NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6072, 8 January 1898, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the council of the New Zealand Athletic Association was held at the City Hotel last night; present— Messrs J- F. Grierson (chairman), L. W. Harley (WeUington), P. Selig and H. Frost (Napier), T. Skelton (Gisborne), H. S. "Batchelor (Waikato), N. L. Macbeth and T. Kerr (Dunedin), C. Tie week and B. P. Gully (Nelson), W. H. Bergh (Hardware), T. Buntin (Wanganui), J. S. Hawkes (Waugauui), C. F. Smith (Canterbury), F. S. Harley (Taranaki) and Dr Thomas (Thames). An apology for absence was received from Mr F. W. Johnston. -• - The following reinstatements to amateur status were made -.-XR. J. Cameron (Wanganui), Jt E. Hardy and J. Roberts (Auckland), A.-H, Carey: 'and J. P..H. M'Guire '(Wellington), M. J. O'Brien (Christchurch), W. J. M'Lanchlan (Auckland).: R; "E. M'Gough • (Auckland), J; Hawthorn (Auckland) and B. C. Housley (Huntley).; The Treasurer reported the credit balance at tho bank to be .£lO3 7s sd. The following permits were granted: — Rakaia Sports Committee, Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society, Rangiora Athletic Association, Otago Cycling Club and Paeroa Druids. Correspondence was read: — From the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club, asking for the confirmation of Thursday and •Friday, Feb. 10 and 11,. 1898, as dates for the championship meetings. Messrs J. F. Grierson and P. Selig were appointed a sub-committee to arrange the sports, and the dates were confirmed as asked. From the honorary secretary of the Hamilton Amateur Athletic Club, asking the A ssociation to appoint a delegate for that club. Mr H. S. Batchelor was appointed. From New Plymouth Amateur Athletic Club, asking for the ruling of the Association as to whether two members of the committee of •that club, who were respectively captain and vice-captain of the New Plymouth Cycling Club, a cash cycling institution affiliated- to the New Zealand League of Wheelmen, were eligible to act on the .committee of an amateur athletic club. It was decided to reply that so long as these officers did not compete professionally there was no objection to their holding office. From the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance, announcing the suspension of Messrs Archer and Biltcliff. Letter received. : A letter and telegrams were received from Mr P. J. Ness, local officer of the Association at Dunedin, stating that the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club in- j tended .to run the bicycle races inconnec-i tion with their sports under the amateur j rules of the League of Wheelmen on the . second day's sports, and forwarding his t resignation as local officer, as he was in accord with the views of his club on the ' matter. It was resolved that the Chairman | and Secretary should draft a letter to Mr ] Ness, asking that gentleman to reconsider j his resignation. From Palmerston North, I asking the sanction of the Association to j the formation of an amateur club, to be > called " The Palmerston North Amateur j Athletic and Cycling Club." It was resolved j that the honorary Secretary should be ] written to for a list of members. From '■ the Christchurh Hardware Club, announc- ■ ing the appointment of Mr H. M. Bergh as delegate on the council of the Association in the room of Mr K. Bassett, resigned. The letter was received. From Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, enclosing certificates for the time made by F. H. Creamer in the Mile Walk and D. Wilson in the Three-mile Walk at the recent Auckland meeting in November. F. H. Creamer's record of 6min 27-|sec was passed, as was also D. Wilson's record of 2 lmin 37sec. The Council expressed pleasure at receiving a letter from Mr Edwards, local officer at Auckland, which stated that the betting evil was absent from the recent meeting. From the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association, stating that it was probable that Australasian representatives would take part at the Wanganui Championship meeting, and suggesting that the Benefit Sports at Auckland should be held on Feb. 5. The letter was received. Telegrams were read stating that Creamer was unable to go as a representative, and Hori Eruera was averse to going. Wilson, Holder, M'Cormick and Bennett expressed their willingness to go. Mr Selig reported that the sub-com-mittee appointed to consider the subject of an Australasian team for England had made all initial arrangements, but after reading a cablegram which had been published in all the New Zealand papers, and after giving due consideration to information received from Australia, had come to the conclusion that the best thing to do was to drop the proposal for a year, and to invite the Australian representatives to come over to the New Zealand Championship Meeting in February. The nucleus of a fund for subsequently sending an Australasian team Home might be formed from the proceeds of the championship and other meetings. A motion embodying the report of the sub-committee, and offering to entertain the Australian representatives in the event of their visit, was carried on the motion of Mr P. Selig, seconded by Mr F. S. Harley. Mr H. S. Batchelor then moved and Mr P. Selig seconded— "That a portion of the profits accruing from the championship meeting at which the Australian repre-

sentatives would compete be used as a nucleus towards a fund for sending an Australasian team to England next year, the amount so raised to be augmented afterwards by a special grant from the Association." Carried, It was further resolved to telegraph to Wellington to Bee if a benefit programme of sports could be , arranged during the visit of the Australian representatives. Mr T. Kerr gave the following notice of motion : — " That in view of the championship meeting at Wanganui, and the long distances men from the respective centres will have to travel, this Association allot a certain sum of money to. afliiiated clubs . (if deemed advisable) to help them in sending representatives to the championship centre." '.. .At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Kerr announced his intention of . shortly "leaving Christchurch. A. hearty vote , of : thanks was -passed to Mr Kerr for his valuable services as a delegate, and general , regret was expressed at his departure.