good an aceoutit of themselves as they did against the AllEriglanrVEleveu. They had lost the Canterbury match, and, of course, must expect failure sometimes ; -but there was no doubfc: an occasional goOd thrashing would do good. He Was glad to see the liprcountry matches were being attended to, and he would like if a meeting of secretaries were held, in order that the country matches mighfc be made to coincide with, those of the local Clubs. The thanks of ;th'e Club were due to the Government for .the liberal terms upon which it had conveyed them on journeys foi- the'purpose of playing cricket. He. was glad that the Dunedid Ground was now set apart for cricket only, aud he hoped iio further drawback would be experienced ou thafc point, and that they would be able to keep it for cricket, whichho thought was the best of out-door amusements. r'Hewould like to see the trees in the grass plat taken up aud planted.around ..the edge, the same as was done at the: North Dunediu Recreation Ground. He concluded by moving tho adoption pf the report.. Mr Macfarlan seconded the motion;:

Mr G. K. Turton took-exception to the report, andrcoritended'that it Mid not express tl-.e real state 'of cricket 'during the past 12 months. ...'-,- ~- ~'.'■: ;> -.'i

The report was unanimously agreed to, ELECTION OF OFFtCE-ISKASEUS.

Iho meeting then proceeded: to: elect office bearers with the following result:—President, Mr James Rattray; Vice-President, Mr. W. Tait; Treasurer, Mr T. Macfarlane; Secretary, Mr A.- Coates. Committee—Messrs L. O. Beal, Spring, W. Morrison, J.-S. Webb, M. Cohen, H. Ithodes, H. E. Hart, and M'lntyre;