NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 36

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

The fifth annual meeting of the cauncil of the New Zealand Rugby Union waa held at Wellingi ton last Saturday. Mr Campbell/^ Wellington), vioe-preaident, was elected ohairaiau, aud the I following delegates were present : — Mcsrsßite *nd Fache (Wellington), F. W. Mi'chell, Mackenzie, Bee, and Wilkinson (Ofcago), Laurenson (Poverty Bay), Wesn u .y (South'anrl), Firfch Nelson), Ronaldsii (Taranaki), M'C«-rdell (Canterbury), Wiffco (Slftnawatu), Gibbons ! (Auckland), Morrison (Hawkc'*Bay), Batohelor (West Coast), Hyams (Wanganui), F«ars (South \ CAnterbury), acid A. M. Da Cjsta (hou. secretarr). ! The Chairman moved the adoption of tha annual report and balance sheet, stating that the union was now iv good heart and fulfilling the duties which ifc undertook when it was inaugurated. It was doing good work, and he ! was certain that it would continue to do so. It was matber for congratulation that it was discharging its fuuetions without causing any friction, while at; the same time it was able to undertake tho management of teams and settle disputes of various kinds. It was decided that the delegatas of the South Canterbury and Marlborougli Unions *hould not exercise a vote, as the^e unions were in arrears. The Treasurer explained that 33 per cent, of the gross takings of the Queensland matches in Wellington were given to the Athletic Park Company. The motion for the adopfcion/'of the report and balance sheefi wa? agreed %6. The council resolved to ask the Earl of Rinfuriy, the new Governor, Jp.accept the offica of patron. • * Mr Gallaway (Otago) was elected president, and the remftinipg officers were elected as follows :— " Vice-presidents — Messrs Devora (Auckland), Rpps (Povprty Bay), Lpgau (Hawke's Bay), Walker (Bush district*), Hankins (Manawatu), Empsou (Wauganui), Bayly (Taranaki). Whatman (Wairarapt), Littlejohu (Nelson). Mills. M.H.R. (Marlbarough), Harden (Buller), Boyd (West Coast), Rhodes (Canterbury), Jonas (South Canterbury); j and George (Southland). OUgo has yet to nominate * vice-prejident. Hor.. secretary, Mr A. M. Da Costa (re-elected) ; hon. assistaufc secretary, Mr E. Batcheler (reelected; hon. treasurer, Mr I. Hyams (reelected) ; Management Committee — Messrs Bate (WollingtoD), Bee (Obngj), Wesney (Southland), Morrison (Htwke'a Bay), Gibbons (Auckland), Laurenson (Poverty Bay), M'Cardell (Canterbury) with the officers ex efficio ; auditor, Mr Coupland (Wellington) ; Appeal Committee — Messrs Henderson (Auckland), F»che (Wellington), Cotterill (South Canterbury), Firth (Nelson), and Logan (Hawke's Bay). Before the election of the Appeal Committee Mr Firth (Nelson) referred to some remarks made , by Messrs Gallaway, Chapman, aud Campbell at the meeting of the Otago Union in connection with the upholding of the appeal by that union to the English Union as to the disputed try obtained by Otago agaiust Canterbury lasb season. Mr Firth criticised the decision, and advised delegates to be careful, as suggested by some of the Otago people, not to allow theorists to become members of the Appeal Committee. The chairman, who had been a member of the Appeal Committee from tbe oubset, refused to stand again. Mr Mitchell (Otago) referring to Mr Firth's remarks, assured the delegates that what the Otago Union meant was that as the first appeal sent Home had been upset, great caution should be exercised by the Appeal Committee. His opinion was that the best men had been placed on that committee. Regarding the proposed Australian tour, the Treasurer stated thit as the result of having travelled with the 1893 team, ho had formed certain ideas as to the arrangement of future tenrs, and had with the consent of Management : Committee suggested an itinerary to the unions concerned. The result} to be arrived at I by the adoption of his suggestions were the elimination of matches against odds, and the securing of longer intervals betweea matches. To accomplish this end it was necessary that the team should travel between Sydney and Britbane by rail and return to Auckland by tho 'Frisco mail steamer. This would enable the team to play a match at Auckland in aid of the funds of the New Zealand Union. In order to recoup the N.S.W. Union for the tx";ra cost of sendiDg the team back by the San Francisco boat three Saturday matches would be played in Sydney instead of two Saturday matches and one week-day match. His suggestions had been adopted in their entirety, and practically the whole arrangements were made subject to the acceptance of the invitations. A steamer would probably leave Wellington for Sydney on Saturday, the 26th June, and he suggested that a North v. South match be played on that date. If the invitations were accepted, the dates would be : Leave Wellington on the 26 ;h June, play New South Wales on the 3rd and 10th July, Queensland on the 17th And 24th July, and New South Wales on the 31st July, with minor matches on each Wednesday. The team would then leave t>y the Alameda. on the 2nd August, arriving at Auckland on the 6th and play there on the 7tb, leaving again for the south on the 9fch August. He moved—" That the invitations j from the New South Wales and Queensland Unions be accepted, and that the arrangements for the North and South match be left in the hands of the Management Committee." After a brief discussion the motion was carried. The appointment of a committee to select the Australian team Was left to the Management Committee. The secretary announced the following prouoßed movements of teams ;— Qfcago to play \

Southland ; Bush district to play Wairarapa ; Canterbury to visit South Canterbury and Otago ; Wairarapa to visit Wanganui and Taranaki ; Manawatu to visit Taranaki ; Poverty Bay to visit Hawke's Bay ; Bullor to play West Coaat ; Wanganni to visit T.-.ranoki ; Auckland to visit Taranaki ; Tarauaki to visit Wellington, Cautorbury, and Otago ; Wellington to visit Oiago, Southland, and Ilawke's Bay, also probably playing Mau»watu, and South Canterbury.