OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9547, 1 October 1892, Page 4

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held at Wain's Hotel last night. Mr Keinpliri (vice-president), occupied the chair, and there were 1* delegates present. ANNUAL REPOBT. The following annual report of the outgoing committee was submitted do the meeting:— Your committee have nothing of extra hnportance.to note in their report of the past season's doings. With a view to popularising the game in the north end of the city a strong representative was formed to make inquiries about a suitable spacious ground there Six pieces of ground were visited, and after duly considering all points connected with them the subcommittee submitted to us the following proposals:—" (1) The above six are all the areas suitable, as far as your committee know, for cricket purposes at the north end. Your committee, therefore, recommend two proposals: I'irst, to approach the council in reference to the present north ground. Secondly, to approach Mr James Allen with a view of securing his paddock. Of these proposals, which will no doubt be caretully and fully considered by-the committee, your sub-committee are in favour of the latter, and would recommend the committee to advise the north end clubs that one of them should take up the ground." Upon interviewing Mr Allen the General Committee found it would be impossible to secure his paddock, owing to the conditions: of the present lease.

Of the North Recreation Ground the sub-com-mittee reported as follows :—"To make this suitable as a proper cricket ground it would be necessary to get the City Council to sanction the erection of a high fence, to close all the entrances but one, and. to take up the present plantation of trees around. By the Public Reserves Act admission to the ground could be charged for on 10 days a year. If the City- Council could be got to sanction the proposed alterations as above in course of time the reserve could be made into a good ground.' Nothing further has been done in tne matter. Should our successors desire to take further action the steps already taken by us will doubtless be of service to them. The Opobo and Anderson's Bay clubs are vigorously improving their grounds. • There is also some likelihood of a strong club being formed at Kaikorai, to play on the ground of the football

We were again successful in the last interprovincuil contest with Canterbury, played here making the third successive win for Otago Kather more.than ordinary interest was taken by the public in the match, and had the weather been good on Saturday (the second day of the match) a large attendance would have resulted I'or the visitors, the batting of A. Harnian and Liibatfc was deservedly admired—in fact the former has seldom appeared to greater advantage m an interprovincial match; while for Otago grabble, Williams, Johnston-, Beil, Baker, and MaoNeil batted well. In the trundling department, Downes and Lawton divided the honours . 1 our committee have had the questipn of sending a team through the northern provinces of the colony under consideration, and are satisfied the necessary expenses for the trip can be readily secured if proper steps are taken to enlist support t lhe Lansbrook Club secured possession of the cnallenge cup rather easily. We are strongly of opinion that a junior cup contest should be instituted this season, and trust the matter will receive favourable consideration at the annual meeting We have unanimously recommended that the Opoho Cricket Club should lie raised to the senior class.

lhe professional's services were secured by the Warehousemen's Club during the season. We trust the Opoho and' the Anderson's Bay chilis will be able to avail themselves of his instruction (luring the incoming season, seeing that his engagement with the association will end with the season.

_ On the whole, we are of opinion, cricket has improved during the past season, notwithstanding the wretched weather experienced. The balance sheet shows cash in hand L 2 I7s 4d property, consisting of pavillion, tent, silver challenge cup, &c, to the value of L7O: and liabilities nil. In conclusion, your. committee would again revert to the advisability of instituting a junior cup competition, being strongly of opinion that such a competition would materially popularise the game, and ultimately benefit senior cricket. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said for the first time for many years he must congratulate the committee on being able to show such a favourable balance Bheet. The liabilities of the association were nil —ail unknown thing for a very long time, but he must say that at the worst they had never been very great. So far as the assets j

