CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 9

CRICKET.

THE WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION'S REPORT. "The annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of . the Wellington Crickot Association on September 29 says that the past season was, on the whole, a.very successful one. Strong- representative teams from Otago and Canterbury and a weak team from Manawatu' were defeated,' and a match with Hawke's Bay'was drawn. The championship matches, particularly tho senior grade, were perhaps more attractive than those of .recent years, special- interest being taken in the senior semi-finals and : final. An important alteration iir the procedure' of the senior, championship was. effected at the last annual meeting, confining games, in that class to two Satuidays. The report" states that it is. considered a matter for congratulation that tho attendances at representative and local matches wero above tho average. There was not so much trouble I experienced in obtaining grounds last season as in previous years. Wickets wero available at Day's Bay, Johnsouville, Karori, Petonc, and Waiwctu, and it was not found neccssary to seek for space at Miraraar. It is probable that the newly-formed recreation grounds at Thorndon, Kilbirnie, Kelburnc, and Berhamporo will be available at tho end of next winter.. , The prospective administration of these grounds by tho City Council, and the facilities that -may be granted tho association in connection therewith, s.ro matters that will require. the earnest consideration of the incoming committee. Regret is expressed at tho death of Mr. c! W. Bchbow, a vice-president of the' association for many years. The deceased gentleman was a strenuous and liberal supporter of cricket in -Wellington; and his absence will bo widely and keenly felt. During the forthcoming season visits, will be due by local representatives to Auckland,; - Canterbury and Otugo, and,a visit to Wellington is duo by tho Hawke's Bay Association. A tour of tho Dominion by a New South Wales eleven will in all probability,be made.

'■Tho following wero the winners of the various l ■ competitions Senior, Wellington College Old Boys; junior, Waiwetu; third class, Johnsonville; fourth class, Pctone. Thanks aro extended to tho honorary members for their support, to Messrs. Trewcek and Williams, delegates to the New Zealand Cricket Council, to tho press, and to tho Umpires' Association, • which rendered good service for both senior and junior games. It i 3 estimated by the committee that bofore this report is presented tho bank overdraft' of £IG6 18s. Cd. will be reduced to £90, by th« payment of overduo .amounts by clubs. Considerable difficulty -was' experienced by officers last season in collecting amounts'due by clubs. Thero seemed to have been a lack of promptness, both on tha part of. members and' on the part of treasurers of the clubs, the first to pay and tho latter to request payment. The -committco arc strongly of opinion that tho time lias arrived when 'Rule 22, affecting defaulting clubs, must be strictly enforced. The balance of assets over liabilities is £137. 7s. Gd. - ~ , MIDLAND CLUB. The twenty-sixth annual meeting of tha Midland Crickot Club will bo held on Friday night. . The following is taken from the annual report:— • J' Tho iirst cloven were unable to annex tha Wellington senior'.'championship,' again succumbing to the Wellington College Old Boys' team, which accountcd for our eleven's defeat in tho' season of 1906-7. Our congratulations aro extended to the Old Boys' Club. Tho junior eleven performed well; playing nino matches, winning seven and losing two, being placed third in tho competition. Tho third eleven was again disappointing, tho committee having to withdraw it from tho competition half-way through tho season owing to our inability to place a fuN team in the; field.' The club's membership is not as numerous as' in' former years, and tho decrease is|'observable in tho third'and fourth grades. 'Wo trust that our decision of October 7, 1907, re ' the fixing of tho third and fourth-class subscriptions at 255. will bo upheld,' and the matter of making tho club's lower grade teams something'' moro than skeletons vigorously tackled. Of the 21 matches played by the three teams 14 wero .won ; and 7" lost'. The ' club was represented in interproviricial fixtures by Messrs. Williams, Upham; Hiekson, Brace, Wynyard, Miirphy, and. Patrick;; The following coinpiled .centuries, during' tho season Senior: Messrs,. A. B. .Williams, li 2; D. Patrick, 107 not.out; C. Hiekson, 106: A. Bruce, 100 not'out:. Junior: W. Sissoii, 113. Mr. A. B. Williams wins Mr. J. H. Fairbairn's trophy for highest score in senior elevens. The Bal-ance-sheet shows a very satisfactory state of affairs, the treasurer being able tto disclose a credit balance of £10 4s. 6d., no subscriptions being' outstanding. Considering the smsll membership, and heavy expenditure, the preitest credit is due to the treasurer, ■ Mr. C. H. Clinkard, for this fine result."

