CRICKET JOTTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1190, 19 September 1874, Page 7

CRICKET JOTTINGS.

Bi r Jack Robinson".

The annual general meeting of the Dunedin Club will be held during next week ; and it is to be hoped that in the interim the elements will be propitious, and also subsequently that repetitions of snow storms will not occur until we feel disposed to discard the regalia. A concert is in contemplation for the purpose of liquidating the debt now existing. I don't object to music, let it be vocal or instrumental ; I can even stand a Volun-

er band, but I cannot conceive why the necessity should exist to adopt this method of defraying liabilities. Of course the reply will be, that as there are only 80 members, and as the subscription is one guinea per annum, there are only 80 guineas available for remunerating the caretaker, keepingtheground in order, and incidental expenses ; but surely the Committee only require to incite some vigour into the Club by example to induce the guineas to flow into the Club treasury from honorary members ; and would it not be to the interest of all concerned for the Citizens' and the Dunedin Clubs to amalgamate interests 1 The ground is infinitely too small for two clubs, and in such circumscribed space members of the two Clubs in various ways may come into collision. I throw out the suggestion for the consideration of all concerned. The ''site upon which the pavilion of the Citizens' Club was situated presents anything but a picturesque appearance, and the sooner the ground is assimilated to the surroundings by so much will the aspect of the whole be agreeably enhanced. I must congratulate the Albion Club upon their financial statement, and they certainly deserve credit for being the only Club possessing a balance in their favour, as deficits are almost chronic in connection with Cricket Clubs. The actual work generally (t svolves upon a few enthusiastic members, but with our present population it would be infinitely better to have responsible secretaries, who would work up the interests of the clubs, and initiate a season of unprecedented success.

Some one, rejoicing in the euphonious designation of Jennings, has been introducing the apple of discord — that apple has much to answer for — into cricketing circles in Melbourne. Subjoined is the literary effort, appearing in the Melbourne papers, of'the gentleman named :—: —

A prominent member of the South Melbourne Cricket Club a few days ago offered Mr Boyle £10 down, ana the guarantee of the Club that he should have a better situation than he at present occupies, if he would leave us and play with South Melbourne. I would ask, Sir, does not this show the cloven foot appearing in our hitherto uneontatninated game, and is it not high time that a determined stand should be made against the habit, which is gradually but surely springing up, of merging the interests of cricket generally in the passing glory of a Club, subordinating the promotion of the greater to the exaltation of the less. This it is which has caused all the unpleasantness of the past season ; this it is which, allowed to continue, will drive all gentlemen from the field. If a man cannot play good cricket without being open to insults such as that detailed above, why, let us then to the turf at once and "square" our jockeys and physic our horses right merrily. — I am, &c, H. Jennings.

The members and Secretary of the South Melbourne Club repelled the statement with unqualified scorn, but Boyle asserted that Bennett had made the offer, which the latter denied. Ah ! Tiny, lam afraid that the unruly member was somewhat indiscreet : your zeal for South Melbourne must have carried you into an exuberant state. But, after all, it was only a storm in a teapot, and the sooner that the only rivalry that exists will be minus the tongue and plus the willow and ball, the more sensible you will appear to the outside public. There was a great deal too much virulence exhibited last year, both verbally and with the pen ; and as everyone but yourselves are satiated with such puerile exhibitions, don't let there be any more of it, or the punishment administered to juvenility must be introduced.

The only out-of-door amusement indulged in is Golf by the more antediluvian members of our community (when Major Gordon's recommendation is acted on red coats will be at a discount). Those gentlemen set a good example to the more juvenile members of the community by

indulging in out-door sports. What about football 1 I notice that in one of the other Colonies some 20 members of a club went a distance of 100 milea to play a game with the local club, beat them, and were then regaled with a substantial repast. Why should we not follow suit ?