CANTERBURY CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4686, 7 May 1883, Page 4

CANTERBURY CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of this Association was held in the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association at eight o'olook on Saturday evening. The Hon E. 0. J. Stevens, President of the Association, ocoupiod the chair, and there was a moderate attendanoe of members. The Ohairman read the accounts for the season 1882 3, which showed that the total receipts of the Association amounted to £440 3s 7d ; expenditure, £41 _ lis sd ;. leaving a credit balance for the year of £25 12s 2d. There was, however, a balance of liabilities over assets of £21 13s 3d. He moved tho adoption of the accounts and balanoe- sheet. Mr A. M. Ollivier thought tho statement was very satisfactory. It showed that the Association was only a very little behind now. Though for many yours they had laboured under a very heavy liability laat season had bpen so prosperous that this liability was almost extinguished. He was glad of this for many reasons, chiefly because certain alterations in tho constitution of tho Association were contemplated. Ho begged to second the adoption of tho report. Mr Watßon understood that the liabilities included the £50 debt. Tho Chairman said if that debt were paid off there would be a balance to credit. Ho wished to ask their attention for a fow minutes while he laid bofore thera important proposals made by the Committee whioh involved a great chango in tho constitution of the Association. Borne years ngo I the Association formed an agi-eemenb with the Park a»d Domain Board, whereby any club wishing to use what was known as tho Association's ground, were, by paying a small annuil ch«rs;e for maintaining the ground in order, entitled to do so. Up to a short time ago that agreement was in force, and included not only the Association's ground but also the Exhibition ground. Boine littlo time ago it was found advisable to give the Addington Club a eeparate portion, and tho Exhibition ground was allotted them. Since the Lanca-Jtor Park Club was established it waß sfliliatod to the Association, and had the right, as well as the other olubs, to take part in the election of Committees and officers, but they hi«d no interest in the Association's ground. It was clear that tho position -was _nomalo_9 — that olubs having no interest in the ground should be concerned in the control of it ; ttierofore, a change in the constitution cf the Association was necessary, and the chango propoaed would be presorted for their approval in the report of the genoral Committee, and was briefly that tho same course whioh had boen token in referonco to the Addington Club should bo followed with regard to the Association generally, and a division of the present ground into three

portions made between the Midland, United, and College Clubs. The consent of the Park and Domain Board to this new arrangement would be neoessary ; but he might state tbat he was authorised by Mr L. Harper, Ohairman of tho Board, to say that the arrangement proposed would bo acceptable to the Board if sanctioned by the present meeting. Of course the Board would have the same powers against the partioular olubs as whey had against the Association— i.e., the olubs must keep their respeotivo grounds in good condition, and only uso thorn tor the purposos intended, and the olubs would hold the ground on the same terms that the Association had held it on. All that had been done by the Committee was provisional and subject to the approval of tho meeting; but it was necessary that some fresh agreement should be come to, whether separately by the clubs themselves or by the throe clubs in concert. Ho had met the representatives from the clubs (Midland excepted) that afternoon, and did not anticipate there would be any difficulty in dividing the ground into three portions. He read the resolutions oome to by tbo Committee, and formally moved — "That the Association invite the Park and Domain Board to allow to tho United, the Midland, and the Collego Orioket Olubs the uso of the Ha'gloy Park ground in separate allotments as may be agreed, and that Messrs Stevens and Oondell confer with the Secretaries of tho above dubs, with a viow to settle the terms as regards division of ground, money matters, ko, contingent on the proposed ohange." The resolution was agreed to nem con. The meeting then proceeded to revise tbe rules, when several alterations were made in order to bring thorn in harmony with the resolution just passed. It was decided tbat for future years the the annual meeting of the Association should be hold in September instead of May, as heretofore. The Hon E. C. 3. Stevens waß re- eleo ted President of the Association ; Mr W. H. Wynm- Williamß, Vice-President; and Mr T. D. Oondell, Hon Treasurer and Secretary. A special vote of thanks was aooorded to Mr Oondell for his past services, on the motion of Mr Ollivier, and the meeting terminated with a vole of thanks to the Ohairman.