CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 608, 10 September 1909, Page 6

CRICKET.

.... * ..... ,|. THE WELLINGTON. CLUB. MEETS FOB THE LAST' TIME; : The final annual meeting or the "Wellington Cricket Club was hold'in tho Occidental Hotel last evening, Mr. M. F.Luckie Occupying the chair. The report, the adoption of which was moved by the onairnian, noted that the .seniors were tlio runncrs-up for the championship'last season, securing, four wins out. of seven games played. The junior A aud B teams both-played eight games, of which four were won. 'i'ho trophies were won as follow:—Senior: ■J. J. M&hony (batting), :E. ~0. ..Hales (bowling). Junior A: A, Fmlaysori (batting),'. H. Walters '(bowline). Junior. B: W. 13. O'brien (batting), W. H. Boyes (bowling). Tho thanks of tho elnb Here duo to tho following donors of trophies :-Jlessr6. H. D. Bell, A. ,T. Bate, C. A. Kn»pp, H. M. Simpson, arid: Dr. W. ; E. ColTlio financee of the club were considered to be in a entisfactory position. "The balanceehcet showed a credit.balance of JMt lls.. The report went on to state:—"Thisis probably tho Inst occasion on which a report will bo furnished to itho members of the Wellington Cricket Club, fonntlcd prior to 1869. I'he history' of tho club extends over a period of nearly half a century. In the club records—many which arc now grown stained, with age—thero is evidence of the periods of'difficulty aud of prosperity through which it has been so sueoossfuUy directed; ,'und the- indications "of sturdy struggles in tho field wherein wero tested tho skill and generalship w many now prominent men, who plajcd in their'youth the Grand Old Game under its rules.' The, present standing of the'club'is to a considerable extent duo to these gentleinon, many, of wliom have hi generously, ■in Spirit 'and financially, assisted it yea* by yearlong after their active days for cricket were past: Members are aware that at a special, meeting, held at Battin's Rooms on April. 20,'1003, a mption placed by Mr. Luckio supporting .district cricket in Wolhngton was carried. Sofaras this club is concerned, it is in a.good healthy position, mt .cricket in Wellington, within recent-years has rather retrograded than advanced, and in consequence the financial. affairs of our association are somewhat involved. It was, there-fore-although with great reluctanco-that the majority decided to lend themselves to tlio orraation of a district schemo'of cricket in the hope that the new association so formed would give nn: impetus to .cricket,, and secure forthY active players , an. increased interest and support from the general public:-' The club has a record m which wo can- all righteously take a share of pride. 'Created for cricket in the beginning' and sacrificed for cricket in the end... Each member who has at any time in the history of the olub formed one of its complement retains, we are sure, good' memories of pleasant summers wherein the love of the game and good fellowship aro'evcr uppermost." • The balance-sheet showed a credit of £28 2s. at the bank, and a balance of £M lls. liabilities over • assets. ' -. • ; In ;moring- the adoption of therjport, the chinrmnn referred to tho regret 'which thej , nil felt, more .or less, in tho brcaking-up of the old club.' The Wellington Club was the oldest in the citj-, and one of the three or four eldest clubs inNewZealand.lt'was established' some time previous' to 1863. How .far back it went before that was-not known, as tho.records did not extend further than that, but the club was over 45 years old, and 'had a record to be proud of. ■He did not "know whether the club vtas. to' ccaee to. exist-alto-' gethor. There was: a suggestion that,.'for old 'association's sake, : the ' club should be kept :ogether ■ to play outside matches, and' perhaps hold annual reunions, which matter might be gone into at the smoke concert that J. Ir - ~A- -T. . Bate (in , a . lettDr .to the chairman) suggested should bo held. As club, the meeting was final; the district -scheme . being an accomplished fact Most of tho assets of the club had been realised, and it was suggested that, the funds be handed over to the Wellington Cricket Associn-' tion, which was badly ( in need of the money.' As far as ho know, it wonld be the only club nblo to mako. a"donation'-of the kind.to the 1 association. It would no doußt be receivec with gratitude. '. ■.■:■■ i: ■■-. ,' . .V-...■-.■ It was suggested that a portion, of'the balance should be retained for tho carrying on of the club in its altered form. , This was -put- in order by Mr. W. Organ moving. that the'club 'be kept together for old association's ' sake, dreppingthe r.nlcs 4 and.7 (which.relate to the ipaynventj.oi .ajinual; subscriptions).-.- This ,Was eeconded- and carried: , ',','■:':..' ' : -'•'-,.-•: After 'discussion, ■it irae : deoided to retain'theE "."J ,°, f . >£5. .f.er petty',-.expenses, in> connection with the carrying-on of the club. The balance' over £30,-..is to.be handed over to'the Welling-' ton.Crieket Association. It was decided to roa ise: on those assets not already dealt with. . After tho.presentation.of trophies won last , Bcaeon, the chairman made ■ reference to'the bartihj; cup (won. last, year by Mr. Mahony), which:he said was tho oldest "active trophy'" in New and ,was-scored with names that have always'been v hdnour«d by the members efi.the. clnb: The cup was presented as far. back as 1879 or 18S0, and was first won by Mr. Lyneli, 'It wae donated by a gentleman , who had long-been dead. He referred to Mr.K> S. Ledger, who was tho .undo of Mr. Stanley HiCKSon, who had Avon tho cup, on several' occasions, and had rendered good service to'the clnb both on and off the field. Ho would'like to suggest 'that after Mr. Mahony's tenure of ownership, the cup be handed over to Mr. Hick- , eon,- tho nophovf of the donor. Qn the chairman making'a motjon'of his suggestion, it -was unanimously, decided to-- vest' the permanent ownership of the cupin Mr.-Hick6on. . Koferencfe was mado to tho interesting collection of club photographs, in'.which figured such well-known "old-timers" as- Messrs.-A-.- T. Bato, R. A. ,Knapp,, J. ,P. Firth,- Dr.• Collins,■ C. and R. Gore: It.was decided that these be -left for tho present in-the custody, of the captain and tho ohairmnn (Mr., I , For the purpose of carrying on the.club the present , officers''of.' the oltib- were ro-elected (witli the exception' of'tho 1 cricket committees), nnd a- committee consisting of Messrs.-'Luckie, Organ, Bate, Richardson, Hales; with' the 'secretary and treasurer, was appointed to arranuo for a. smoke •concert, .to'be held'at an early : date., ■ •' .., , '.; ■ '.. •,.•• ..:. / - '. ■ . Tho-foJlowing tcam.vill ropresent tho Newtown Cricket Clnb next Saturday'against tho Evans Bay C.C.:—Branz, Reilo, Parkes, Puller M O ! ,, Douglas, v GMgg, '.Phillips, MMahon, Thompson; Daly. The game will he played at Seatoun, and 'will.-start at 2.30. '