CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18987, 8 October 1923, Page 5

CRICKET.

Oi OPENING OF THE SEASON. ALBION CLUB. A large number of members and supporters of the Albion Club took part in the opening function on the North Ground on Saturday, Net practice was held throughout tfie afternoon, both bowlers and batsmen shaping well for the beginning of the season. Mr J. J. Clark (president) officially declared the season open. He referred to the fact that this was the club’s diamond jubilee year, and remarked that there now remained only three of the original members of the club—the Hon. Mark Cohen, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Sir James Allen. Mr Clark stressed the need for improving the sports grounds of the city, and called on everyone to lend their heartiest support to the Sports Wonderland Carnival being controlled by the Otago Football Association, Hockey Associations, and the Otago Cricket Association. GRANGE CLUB. Grange had a really enthusiasts opening day. Members and supporters were both strongly represented on the North Ground, and net practice was highly successful. Nearly all of last year’s first eleven were present, and a good deal of interest was taken in Galland’s baiting to Conradi’s bowling. The season was officially declared open by Bishop Richards, patron of the club, who later took part in the net practice. Bishop Richards congratulated the club on having won the championship last year and on the very satisfactory attendance at the opening function this year. He expressed the opinion that the game in Dunedin had lately shown an improvement, and was likely to show a further improvement this year. Air A. Restieaux (president), before the members dispersed, called on them to give nil possible support to the Sports Wonderland Carnival. NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. TOUR OF MACLAREN’S TEAM. CONSIDERABLE LOSS DISCLOSED. (Pbß United Pres? Association.) WELLINGTON, October 6. According to the New Zealand Cricket Council’s annual report, the tour of A, C. Macl-aron’s team resulted in a less of £1929 Js 6d, half of this being borne by the M.C.C. After providing for the loss, the assets will show a balance over liabilities of £286. The deficit would have been greater still had the Melbourne Cricket Club not refunded ground fees totalling £143, a generous act which the council handsomely acknowledged. The gross receipts for MacLaren’s tour (including £1587 profit on the Australian matches) were £7449, and the expenses £9379. The chief items of the latter were: Travelling expenses of the Marylehone players, £5353; New Zealand players, £340; amusement tax, £494: professionals, £420; advertising, etc., £409; luncheons, £340. The largest gates were; —Christchurch, £764; te'sts at Wellington, £973 and £588; test at Christchurch. £879; Auckland, £402 and £65; Dunedin, £452; Wellington, £386. AUSTRALIANS WILL NOT TOUR NEW ZEALAND. Per United Prfs3 Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 6. Mr Peake, secretary of the New Zealand Council, says that no official reply has been received from Australia regarding the refusal to send a cricket team to New Z&aland, but that the reasons given in the press were not correct. Now Zealand did not make a big profit out of the last tour, alleged. It was £SOO, not £9OO, as stated, and since then a heavv loss had been incurred on MacLaren’s tour. The conditions sought to be imposed meant about £550 extra expense, and would make the tour n profitable. : PORT CHALMERS CLUB. The opening of the season by the Port Chalmers Cricket Club on Saturday afternoon was attended by a large number of visitors and players. Prior to officially declaring the season open, the president of the club (Dr W. H. Borrie) presented the prizes for the past season. These included a bat to E. Davis for the best average- in senior cricket and a gold medal to J. Mothers for the bowling average in junior cricket. Dr Borrie congratulated the club on the good showing it had made during the past season. He looked forward to its doing better during the ensuing season. The players then indulged in a friendly match, and a pleasant afternoon terminated at 5 o’clock.