OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 35

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Otago. Cricket) ' Association was held at Wain* Hotel on Saturday night. Mr A. C. Hanlon, vice-president, occupied the chair, and there were 24 delegates present, representing all the senior and »' number of the junior clubs. The folio^nhg re« porfc was presented by the retiring committee :— • ANNUAL HEPOHT. In presenting a report of last season's play your committee congratulate themselves in the knowledge that never in tbe anaals of pricket in Otago has the enthusia--in. been taoe& intense, nor the ' number of competing clubs to numerous, whilst the weather experienced was all in favour of the gam*. The visit of the Australian Eleveu was undoubtedly the chief feature of the stMHOo, and tbe greAtest interest was manifested in their New Zealand tour. Their coming to Dunedin wjui tho topic of conversation amongt the cricketing fraternity for mouths before their arrival, and their actual arrival evoked the greatest enthusiasm nob only amongst tbe cricketers themselves; but. with the general public as well. '1 he splen.iid 3taad made by our representatives was quite a revelation to local partisans of ths gamo, and to bo beaten by only 17 runs when onposed to such an array of talent was in itself sufficient to add fresh ldstre to Otago'a laurel* in the cricket field. The bowling feat* of both Fisher and Downes are now a matter of history, while it itiay safely be said that both in batting and fielding the team fairly excelled themselves. Coming so soon after the Australians, the Queenslanders did not * evoke much attention, and but little interest waa evinced in the game. .The fact of their being oppoaert to a somewhat weak team had a detrimental effect on the gate, and a loss both as regards finance and the match itself (wbio.h was won by . the visitors ' by' eight wickets) was ( recorded. Home and horn« matches were played against Canterbury, and in each instance Otago managed to come out victorious. The team's win ' in Christchurch was a most meritorious one, as on , the completion of the first iupings the odds were decidedly against them. Too much praise cannot- be allotted to the different batsmen (notably Baker and Johnston, ' who bore the brunt of the attack in the second < inning*) for their 'splendid uphill play, while Fisher increased his fame as a bowler of the firstwater, and Downes aud Hope also rendered valuable assistance. The various cup 'competitions were as usual keenly contested, although from the outset the final issue of the senior contest practically lay between the Oarisbrook A team and the Grange, the .former eventually proving the winners. The Carisbrook's record is an excollont one, they having played 9 matches, winning 8, and drawing 1. Sixteen teams entered for the Junior Oup, which was won by the Caris brook D team after a hard tussle, thus bringing off the double event for their club. The succets attending the innovation of the Third Class Championship was (in decided variance to the previous year) most gratifying. Twenty teams entered for this contest, and the result hung in the balance until the last two or three matches, the Oceana finally being returned the winners, with the Dunedin No. 1 team runners-up. Your committee reßrefc having to record the death towards tho close of the season of Mr James "Wilson, the late esteemed presideutof the association. In everything appertaining to the advancement qt cricket ha wai ever to the fore, aud through his early demise the members of the association mourn tho loss of a brother cricketer aud a tru< friend. Ho leaves a gap that will be very hard ttf fill, and hii memory will long live in the annals ol cricket in Otago.Financially the season has not proved so successful as waa anticipated in the early part of the year. The profits accruing from the. firafe Canterbury and Australian matches were partly annulled by the loss sustained in the Queensland match, whilst the expenses incidental to sending the representative team to Christchurch wore also a big drain on the treasury. At the ntart of tho season the association had a surplus of .£BS 13» Id. The balance sheet now presented shows a credit balance of £88 10s oa, an Increase of 17s sd. Against this there are liabilities amounting to £\3 6s 6d, leaving an actual loss on the season of £12 9s Id. The assets are estimated at £151 3s 6d. It was decided to donate a trophy of the valuo of £2 2s to be competed for by toe various cchool teams in Dunedia and suburbs.-. The North-Easfo Valley School have been returned the 'initial winnsrs of the contest for the put year with * record of 13 wins out of 14 matches plavad. Wa

