OTA GO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

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

OTA GO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The annual mcc ting of the above Association was held in the long room at'-.Wiiiifs Hotel on Wednesday, 19;h inst. There were about 30 gentlemen present. ■ ■'~;. :. Owing to the absence cf the President (through illheies) and the two Vice Presidents, IMr L. O. liealWiis voted to the"chair; ' / -Mr John Eva (the Set-ret-ry), before readying the repoit and balance sheet, would draw j the attention, of the meeting to the necessity for all the gentlemen present joining the ranks; of the Asscohition. He then read the report as follows:—----EEPORT. " The Committee have'much pleasursin submitting 'their annual report to the,members. It will be seen from- the treasurer's statement that after paying the. expenses of the Chrktchurch match, Which' were tinusually; heavy, and also thosaof the English match, including

a bonus of II6G, a3 agreed upon,- there remains a balance tothe credit of the Association of t , A 53 6tV represented : by a bank balance of Ti- , • £ d ' and L4O due by the Dunedia. Oncket Club for cash lent to enable them topay for a lawn-mower imported for them.*. lii order to assist the Club as far as possible, the* Committee arranged for the repayment of thissum oy instalments, er.tendiug over a lengthened, psriod. ...-?-• ..«■>, r-T>r~ ; Although^ the cricket; exhibited during the--past season has not been of so high a cha^cfcera3c9llid he wished, the Committee feel there=' are indications of improvement, and look with, satisfaction on tha formation of new clubs:a*'Deing certain to foster, the game, and produce aspint of ' emulation, without.which cricket or^ any other similar game is. likely to languish. ■ lne AustraUan team selected to go to England* are desirous of visiting Kew Zealand. dorre-" spondence respecting this ivill be laid before-^ you, and; the Committee desire 'that, ybu'Watt give; it your Consideration' and direct vbur^ officers as you.may deem desirable. -r'■ 3'i« ': numbor- of-members-oh the roll-is-71^ which should be considerably added to.: x^Tai this.end-.the Committee thought.it desirable to-r invite the attendance pf all,cricketers to this^ r meeting, and also, that an opportunity mighfc; be afforded of electing a good working staff o£' officers. The Committee, think that, while th&;" Association has been productive of good, ifc Jisf-. possible that much more can be done, and thafei the'-cricketers of-Otago• will" support and en.--' courage, if id the utmost of their power • -Ini conclusion, the Committee, on behalf of'thecricketers generally, take this earliest opportunity, of thanking the public for the liberal manner, they responded to the request for con- r '"Potions, towards the support of the gamaduring the past season, .-" " • m ..'•-.;..•. BALANCE SHEET. '-' ' * J .Tiie balan«e,sheet showed the asset to be—Colonial Bank, L1.15s Gd rowing b\rthe Dtinedia^ Cricket Club; L'4o. Tofcal,^&: loiM. Liabilities, .nil. ■■'■' ' ■■ -p'y.g.go. -; The report/aha balance sheet were adoptedunanimously.- . : ;•; - y .■;..-.■• gTy?

■ Vpl "''«'" ELECTION OF OFFICERS. v.v: Ii. Ihe„ CHAI B"AN proposed -Mr John Eva forthe office.;of. President. Ifc was through hisactive exertions that the money for the purpose*, ot the. Association had been collected durinctheyear. '■;_ .?. ■ *** ' Mr F. Fulton seconded the proposition.";;"y.: \ : AxrLvawas elected unanimously, following;gentlemen were elected tot ■&e^7v 1 e"P^si^ t?' M. e3Sl* J- S.'Webb iind£ J. 1. Maitland; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrm 7Xiu- OS A : . C°]?mittee: Messrs T. Hutchinson*'. Albion), JL^Smith (High School), WTaife l^J^tandard), Gordon Dixon (Carisbrook).. . .P l - 1? 6 Cjiairjian .thanked the meeting f6rr' ' having selected such a.Committee." He honed'" next year to see the number of Committee in-" creased to nine, and thatthere would bdi pro- ' portionate increase in the number of Ciub&r- -;W

; •*'"■' AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS. The Secretary read a letter which he hadf' receiveu from MrrConway as follows :— p;p . Sir—l wish to bring under the notice of your~; Association the fact thafc a tesun of Australiancricketers intend visiting the Old Country dur-'----ing the next, i English; .cricket: season, and thatprior to .their ■departure they .contemplated playing, four. matches.in :New"= Zealand,(if r sufficient. inducement is held out to them)— viz., one each at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wet ' hngton,; and; Auckland.' In return^ we ask?' from each-^ place the sum of LSO towards tbeV expenses of the trip,' the use of the ground free^ of charge.^ith. the-right, to sell booth sites* thereon.: We to play a" threeJdays' match in each ;of the. above-named di=tricts.: .y. }■ Should.our":- negotiations<'result successfully^ T wb will play our.first, match, about the middl^. of next January—in Ofcago, most probably. '"" , A glance at the names' of the team will aStdvr'P your Association its great strength. ' ;iNewSouth.Wales : C; Bafihermau; D; Gr& goryV^K; Thomson, F* Spofforth, ■■T.^irreft?-W.:aitirdpclt'--Victoria : :F.''Allah; T. ■$&& dail, 1. Horan, J. Blackburn, H. Boyle. > • Tas- '^ mania:;G. H. Bailey.;, yyy .',,.-: "-■: i yggr "' J, tr«st ybu.will.give this letter your earliest^ and favourable .consideration.- I.am r &,'.,:..g" : •-.:':• ■g.-gg.g.- y-'y^jQ^^CoiNWAY,.:,;-.^^':-';;; Agent; Australian Eleven.:y^' : He had another detter from: the: H6h;Secretary of the Canterbury' Cricket Association^. which he would read:—,. -r ;

