THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS' VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1673, 29 June 1875, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS' VISIT.

OnR readers generally, and specially tho^e who are interested in the game of cricket, will bo pleased to learn that the negotiations for arranging for a visit of Australian cricketers who are to play matches wish provincial teams in Ofcago, Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington, and Auckland, are proceeding satisfactorily, and that there is every probability of the friendly invasion becoming an accomplished 'fact. By telegrams from the Southern capitals we have heard at intervals of the different steps which have been taken in the matter. We will now place shortly before our readers the state of affairs as they now stand". It will be recollected that about ten days ago a proposition was made by the Otago committee that an offer of £750 should be made to Mr Hunting who is arranging details on the other side, in full of the total expenses of the Australian team from the start to the return. The sum was arrived at by a computation already published which brought the hotel and travelling expenses up to within £165 of the sum specified, the margin which is quite small enough, being added for wages of professionals and contingencies. The calculation in other respects is a liberal one, for although the hotel expenses are put down as only ten shillings per day per man, it is generally thought that a much greater reduction than that reckoned upon might be obtained in the travelling expenses. Last week Mr. Vincent Rice, the secretary of the Auckland Intercolonial and Inter-provincial Cricket Committee, received from Mr. Mears, who holds a similar office in Dunedin, the following telegram: — '• W. D. Mears to V. E. Rice. " Dunedin, June 24. " Christchurch cricketers agree with our suggestion as to offering £750 towards expenses of Australian team. If you are agreeable to contribute £175 as Auckland's share, should wire to Melbourne to that effect by 'Otago,'now going North. Each province will thus be liable for own share only, making total of £750.—Reply." To this Mr. Rice, knowing that several gentlemen were ready to offer a much larger sum'for the gates alone, at once replied— "V. E. Rice to W. D. Mears, Dunedin. ; "Auckland, 25th June. " Auckland cricketers will guarantee to contribute £175 as their share towards expenses of the Australian team." In the meanwhile a letter was received by the secretary of the Auckland Cricket ,Club from Mr. Goldsmith, of Melboixrne, who takes great interest in the affair, and will probably form one of the Australian team, substantially corroborating the advices from Mr Runting, on which our Southern friends have been acting. This letter is' important, as it indicates that a certain unanimity of opinion, as well as great interest, prevails in Melbourne respecting the excursion. It also refers to the improbability of any difficulty arising about the Sydney half of the^team, who, it states, can get away more easily than the Victorian men. Up to the present all the provinces above named except Nelson, have signified their approval of Mr Mears' offer, and have guaranteed their share of the expenses. What is the intention of Nelson we do not know, but if it should be found that she will only guarantee £100 or £125 it is not likely that this will at all interfere with the arrangements. Whether she does this or declines altogether to participate, the result will only be an increase of about £20 or less in each of the other provinces' share. A MEETING- OF THE AUCKLAND COMMITTEE was held yesterday evening at Messrs. Jackson and Russell's offices, when the cor- . respondence above given was read by Mr. Rice, and the general position discussed. With respect to the ground to be used for the Auckland match, it was resolved, " That the match should be played at Ellerslie, provided the Auckland Cricket CluU will give the ground onreasonable terms." In reference to this the respective claims of the Racing

Club and the Auckland Cricket Club to any profits that may accrue were considered (it should be mentioned that Mr Percival, the secretary of the Racing Clnb wa3 present by request), and it was agreed, though in the absence of any accredited member of the Cricket Club, no formal resolution was passed, that the Racing Club should, receive according to their agreement with the Cricket Club, 20 per cenf.jof the gross takings, and that a proportion of profits to be determined on, should be devoted to the funds of the Cricket Club. It was thought that the "gates" and booths should be submitted at auction, snd that a subscription should be at once set on foot to obtain a fund for preliminary expenses. The idea of a " United New Zealand versus Australia" match was then talked over, and the members present were unanimous that such a match should be played, and if at all, in Auckland, and on level terms. This was embodied in -a formal resolution. Messrs. Garland and Macdonald were requested, and consented, to gather in subscriptions. Several names were by consent added to the committee. |We may add that Mr. Rice has telegraphed the result of the meeting to the South and to Australia. The news that toe terms offered are considered satisfactory, will be awaited with interest. The claim of Auckland as champion province to have the combination match played upon her ground will we should think be admitted at once by the other provinces. This arrangement would also suit the proposed order of playing, as it is at present understood the team will enter the colony at Otago, and leave it from Auckland, and it is only proper that the great match should be the wind up of the expedition. The time mentioned for the setting *mt of the Australian eleven is January next.