OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1795, 17 April 1886, Page 22

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

The annual general meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held at Wain's Hotel an S.ilurday evening. There was a large attendance of delegates, and in the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr J. P. Maitlaud), Mr W. Wyinks occupied the chair.

Tho minutes of the last general meeting having been read and confirmed, the hon. secretary read the annual report and balance-sheet as follows :

Your Committee have much pleasure in congratulating delegates on the continued prosperity of the Union, and beg to submit the following report of the vear'b operations.

Membership.— At, the beginning ot the season the Union consulted of 18 clubs, lepjcsenting over 1000 members. JJuring the season (he Green Island Club amalgamated with the Taierl CUib. This action, Chough le-sctiingthe number of club«, did not matei ially alter the number of players.

Finance —The receipts for the season, including balance horn l.istye.ir, amounted to £213 The 3\pendil,ui-e was £! 77 Is 8d ; leaving a balance of £ i(5 7s I'd. As ap cms from the baUn -e-shect, however lici em a purplus ot asse f s over liabilities of £l! 2Gssd ; mil considering the unusually heavy expenses in •onnec! ion with tho Canterbury match, your Com'iiittee deem the balance-sheet highly satisfactory. Matches.— Two interprovincial matches were .)l:i\ oil during the season. Very great interest, of romsu, centred in the visit of theWellingt n Union, uid your Committee eonsiuer tho decided victory ",\inod by the Otago team over the Wellington team itiiplvft''oiiesfortlie detents ot 1870 and 18^3. Vnioilnnately, in a match against Canterbury the ■.wviei'i ot the whole of tbe team that, played against Wellington were noi available, and Canterbury -coi eel a decisive win by nine points to nil. Aiting ouiho suggestion of tlieir prt-decessors, your Com•nitrce arriuiKo-i a Town v. Country match. The match was played at Dune tin, thus Riving the \lt\U-h Committee a s° otl opportunity ot ascertaining the capabilities ot the country players, and ended •n an cuv win for the town representatives. Alhoutrh tho ivhiilfc was not unexpected, your Com■iiitf pu hope that., now the match lias been wade an iiunril fixture, the country players will <*ive a better iccount of themselves. The various trial matches irmngeil by the Union were well attended, and your Committee believe were productive of much <jood. Annual.— At housand copies ot the " Annual" were distributed last yea>\ That the "Annual" continues to increase in public favour is manifest from the very numerous requests tor copies from places iut of the province and the Colony. Miscellaneous.— Two members oi the Committee (Messrs Sleigh and Uell) left, Ot.ngo during the season, the tormcr for England and the latter for New South Wal^s. Mr Sleigh's services to football in Otajfo and tho Colony arc too well known to require •■oiriment here, and by Mr Bell's removal you- Committee lost the serving of a ni -st energetic colleague. Two or three cases of dispuf ed tries came before tho Committee during the season, but owing to the absolutely contiiidictory statements of the parties interested your Oominifctee wore unable to decide the points in'disjmre. About ihe middle of the season a communication was vecived from England stating that an English team might be expected in the Colony in 18S«. From inquiries made by Mr Sleigh in Eurl uid it. would appear that the whole affair was a hoax, no such club as the Londonßovers being in existence. Your Committe trust that it will not be long before a New Zealand team is organised to visit Great Britain.

The report and balance-sheet were very favourably received. Mr Milne asked why the Committee had given £21 to the Benevolent Institution ; and the Secretary stated that the amount had been voted in acknowledgment of tbe public support accorded the Union as against the action of his Worship the Mayor on the occasion of the match against Wellington. — (Applause.) On the motion of the Chairman the report and balance-sheet wero unanimously adopted.

Office-bearers for the season were then elected as follow :— President : Mr J. P. Maitland (reelected) ; vice-presidents — Rev. Dr Belcher, Dr Coughtrey (re-elected), Mr H. Rose, and Mr D. Stronach; hon. secretary and treasurer — Mr John H. Chapman (re-elested); committee of management — Messrs Bannatyne, Drabble, Fulton, Milne, Mills, and Treseder.

The following clubs were elected members of Hie Union: — Caversham, Gordon, Lawrence, Richmond, United, White Star, Waitaki High School.

In reply to a question, the Secretary stated that he had not received any communication in reference to the visit of a New South Wales

team to Now Zealand this year, but felt sure that such a team would meet with a most hearty reception in Otago.— (Loud applause.) Mr KuiSSKLL suggested that the Match Committee in selecTi»g u\-iinj> .should first coramnnicare with the Match Committee of each club, with a view to getting the best players; but a great divoriity of opinion seemed to exist a-> to the advKabilii.y of such a step being taken. A lusutiy vote of thanks was accorded to the retiiing office-bearer?-, and tho meeting closed with a vnle of thanks to the chair.