were concerned, they consisted of the valuable

trophy before the meeting and the pavilion on the Carisbrook ground. He was very much afraid that the 'latter asset was of very little value to the association. "With regard to the ground at the north end, it had bsen a vexed question for many years past. Unfortunately, the association was not in any better position to-day than it was 12 mouths ago with respect to that. The inquiries were numerous, and the work of the sub-committee that was appoiuted was diligent, but unfortunately they were not able to persuade the two existing clubs at the north end to go into such an expense ; in fact the association might consider the matter quite out of the question. However, he hoped that time would give them au opportunity of doing something more than they had been able to accomplish up to the present. With regard to the interprovincial match, he must congratulate Otago once more on having gained a victor v over Canterbury. He was sure that tho Otago men deserved great praise for the way they had played; aud he was also quite sure, without wishing to boast, that the best team won. Mention was made in the annual report of reintrodueing the question of juuior cup matches. It was a most important question so far as senior cricket was concerned, because the association could only look to the juniors to strengthen the senior ranks. As to the round trip of the Otago team, that was a very big undertaking indeed, and one that the association could not afford at present, but he hoped and trusted that the idea would be carried out. He was satisfied that the Otago boys would give a good account of themselves ; and he was also quite sure that such n, trip as that to which he had alluded would give a great impetus to cricket. With reference to the Opoho Club's desire to join the ranks of senior cricketers, he must say that the members of the club deserved very great credit for the perseverance' they had 'shown iv establishing the ground that they h.-.d on the top of the hill. The club was really an example to the north end of the town. He must confess that they had a very nice piece of ground, and they had made the best use of it. H». was quite sure that in the course of a few ye. -~ with the exception of tho Oarishrook ground, their ground would be the best iv Uuneclin. He trusted that the delegates would support their election to the ranks of senior cricketers, and he also hoped that when they attained to the position of a, senior club they would be able to give a good account of themselves. Mr luNnr.Av seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously. THH Ol'OJtO CI.UI!. An application by the Opoho Club to be admitted as a senior club was granted.

THE DUNEDIN CLUB.

It was unanimously resolved that the newly formed Dunedin Club be elected as a junior club of the association.

THE 51ORNINGTON CLUDi

The Secretary stated that he had received a letter from the newly formed club at Movningtou requesting that the club, which had a ground at Maryhill, should be admitted as a junior club of the association.. According to the rules, however, it was impossible to elect it as a junior club at that meeting, as the association had not had the required notice of their desire to join ; but the co'mtnittee could call a general meeting at some other time, at which the club could be elected.

It was decided to refer the matter to the incoming committee.

THIS ALBION CLUB. The Secretary of the Albion Club wrote stating that the club intended to dispense with the services of Mr Lawtoii this year. The Chaikjian said it was an open question whether the club could back out of the matter. He hoped that taey would reconsider their decision, as it was a pity that one of the first clubs who were ready to avail themselves of the services of the professional should find themselves unable to continue to do so. Mr Ringer stated that the club was not in a good financial position, and he had only given ! a guarantee for the club for one season. He, however, now wished he had given it for three seasons. The Secretary (Mr W. J. Moore) asked, if every guarantor was going to repudiate all responsibility in connection with the payment of the professional's services, who was going to pay for his services ? Was it honourable to do that? He thought it was positively dishonourable, and he trusted that the Albion Club would reconsider the matter. On the motion'of Mr Harper it was decided to refer the matter to the incoming committee. THE DUNEDIN AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUII. Mr P. J. Ness wrote stating that the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club had decided to hold their^ annual sports on December 10 at Carisbrookfand asking the assosiation to make no cricket fixtures for that date.—Referred to the incoming committee. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr Jas. Allen, M.H.R. ; vice-presidents—Messrs Kemplin and Harper; Secretary and treasurer, Mr Smythcommittee—Messrs Rattray, Smyth, Clayton, Fmdlay, Ringer, and Gooch. CUP MATCHES, Mr Clayton moved—" That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to revise the rules for cup matches." Mr Rattray seconded the motion, which was carried. PRESENTATION. The Chairman, in presenting the retiring secretary, Mr Moore, with a handsome silvermounted inkstand and gong, made of a ram's horn, said that the association felt that to again ask him to occupy the position of secretary wSuld be to impose too much on his good nature Mr Moore had been a faithful secretary to the association for a number of years, and he (the chairman) was quite sure that he had done his utmost to further the interests not only of the Otago Cricketers' Association, but also of the game generally in Dunedin.—(Applause.) As an old cricketer, and an enthusiastic one, the committee thought it was only just that his valuable services should be recognised in some way. He (the chairman) had, therefore, much pleasure in presenting to Mr Moore an inkstand, suitably inscribed, as a memento of his connection with the association, and in Recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the association.—(Applause.) Mr Moorb, in returning thanks, said'he had been connected with cricket for the last 24- or 25 years. He had piayed in Otago for about 17 years; and he was still able to play a little He was glad the association had relieved him of office, but while he lived he would continue to do what he could to further the interests of cricket.—(Applause.) A vote of thanks having been accorded to the chairman, the meeting terminated.