are assured on good authority that tho outcome of the association's action ia this direction has been attended with most satisfactory results. Through his leaving Dunedin at the latter end of the season Mr Arthur M 1 Donald was compelled to resign from th« secretaryship of tbe association, and the committee appoiutei Mr W. M»cl?an to officiate for tbe remainder ot the year. During his term of office Mr M'Donald had worked hard in the interests of the association, and his resignation was accepted with regret. , The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report, which has already been published, said that cricket had sustained a very great loss by the death of Mr James Wilson, 4ate president of tlie association, who was most enthusiastic in .all matters relating to cricket. .He was sure that members of the association would , all agree with - him that cricket had sustained a deplorable loss, by his death, and that they all sympathised with tho ' deceased's relatives in their bereavement. However, Mr Wilson had lefc behind him a memorial that would certainly keep him in remembrance for many years to come. He promised when he was elected president of the association that he would devote the sum of 50gs to be expended as the association thought best ; but he suggested that it should be devoted to providing certain trophies for competition by the clubs. The .committee of the ascooiation. accordingly obtained certain trophies to be 'competed for by the senior and junior club?, and these trophies were to be called the Bing-Harria Shields. 'Mr C. W. Rattray seconded the motion. Ha thought one of the most satisfactory things dariug the last season was (he great interest manifested in interclub matches despite the many and considerable counter-attractions last year. It was upon club cticket <h»t they had to depend to keep up the enthusiaem in tha game. ■Mr D. Smyth moved, as an amendment — " That tbe report be referred back to the committee to delete the clause referring to the win of the Junior Cup by the Carisbrook D." He said the Cup Committee declared (he cetson closed before tbe Oceana Club htd finished thteir match, they hav'mg'only played the first innings. If the match had been finished the Oeeana Club would have wou it, and that would have made them a tie with Carisb-ook D. By not allowing them to finish (be match tbe Cup Committee were breaking (he rue«. Mr Edwabds seconded the motion pro forma, to' that' the matter might be discussed. 'After some diecussion, tbe amendment was pnt aud lost by nine votc3 to eight, and the motion for (he adoption of the report was subsequently cairied.

PRESENTATIONS. Tfce Chaibman said he had now a very ple'usant duty to perform — that wss, to make a presentation of 11 bxts to the members who '.went to Chris tchurch and did service for the province against Canterbury lait eeaton. He thought enough had been said with regard to the meritorious win that had been achieved against Canterbury. As all. -were awate, a subscription was raised in Dunedin with tbe view of presenting bats to each member of the team. The money was very willingly subccribed, and the ne ceseary amount to puiobnse the bats was raised > without any difficulty whatever. He would now ask Mr Rattray, as -captain of the team, to \ accept , Ihe bats on behalf of , the* .team ' who so gloriously won them iv Chris'tchucch last ! teaiori.'— (Applause.) The chairman alsopre-! Fqnted Mr R&ttray, on behalf of the Carisbrook A. team, with the cup won by them last season. To the Carisbrook D team, for wiuning the Junior Championship, he presented the BingHarris Challenge Shield. He also st»ted that a challenge shield, presented by Mr Skitcb, would m given to tbe Oceana Club for winning the Thiril Clars Championship. Ho fmtber presented Mr Murray, on behalf of the NorthEisfc Valley .School Club, with a trophy in the stupe of a barometer. , Tbe recipients of the presents in each case briefly teturned thanks. APPLICATIONS FOB AFFILIATION. Applications for affiliation to the association from tbe Port Chalmers Junior and the Cml'.oq Cluba were granted, and it was decided to call a, special general meeting of delegates for Saturday next to ' consider an application for affiliation from a clnb who intended to play on the Northern Association f<otball ground. Tbe reason the application cou'd not be considered at the meeting on Saturday night was that the notice required by the rules of the intention, to apply for affi.iation had not been given. KLECTION OF OFFICE-BEABEBS. . The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing y«ar :— President, Mr James Smith, jun. ; vice-presidents, Messrs A. C. Hanlon and C. W. Rattr*y ; hon. secretary, Mr W. Maclean ; General Committee — Messrs L. C. Goocb, A. Restieanx.W. H. Skitcb, J. Edwards, F. E. Britt*iu, D. Smytb, and James Allen. ' AI.TEBATION OF HOLES. , Mr Gooch moved — '•That rule 9 be altered to read as follows : — ' Two Championship Committees .of three each (one to have control over the senior and junior, and the other of third clatß matches) shall be chosen from the delegates of subscribing clubs by the General Committee, aud not more than one member of any club shall be entitled to act on any oue committee.' " Mr Bbittain seconded the motion, which was carried.