WADESTOWN CLUB. The annual .meeting of tho Wadestown Club' was "held last' evening. The balance-sheet . showed the'club-to-be'-in a- good financial" position/v The club's junior ' team • went through'-tho championship last season without a defeat. Tho club's delegates wero oilatructcd to more at the annual meeting of the. Cricket -■ Association that championship rule; 8'bo" deleted, and the following substituted Three points be given- for an outright win. Two points for a win on tho first' ■ innings. 'Three-points be deducted for an. ■■■ outright loss.' Two points for a loss the first innings. " ■ For' a draw two points be . given to' each team." The' following officers wero elocted for the season President, Mr. E,' Wylio'; vice-pre-sidents,' Rev. T. G. Kay, Messrs. A. W. J.\. Cook, I). Taylor, W. R. Morris, J. E. Fitz- « gerald, ; R.' Fletcher, and C. R. Joplin; -general committee, Messrs. F. Bowler, H. Collett,-D. Hay, W. Burns, J. Hay, and officers ex officio ; match committee, Messrs.R. Moffatt, 11. Collett, and W. Burns; gates to the Cricket Association, Messrs. R; Moffatt and C: R. Joplin; auditor; Mr. G. T.' Witters'f Honorary secretary, Mr. IjknMoffatfc assistant' secrethry, Mr. J. Scott.' The elec-'-tioh of captain and vice-captain was left over. ; WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATION: - Tho tenth, animal meeting -ofthe Wellington-.. .Wednesday. Crickct Association waa held at Godber's Rooms last evening, Mr. J. Woybourne occupying the chair. The following report and balance-shea were adopted "Tho ■ senior championship, and Simmoudi and Osborne Shield were competed for bj . four-, clubs-and this season changed hands; , being won by tho Union Club, the Oriental. Club, who have for so many times previouslj , claimed the .senior position, coming, second. The . junior ,championship and Winder Cup competition ; produced a record, number of entries,'there being, ten. competitors. .' An interesting reason's play _ resulted in the cup : and. championship - being - taken by tho . Y.M.C.A. Club, one of the now -contestants;.. Representative trains visited Mastertoii, Horowhenua, snd'Christchurch, and a return visit w.as. received from-the liorowhenua team. Tliis ineroaso in representative fixtures is a. very'pleasing;.,feature of tile season's play, f.ud .it is hoped the, evident interest in .these games will fiiot. be allowed to flag. Two; gwjies between senior and junior teams also created a further interest in the game, and might, with good results,, be continued in future seasons." Tho balance-sh'oct showed a debit, of £2 15s. Applications for entry, to the various divisions from the Pakeha, ' Artillery, Union, Oriental, and Vivian, clubs wore, referred to the incoming committee. t ■ The following officers were elected: —Pat-., ron, Sir. J. G. Ward; president, Mr. C. H., Izard, M.P.; vice-presidents,. Messrs. F. G. Bolton, W. H. P. Barber, M.P., A. A George, J. H. ,I'rice, C. Smith, G. Winder, J. Godlior, P. M. B. Fisher, M.l'., W. Campboll,, and Drs. Hfirbcrt and ■' Pigeon; chairman, Mr. J. Weybournc; honorary secretary, ■Mr. J. C. Cusack; treasurer, Mr. G. E. Burton auditor, Mr. W; Reid; senior selection committee, Messrs. J. Bonner, J. We.vburno, and J'. ,W. Mackay; junior, Messrs.S. Dempsey, A. J." Williamson, and R. Dyson; ground committee, Messrs. J. Weybourne, J. C. Cusack, and J. W. Mackay. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded tli<? retiring secretary, Mr. G. E. Burton.