FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 April 1911, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Rugby Union. ANNUAL MEETING. The animal meeting th °, ? 1 ° l °2 whenua Rugby Union - Manukau Hotel on Wednesday oveniujr. there being a full attendance of - delegates. Mr McMillan was voted to the chair. j. Mr W. 11. Burge, lion, secretary, • submitted tlio following ' REPORT FOR YEAR 1910-1911.-The past season has _ been most successful from every viewpoint. Six t clubs played under the Union s jurisdiction, and from these clubs four senior and six junior teams were entered and competed in championship matches. The senior competition; was won by tilio- Hui Mai Club, and the junior competition 'by the lvoreru There was a marked absence of unfair or rough play, and with but extremely few exceptions the sport throughout the season has been kept "clean." This is a matter for congratulation, and will tend to increase the popularity of thte game for the coming season. Six senior representative .matches were played, resulting in two being won, one drawn, and three lost. A combined Horowhenua - Manawatu match against Wellington was played at Palmerston North, Horowhenua being represented in the team bv Messrs M. Winiata, N. Winiata, G. Cook, H. Rawiri, W. Winiata, J. Sciaseia, Wilson and R-opata. junior rep. match was also played, but was lost. •.11 Congratulations must Tie extended to Mr "Walter Winiata., who was selected to play in tilto North Island toam in the North v. South match, at Christchurcli. , , Mr Southev Fowler again deserves the thanks of Union for carrying out his duties as senior selector. Thanks are also due to Messrs Broughton, Wehepeihana and Gordon for selecting the junior team.

The Referees' Association has again rendered yeoman service in providing referees for matches. _ A considerable amount of time is given by these gentlemen who are often put to great inconvenience to fulfil their engagements, and to th'em is due the very best thanks. A number of very important matters will be placed before you this evening. The question of amalgamation with the Manawatu Union was placed before your committee, and the members recommended! the placing of the whole question "before you. , ."With the view of encouraging foot. I ball amongst the younger members of the community the formation of a third class grade in the Union is now advisable. _ From opinions expressed in various parts of the district, a third-class competition wouldi be enthusiastically taken up, with every prospect of success. Your committee met at frequent intervals during the season, the meetings being well attended by members. Ma' A. Thorne, who has rendered good service to the Union as secretary, found it necessary to resign from his position eaxly in the season, and Mr Coote, treasurer, has been transferded from tlie district. In these two gentlemen the Union has lost two energetic and painstaking officers, to whom the best thanks and wishes are due.

Good assistance lias "been given to -the Union By the press of tlhe district, which has given the greatest publicity to matters connected with the game, anrl 'has consequently done much' to increase its popularity. There mil bo, so-far as can ho ascertained, at present, no difficulty in scouring suitable playing grounds for the coming season. 'During the past year games at Kerern and Mianaltau have, taken place on grounds generously lont for the purpose by Messrs Higginson and T. Bevan (son) and the kindness of these gentlemen cannot be too highly appreciated. Same difficulty was experienced in socurrng a suitable playing site at v Otnki, ami towards the end of the v | season arrangements were mad© with j the Rev. Mr McNickle for the use of the Maori College grounds. During ] the summer, however, the Ota lei do- ' main has boon put into order, and If satisfactory arrangements can bo mado with the Board, a roallv firstclass ground will bo at the disposal of the Union for the coming year. The balance-sheet for the year shows the finances to bo in a. healthy condition, there being a cralit balance of £2 Is 8d in the bank, and th • assets exceeding the liabilities. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Levin-Wanderer Football Club applying for a change of their junior colours from red, white and blue to black.