"THIRD CLASS MATCHES. It was resolved, on 'the motion of Mr D. Cooks — "That it be a recommendation to the General Committee to elect one senior nnd two junior delegates on the committee which is to have charge of the third oltss matches." JUNIOB TEAMS. • Mr Smyth moved — *' That rule 3 be deleted, and a xule couched in the following terms inserted in its place : — ' That the various junior teams be divided into two classes — u»mely, A and B ; the junior matches to be two-day m»tchea ; tbe winner aod runner-up of each djvision to play the final and semi-final contest to decide which shall be the ultimate winner of the contest.' " Mr Edwards seconded the motion pro forma, knd after coma discussion further consideration of it was adjourned until the special meeting of the aesociation to be called ia connection with the affiliation of tbe club playirjg on the Northern Association ground. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. Mr Bbittain gave notice that he would move ftb the special meeting — "That the rules be uttered to meet the recommendation of the General Committee that matches iv future be called championship matches instead of cup matches."

UMFIBES. Mr Babciat moved—" That it bs a recommendation to the General Committee to take oteps with a view to framing a list of qualified persons willing to act as umpires in the season's matches, and of ultimately having a register of umpires." Mr Edwabds seconded the motion, which was carried. PBOVISION FOB APPEAL. #Ir Joel moved — "That it be a recommendation to the General Committee that a rule be inserted in tha cup rules allowing of an appeal to those members of the General Committee

other than the Gap Committee by any club on questions of dispute decided by the Cup Committee ; a fee being chargeable if the appeal be lost." Mr Smyth seconded the motion, which was carried.

The adjourned general meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held in Wain's Hotel on the night of the 25th ; present — Messrs C.W. Rattray (vice-president, in the chair), L. C. Goooh and A. M'Lean (Opoho), L. Joel and J. Edwards (Albion), J. Croxford and W. H. Skitch (Dunedin), James Allan (Taieri), J. Miller (Privateers), J. E. Hutchinson (Waverlev), J. Duucnn (Northern), — Ward (Porb Chalmers), D. Smyth (Oceana), C. Payne (Mornington), and W. Maclean (hon. secretary).

The Chairman stated that the chief object of the meeting was to consider an application from a club to be formed in North Dunedin, and to be called the Northern Club, for affiliation with the association.

Mr Duncan, the representative of the proposed new club, was iv at endauca, and at the chairman's request explained to the meeting the lines on which it was intended to run the club.

Oa the motion of Mr Edwauds, seconded by Mr Gooch, it wa« un&niraoasly resolved to grant the club's request for affiliation.

It was explained that the reason the application was not dealt with at last meeting was because notice was noi given, as required by the rules.

A motion by Mr D. Smyth as to the classification of junior teams* consideration of which had been deferred from last meeting, was discussed. After amendments had been brought forward by Messrs James Allan and C. Payne (b >th of wh'cU were lost), the Chairman put Mr Smyth's motion to the meeting. It read as follows : — "Th*t rule 3 l;c de'.etad. and that a rule couched in the following terms be added in its place : ' That the various junior teams be divided into two classes — namely, A and B ; the junior' matches to be two-day matches ; tho winner and runner-up of each division to play the final and eemi-fiual contest to decide which (hall be the ultimate winner of the contest.' "

The motion was lost on the voices by a large majority, and the rule therefore remains as it formerly stood.

Mr Brittain's motion to alter the rules so tbat matches in future t-hould be known a; Championship matches instead of Cup matches was seconded by Mr Edwards aud carried.

The Chairmav, before the meeting was closed, took occasion to pro«ent Mr Soaytb, on behalf of the Oceana'a third class team (the winner of tbe Third CUss Championship, 1896 97), with a very handsome shield presented by Mr W. H. Skitch.