NELSON CRICKET CLUB.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5024, 6 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

NELSON CRICKET CLUB.

I The annual meeting of the members of this Club was held on Saturday, Oct. Ist, at the Jlasonic Hotel, Dr Coleman presiding. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, referred to the very great interest he took in cricket and athletic matters generally, and expressed his wish that now the Trafalgar Park ground is approaching completion, a strong impetus would be given towards the formation of athletic clubs. 1 The Secratary (Mr Green) then read the teport and balance-sheet, the latter showing a debit balanoe of £8 12s Bd, which, considering that the previous year's debit stood at £47, showed the Club to be in a good condition, and, on the motion of Mr Topliss, the lame were adopted. The following is |an extract from the report ;— " Unfortunately no foreign trip could be arI ranged. Two visits were received. OverI tares were made to the Midland Club, Wellington, and the Wairau Club, but nothing came of them. The latter owe us a visit, and it is hoped the debt will be wiped off during the coming season. On the other hand, it is the turn of the Nelson men to play tha Wellington Midlandexs on their own ground, and a3 we have a very high authority for saying that the unexpected always happens, no doubt a Nelson Club team will be in Wellington before the season is over. It may be fitting here to remark the great difficulty always experienced in getting a Nelson eleven away, which ia no doubt explainable in two ways : the limited number of members, and the urgent demands of business engagements These things cannot ba helpei perhaps in. anyway. At the same time the Club is placed at a very great disadvantage in arlangiDg visits from outside places, as it seems "to be pretty generally understood that the Nelson Club cannot give a return. None of the matches played call [for special reference except perhaps the game with the College; in which the Club was victorious. Boddington played a brilliant innings, and Eissling batted with great patience 1 aad°eaeces3, plajrfng even more like Eissling I than usual, ant made the top score. Cooke made 25, and his bowling was bewitching, demoniacal and destructive, as it should be. Mention must not be forgotten of Biohardson's remarkable bowling performance against Brightwater, taking 7 wickets at the cost of 7 inns. It is a matter for much regret that more m matches could not be played (though 16 were I -played as against 11 the previous season). | The reason of this is the same as it always Ikaa been —no ground to play on. A.tj the same time your Committee have done their utmost to arrange games, numerous chalI knges having been given, but various circum- ] itances have prevented matches in all cases I lEsulting. The country clubs as a rule will not engage themselves for anything but a day's match, and, as you are well aware, difficulties attend us in this respect which perhaps cannot be overcome. Under the Association three matches were played, Town v. Country; in all of them the Nelson Club sera very fully represented. In the interpiovincial match with Wellington four Nelson Club men took part. It must be a matter of much congratulation to members to find the work of the contractor lor the Athletic Ground Company's reclamation work finished. After much trouble, laxiety, and labor the Nelson Cricket Club mcceeded in launching the Company. To fes Club itself it must be a source of satisfaction to know that its energetic and plucky effoits to provide a ground, the absence of 'Inch has had so damaging an influence on ticket here, have been successful so far beyond expectations. We now come to the important and always interesting question of finance. This, Mr Chairman, is a matter whioh has occupied tie earnest attention of the Committee and Secretary. The debt of £47 9s Id has been frfuced to £8 12s Bd, This, considering all things, the Committee tbink most satisfactory. Unfortunate circumstances, combined with, the expenses necessary to a somewhat imbitious policy, at any rate ambitious for a Him Club, landed the finances in trouble; this has, with the exception of a few pounds, ken got rid of, and there should now be no Wioo of a respectable credit balance at the end of the next financial year, it will be naembered that at the last annual meeting Members were informed that a body of gentlemen were in training for a performance 40bo given in the Theatre, the proceeds of 'hich were to be given to the Club. This iwlormance by the Nelson Masher Minstrels * J3 given last September twelve months, M talent, great wit, great ingenuity, "tovellouß skill was exhibited by the finest >?&teue minstrel company yet known to °'s'ory, and your grasping Secretary received "to enm of £13 10s. The Committee acknowledged this by a letter to the hon. Secretary of the Nelson Masher Minstrels, 'hanking them in most cordial terms for this practical result of their magnificent abilities. An application for the sole use of a suitable tee oi ground has been made to the Athletic yfonnd Company to be allotted when ready. J.here is nothing more to tell you about, '«in conclusion, it is hoped that during the eason now just beginning many matches will D9wonbytheClub, that the talent that is «own w m develop, and that that at present !«i •by the schaokles of modesty and fusion will be bound no longer, that oa J?S len may slog their dashing slogs, that w. i a may be ias Pired feyall the occult flu, 7 "eeePtion, that our fielders may catch «!v rbolls with toe go^s, and*that the Pin* file 0{ lhe Club will display that L' eaei'gy. and decision, qualities so neCeßßMyior.victory.» Jhe election of officers resulted in the folsS aPP°lntments:—President, Mr James zanders; Vice-Presidents, Mr A. S. Atkin-C-n r Coleman; Secretary, Mr KissBoM; TQmiUee' Messrs Cooke, Ford, Green, jj^wgton, Walker, and Wix; Auditor/Mr PresapA v,UStotl, cry general regret was exUtQt *the members at the retirement of on nT n to. m the position of Secretary, and, tton«i» mo! lon of Mr Ford > ik was «naniCIX; re Isolv1solve d that the best thanks of the vic es «,e« Ueto Mr Green for his post serfoev£r elary ' and moTQ especially for tftlii. e, fi, orts made by him in wiping ;£ c r la!-ge debit balance. %inu » U anked the meeting for tbe grafcaiJfc.fv ' and Btoted thftfc his g«eat Cbbin 1 en t0 farther the interests of the U D on + r ypo?Biblemanner. "«tS tw s 111?^ 011 o£ Mr -Toplisß.-it was rem that» Mow the selection of delegates

to the Association be^plaiietl iii the bands of the annual meeting of the Club. " Messrs Cooke and Green were then elected delegates. . ' ■ ~ : Mr Green stated that be had placed bimflelf in communication with Major Wardill with a view of saeuring a visit from Mr Arerftoa's team of English cricketers, who were expected to play in Wellington during February next. ' ■'-'.- ■ It was resolved that the opening inatoh of the season be played on the College ground on the loth instant, with a ■ match Town. v. College C. 0. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.. , : .