HAMILTON CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 770, 3 October 1900, Page 2

HAMILTON CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Hamilton Cricket Assooiatiou was he'd in the VVesleyan schoolroom, Hamilton, last evening. Mr J. S. Bond, vice-President, occupied the chair, and there was a fair atteudaucee.

Annual Report and Balance-Sheet —The Secretary (Mr A. E. Manning) read the report and balance-sheet as follows:—On the 19th of September last year at a meeting of the old Hamilton Cricket Club it was unanimously agreed to disband the club and ft) form in its stead a Cricket Association, which should consist of four clubs at that time designated Nos. 1,2, 3,4, and which afterwards received the names of Slades, Moana, Toiler.', and Arawa Cricket Clubs. The following officers were elected to the Association :—Patron : b\ VV. Lang, Esq., M.H.R. President: Geo. Edgeoumbe, Esq. Vice-Presidents : Rev. J. M. Mitchell and J. S. Bond, Esq. Committee of management (consisting of two delegates from each club): Messrti fl. Johnstone, C. Speight, M. Oliiver, A. B. Heather, L. Rjllinson, C. Blackburn and H. Bockett. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer : A. E Manning- An inter-club competition for caps was inaugurated and a series of matches arranged, Great interest was taken in the contests, which resulted in the caps being won by Slade's Cricket Club. Iu addition to these, several representative matches took place, and although victory did not always rest with the Association's representatives, yet a creditable exhibition of cricket was eiven by them. Matches were won against Huntly arid Piako, and lost against Tararu, Waipa, Waitekauri and Y.M.C.A. In connection with the representative matches, trophies were kindly offered for competition. Mr IT. H. Howden presented a bat to the player who secured the best baiting average in the Tararu match, Mr C. Speight being the winner ; and Mr J. Smith offered a trophy for the best howling average in the match against Waitekauri, Mr H. Johnston (who had bowled with great success throughout the season) being the winner. Mr S. Tucker also presented a very lnndsome silver-mounted pipe for the player who obtained the best batting average in olubmatches. Mr E. Gothorpe, with an average of 13, was the winner. Donations to the Association's fund were received from Messrs F. W. Lang, M.H.R., Geo. Edgecumbe, Hallenstein Bros., and Thos. Floyd. Q'he sincere thanks of the Association are due to these geutlemen for their liberal support. The idea of the four clubs was unfortunately not the complete success anticipated, as one of the clubs (the Moana), through a large number of its members leaving the district, have disbanded and have presented all their cricketing material to the Association for use in representative matches. The committee desire to express their gratitude' to the remaining members ot the Moana Cricket Club for their handsome donation, Your committee recommend that no new club should be formed this year, but that the Association shall cousist of the three (remaining clubs. 'Your commitee desire to express their opinion that the management of the Association would be better, if placed in the hands of a committee to be appointed at the annual meeting instead of the present system of each club being represented by two delegates. The balancesheet presented by the Treasurer shows a debit balance of £4 19s 3d. Recognising the considerable outlay of this the first year in material, matting, etc , and the fact that these are now assets your committee feel that the Association should be congratulated at the results achieved, The prospects for the coming season are very bright. Several uew cricketers having come to reside in the district, some of them with no mean reputation, and if the members of the different clubs will pay a little more attention to their practice there is ni) doubt that cricket iu Hamilton will be on a better footing that it ever has been before, and thatour representative teamsoeednot fear meeting any of theirpossible rivals.— The Bal&nce-sheet was as follows : Expenditure : Sutton's account and Manning's account, £3 13s 4d ; labour on ground, £3 Us; nnttiDg, £4 Oa 6(1 ; cricketing material, £2 Is ; petty cash, 10a; accounts owing (caps £2 9s 6d, Going 12s 6d, Bright £1 12s 6d, Manning 4s 9d), £4 14s 6d ; T. Floyd, £3 ; P. Le Quesne, £1 Is ; caretaker, £'2. Total, £24 12s 3d. Receipts: Subscriptions from clubs, £S 19s ; donations, £4 7s 6d ; sale of old material, £6 6s 6d ; balance debit", £4 19s 3d. Total, £24 12s 3d. Assets : Material, matting, etc., £lo.—The report and balance-sheet was adopted. Officers. ■—The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr P. W. Lang.M.H.R. ; President, Mr Geo. Edgecumbe; vice-Presidents, Mr J. S. Bond and Rev. J. M. Mitchell; Committee of Management, President, vice-Presidents, Revs. H. D. A. Major and H. L. Blnmires, and Messrs Speight, Mahon, Blackburn, Gibbons and Manning ; Hon, Secretary and Treasurer, Mr H. Worsley. The work of alloting new players to the various clubs was left to the managing committee.

Opening of the Season.—lt was decided to open the season on Saturday, and a match between teams to Le selected by the committee was arranged.

Donations.—The following donations were promised :Mr G. Edgecumbe, £1 Is ; Mr T, Floyd, £1 Is; Messrs Tucker, Hovsden and Bond, trophies. Caps.—Tho Rev. J. M. Mitchell presented the caps to the Captain of the successful team (Slade's), and in doiug so sairi he felt sure that the best team had securod the prizes.—Mr Speight briefly replied on behalf of his team, and said he could assure those present that his team would do their best to win the caps again this year.

Increased Subscription.—The question of an increased subscription to the Association was referred to the Managing Committee. Asphalt Pitch —Dr. Douglas suggested that efforts should be made to have an asphalt pitch laid down on Sydney Square, and after some little discussion, the Secretary was requested to communicate with the Domain Board upou the subject. Thanks- A hearty vote of thaoks was passed to Mr~A. E. Manning for his efforts on behalf of the Association during the past year, and the customary compliment to the chairman closed the meeting. .