FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 299, 16 April 1896, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION ANNUAL MEETING.

This meeting was held at the Metropolitan Hotel on Friday night last There was a large attendance of delegates, Mr A. E. T. Devore (president) being in the chair. We regret that pressure on our space this week will not permit of the report being published in full, as we should have liked. However, it is satisfactory to note that in terms of the resolution passed at the last annual meeting the sum of £2OO had been paid over to the ground fund trustees, making a total now in their hands, including accrued interest, of £768 8s 2d. I'he union has a credit balance of £33 5s 3d, apart from the ground fund. Visits are expected during the season from the Queensland and Taranaki teams, and possibly Wellington and Otago, and such high-class matches should be a big draw, and consequntly augment the funds of the union.

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : —President, Mr A. E. T. Devore (re-elected) ; vice-presi-dents : Messrs. 0. 11. Hesketh, T Henderson, and H. G. Kissling (re-elected) ; secretary, Mr G. 11. Dixon (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr C. E. McCormick (reelected) ; management committee, Messrs G. Pilkington, A. G. Kissling, J. C. Webster, F. J. Ohlson, and F. W. Edwards; auditors, Mesrs. J. Bancroft and Thomas Macky, jun. (re-elected). Mr A. E. T. Devore, in thanking the union for re-electing him to the position of president, briefly referred to the past season’s doings, the terms of equality on which the several teams under the district scheme stood, and the favourable future that greeted them in the matter of the prosperity of football in the province of Auckland. In accordance with a notice of motion standing in his name, Mr Baume (Grafton) moved, “ That that portion of the Grafton District boundary line, from Cucksey’s store and Fairfax Road be altered, so as to follow the road extending from Cucksey’s store in a straight line to Fairfax Road, instead of following Owen’s Road, as at present.” Mr Baume spoke at some length to the motion, and pointed out that while the deviation would not materially injure the other districts, it would give Grafton ten other players, which were badly needed, in view of the recent alteration, which robbed them of ten of the senior players. Mr Ohlson seconded the motion. On behalf of the Suburbs, Mr J. Leahy objected to the proposed alteration, and Mr H. G. Kissling also spoke adversely to any alteration being permitted. On being put to the meeting the voting was equal, and the chairman’s casting vote being given against, the motion was lost. On the motion of Mr C. E. MacCormick, seconded by Mr G. H. Dixon, Mr T. Henderson was elected a life member of the Union, in recognition of his valuable services for many years past.

It has been decided to form a Rugby Union in Coromandel. Poneke defeated East Christchurch at Christchurch on Saturday by 29 points to nil. Two or three of the Poneke’s have to thank the Oriental “ push ” for many of the tricky points of the game which they (the ’ Poneke’s) are continually “ ringing on” to their opponents. What the “ Cottage push” don’t know is harmless. George Lusk, who scored the majority of the points for the Poneke’s, is not unknown to Aucklanders. He is a very fast man, and can get to the end of 100 yards in very near lOsec —if the odds are good enough ! Anyway, when Lusk and his mates, Gallowoy and Davidson, are included in a team, the prestige of the Poneke’s is pretty well looked after. Union (Christchurch) beat Linwood (Christchurch) last Saturday by 8 points to nil.

The Feilding Club, which will be on tour shortly, will play Wellington on the 25th, Greytown on the 28th, and Masterton on the 30th.

It seems to be a trifle early yet for football matches of any importance, as half the players have not found their 4< legs and wings ” yet.