The application was granted. The Manawatn Rugby Football Union wrote saying that Mr Hoben had been deputed to wait on the Union in regard to the suggested fedovation of the two unions so far as representative teams are concerned. It was decided that it be a recommendation from the meeting to the Management Committee to meet Mr Hoben and the Manawatn Union with a view of favourably considering the federation for representative matches, provided this union does not lose its individuality as a union. A letter was received from the Canterbury Football Union proposing a. conference of delegates for the purpose of arranging- dates for the interprovincial matches for the coming year. It was decided that the meeting recommends that the delegate to tie New Zealand Rugby Union attend a meeting and arrange for matches as suggested by the letter. The Horowlhenua Referees' Association wrote stating that the following resolution had) been carried— That it be a recommendation that the Rugby Union consider the advisability of amalgamating with the 4 Manawatn Union for representative purposes, tin's Association being of the opinion that such amalgamation would be_ of bonefit to the football of the district. The letter was received. A notice was received from the New Znland Rugby Union stating ' that the annual meeting of that boiy would be held at Wellington on >!;i y 11th. 1 The letter was noted. f The newly-formed club at Weraroa vtfrot applying for the permission of the Union to call itself the Wanderer Club, and to wear the colours of red white a.ndi blue hoops.. A lively discussion ensued andi a proposition was moved" that the application of the dug be- acceded to. A large number of amendments came forward, and after considerable discusion it was decided bv the chairman's ruling that the club could not be called the Wanderer Club. Mr Devonshire, the delegate, then '1 to change the name, to Weraroa Club. The club _ _ under" this name, was granted affiliation. *•: The principal of the Native Col- • lege, at Otaki, wrote to' the Union stating that a team belonging to the college desired to be entered in the ■ junior competition. The request was granted. i <■ The Tairnri Olu 1 !) was granted leave to enter a senior team for the coming competition.• ; ./ ;::EL]£QHON OF OFFICERH.'j" "1 The following officers were then { elected, for the coming season:— Patron, Mr J. Kebbell; Pre^idnjnt,

Mr J. R. Macdonald: Delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr J. S. Fowler; Vice-President to the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr J. > '" Procter j Secretary, Mr.W. R. Burge, Treasurer, Mr B. Easther; Management Messrs Procter, --v Kingi Tahiwi, Horo Kaiurati, Me Millan, Moynihanj Senior Selector, f Mr J. S. Fowlor; Junior. Selectors, Messrs Gordon, Ruihi Wohepeihana, J. Broughton; Auditors, Mdssrs J. Mclntyre and B. R. Gardener. RESOLUTIONS. Tho following resolutions were enrried:— That tihe secretary be instructed to ■write to Mr Mcilntyre asking for a report concerning the spending of ■the money granted hy the New Zealand Rugby Union for school football. The question of a third class competition came up for discussion, and the following resolution was carried: That it-he a recommendation - to the Management Cammitteo to arrange . for a third-class competition, tho maximum age to ho 16 years and the maximum weight to be 10 stone. A motion was brought forward - that the Management Committee be asked to provide a trophy for the junior competition. This was carred. The secretary was granted a donation which he accepted and handed "back to the Union to bo placed to its funde. A vote of thanks to Messrs Bevan and Higginson (for the use of grounds), and to the outgoing officers and to the referees was adopted. PRESENTATION OF A SHTELD TO THE UNTOX. During the evening Messrs Procter and Fowlor presented a handsome shield to the Union for competition in the senior grade. In making the presentation Mr Fowlor expressed the hope that the shield would bo keenly contested for each season, and that the games would be played in the best of spirits. He trusted there would be no protests entered, and that football in the district would have a prosperous season. Mr Proctor endorsed the observaions of Mr Fowler, and expressed the [hjope that the best team in tho Union ■would have the honour of winning the shield. The presentation was received with applause. The meeting (unanimously passed a resolution thanking Messrs Fowler a.nd Procter most heartily for tho Shield, which the Union' accepted with groat pleasure. In reply, both Messrs Fowler and Procter stato-d that what they had done had been a labour of love. Thev took the keenest interest in football, and it had given the iron test pleasure possible to canvass for the shield. The proceedings then concluded. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. After the conclusion of the general meeting a short meeting of the new management committee was held. Mr J. Procter was re-elected chairman. Permission was granted to clubs in the Union to enter tenms for l the seven-aside tournament arranged by the Church -of England to take place on April 26th. The chairman and treasurer wore authorised to sia;n chorines on behalf of the Union. It was decided to meet weekly during the early part of the season the first meeting to take on Wednesday next.