; Dear Sir—l enclose for your information^au extract froth a letter lately received by Mr T. S.'-Sweet (and handed by him to me) lrom MrJJ. Conway, in'reference to the viait of aa: Australian eleven to New Zealand. "I wish tobnngunder the notice of the iiriucipal crickefeclubs of N.Z.. the fact that a.team of Australiam cricketers intend visiting England during the* nexfc L.igksh cricket seasou, and that prior tostarting they contemplate,'if sufficient induce-' .ment is held out, to.piay four or five matches;, in New .Zealand. Our requirements for the-" pnvilegeof a visit are that each of the followmg places, Canterbury, Ofcago, Wellington, and Auckland, guarantee us the sum of LSO towardsexpenses* or L200,,in all, ahdv to give us thegrouudsfree : of charge.withthe right to sell booth sites,-&c. ; , - We in return to play a threedays.: match at each place.against the cricketers^ of the several above mentioned districts. Now, sir, ypu are a moving spirit in cricketing circles-. iu:N.Z.;; ahd I trust Iwoulduotbeehcroachuig:upon your generosity in asking you to bring.this matter before the notice of the Canterbury^ Association, ahd also to acfc as a kind of centre; from whicli-negotiations re our visit arid.they raising, of the guarantee could be carried out."' In. reference to the above I. am requested,, to inform you that, anxious ..as.. Canterbury cricketers.a,re to see ari Australian eleven visit. Christchurch, a very strong feeling prevails thafewe 'cannot under any circumstances accept thet--terms thatMr Conway proposes, sn the ex- ' penses of the match would, in* that caso be fartoogreat. We are prepared to guarantee MrCon way LSO, arid give him half gate money, and half booth money, reserving the remainder for expenses attendant on the match, and we= think thafcif the other towns of New Zealand referred to in Mr Conway's letter would coi incide.with our views, Mr Contvay could baiaduced to accept the terms we propose. I am: writing a similar letter to the' present to Mr:Rice, of Auckland, and to Mr Edmonds, of' Wellmgton; arid,: begging you to lay the, matterbefpre the Cricket Association of Dun-y edin, and tbat -you .will favour me with ani answer at• your earliest .convenience—l am, * &c., H.: H. SecretaN; Hon. Sec. Csnterburyr Cricket Association:...;.-'.-;; V. x

,Ihe.Secretary s.v.d that these lettera ha<lt; beeri considered at the last Committee meeting:, of. the Association, and, as the annual mieetinjjjwas close at. hand, ifc was thought better toehold' the tnatter over. He pointed out 'that" they Avoiild have to play a riiatcVwith Cimteri bury,:and-that would tak,e LSO. It would be^i very injudicious; to go again to the public.yylfy the Australian team worked... up the mattery; proj)erly, ifc should pay them. The English- " men tookLlOO, at tho gates here, aad if -the* Australians could 'clear. L2OO, in each of. tha*: four principal places in the colony, theywoiilcL get. LBOO, which would :pay. them welL Ifo wcitld be* prepared to give; them the privileges of the ground,; but" let! them do without they Lso.'"_ lt : must not bo forgotten that; ifytheyy play the •Australians in January,, and-have*tot^ play the Christchurch team either before;or-, after, the receipts from this, last match would be materially affected.:;; g . ' -: ..•:,-' Mr F.Fulton moved^ { That, prqvidihgtlie.. ground cau be secured. 1 wifclioufc expense, they Association offer the Austfalii'i Team the free*; use',pf the" ground; b'ut^tothirigmore." : ■g-.P- ---; Mr Tait seconded theTinotio:]^ "gg y ; MrG. X". Tuhton said the A;ustra!i,ins should;not be placed in a false light.y The Association: ? was notiiri.a positioa.;to offer ivy inducement^, and: he : would therefore move—-" That .they Association cannot guarantee either LSO. or the* jjround."..'':- ..■.....•'"'"',,.. .;-■■'■ ■-. ; ■■'.- ■,"':'•;.■ ~;■"; Mr Paramos seconded ttie smeridirient," :'; Mr Rose thought that if Mr Cciiway were:;' written to, as" suggested by Mr Turton, it would lie' equivalent to saying that the Duh~' edin: cricketers did not: wish to see the:Ai?s~ traiian cricketers, and he'*was eiire that aIL preseut would be veiy glad to see them. , i:.'- gg ;. Mr 15va moved, as a further amendment—r^ " That the matter bo referred to liie Com--' mittee, with power to act, provided no -money* guarantee be given." .':- ■ y ;' '*'. Having1 been duly secont?ed, the lasfc amend— xazut, was put; and carried, only. t-.vo persons? .dissenting." .' ;'"••. '■'-■•■ , . ■".. '••..- \./S;''■"•:■/: tome discussion took place as to the appoint-^ merit ofa Match Committee; but it was pointed^ out that,the meeting had no power to interfere.' A vote cf thanks to the cliauvteriniaated thei proceedings.:. ■-"■•-