ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1399, 27 March 1912, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

TO IMPROVE THE BASIN.

DEPUTATION TO THE RESERVES coMMirm:. A deputation from fcho Wellington C'rickot Association waited oil die Rcsarves Committee of tiio City Council yesterday afternoon to discuss lilt! proposed improvement of the Basin. The association was represented by the chairman (Mr. Luckio) ■ and Messrs. Vance, (Yombie, and Saunders. Councillor G. received the deputation, tlio Aeting.Mavor (Mr. John Smith) and Councillor 1,. .M'Ki'lizie being also present. Councillor ,I'rcst said that (ho council would du their best to meet the proposals of Ihe various sports committees* On Monday he had received a similar deputation from the Wednesday Cricket Association. The proposal lind been fully reported ill the liapers so lie would not waste tune in reading a report of it. He then called upon Mr. Luckio to state his views. Mr. I.uckie said that there was prolinblv 110 ground in New Zealand that had so much: wear as tho Basin, and it was extremely hard for tho Cricket Association to prepare it ns they should like to, considering that they had 110 control over the ground during the winter. !t was slated on .Monday night that the uneven condition of some parts of the ground was brought about by the action of the heavy mower and roller used. This statement Mr. Luckio considered to he incorrect, as tho mower and roller were used in the method approved of on nearly all the large Australian grounds. Also, the association's groundsman, Mr. Saunders, was an expert, having gained his knowledge 011 one of Ihe big Melbourne grounds. U was due to Mr. Saunders that in the last two years Hie ground had been so much improved; for although the former groundsman, Mr. Twist, was very satisfactorv, ho had, not the skilled knowledge of the present man. ' Personally, Mr. Luckie considered that the mounds and hollows in the ground were simply the result, of the inherent nnturo of the ground. The Basin was originally a swamp, and unlike most cricket grounds which had a sub-soil of clay, tho Basin, for many feet down, was entirely composed of spongy black soil. It; was necessary, \ho continued, to shave off the mounds fit! up the hollows, and lightly top-dress the.whole. If the council would close the ground this winter for tho purpose of improving it, he, 011 behalf of the Wellington Cricket Association, cojild guarantee J;SO in cash and the use of .Air. Saunders towards the total expense of the undertaking. Considering the wages of their groundsman, plus tho ,£30,. the association was really offering quite .£IOO. This was finite exclusive of what the Wednesday Association might contribute. As the council would be able to get the soil for the top-dressing cheaper than nn3 - onc else, lie did not think that Hie council's share could possibly amount to more than .£75. Before concluding, Mr. Luckio said that all tho gate-money that tho association received was expended upon the upkeep of the ground. Asked as to the attitude of the winter sports committees, Mr. Luckio replied til a t so far as ho was aware they wore prepared to lose the ground for one season, a.s they recognised the advantage that would thus bo derived for the future. He himself was a member of the AVeliiugton Hockey Association, and he knew that tliey were in favour of the scheme. Most of the winter snorts clubs had sovcral grounds besides the Basin Reserve, and they would be ablo to arrange to use their other grounds instead. He felt convinced that there would bo 110 opposition to the closing of tho ground for tho coming winter. He then thanked the Reserves Committee for having received the deputation, and also for the help they had given to tho association previously. Councillor Frost, in reply, answered the deputation that .the Reserves Committee would consider the matter fully and discuss it in the council. Tho Acting-Mayor (Mr. Smith) briefly endorsed Councillor Frost's assuranco that the best would bo done in the interests of sport.