OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 28

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the association, held yesterday afternoon, Mr H. MacNeil, jun., presiding, further consideration was given to a letter received from Mr J. H. Udol, Fiji, with respect to the visit of a native team in January 1895. It was decided to allow the visiting team 75 per cent, of the net proceeds.

Tho Auckland Association acknowledged the handsome treatment accorded to their representative team during their stay in Dunedin. The Chairman reported that on learning that Mr Ollivier intended to selept the New Zealand team to play against New South Wales before the match with Otago, he had sent a protest to the selector and referred to the claims of Clarke (Opoho) to a place in the team on his performance. Mr Ollivier in his reply says: — "I could not wait until after your match, an I could not get the players from Auckland. Ido not think I should feel disposed to play Clarke it he were a W. G. Grace, as he has only recently arrived from New South Wales. If he did any good in the match they would say it was with the assistance of & New South Wales man. This is not my idea of a New Zealand team. . > . I think the Christchurch men on a good wicket against the Sydney bowling are worth from 250 to 300 runs ; the visitors are worth from 200 to 250. We got them out very cheaply in the first inniDgs. The wicket played well all through. Our fielding was, with one or two exceptions, very fine. I think that if they get Newell over for the match it will be a grand game, worth going miles to see. I believe we shall just win. Newell will strengthen them very much. I am sorry I cabnot get down, but hope your cricketers will be fairly satisfied with the selection. I wish you a pleasant game."

The following resolution was passed, and the secretary instructed to forward a copy to the Canterbury Association: — "That in the opinion of this association our men have been unfairly treated by the managers of the New Zealand v. New South Wales match in having the final selection of the team made before the selector had an opportunity of judging for himself the merits of the men whose names were submitted for his consideration."