CRICKET.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 443, 11 October 1877, Page 3

CRICKET.

The annual meeting of the Naseby Cricket Club f was held in the/Town Hall on Saturday evening last, 6th inst. There were present— Kev. J. Hobbs (in the chair), Messrs. R. H. Browne, D. Barron, E. D. Foot, A. Jones, G. Buckley, R. Mathias, F. W. Blair, W. M'Hutcheson, and W. H..Aah. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secret.a:;v read the following yearly report :—■ GENKHAL REPORT. In order to understand tho position of tho Club, it la necessary to go back to tho time at which the Olub was first formed. Your Committee were appointed by a public meeting held on the 20th May, 1876. The principal object of this meeting was to tako into consideration in what manner tho Recreation Reserve—then lying unenclosed and unattended to—could be fenced and improved, in anticipation of a resuscitationof the Club during the following season. A sub committee was appointed to find the probable co.3t of a post and wiro fence ; and also toasertain whet'iers.ifflcientanpport would be given the Club to Justify it in incurring the expense of fencing the ground. Very liberal support was promised, and the sub-committee then proceeded to ascertain the cost of a fence. They reported that £3O would, in their opinion,, be sufficient. Tho Municipal Council was thereupon written to by the Secretary, who stated that the Club was "prepared to temporarily find ways and means for this erection of a fence round the Recreation Reserve, to be approved by the Council—tho estimated expenditure being £30." The Council took the matter up, and at its mooting on tho Ist. June resolved as follows :—" That the Naseby Cricket Club shall havo at all times the first right to tho use of tho ground, bo long as no damage is done to the s,.nie. Tho Council shall before or after the expiration of two years from this date, take over the fence, and sole management and control of tho ground, on payment to tho Club of a sum not exceeding £3O, being the estimated cost of tho fence." Tho sub-committee succeeded in borrowing the requisite sum at ten per cent, (theinterest being paid by the Club), and the fence was erected, and approved by tho representative of the Council. The estimate, however, was exceeded by £4los. The Council to-day paid back to tho Clnb tho £3O, and have taken over tho gro.ind. Application was rnado to tho Council for the extra £4 10s., to this request, however, the Council declined to accede. The Reserve lias been ploughed, and is now sown with oats. It is tho intention of the Municipal Council, your Committee understands, as soon as tho crop is off in the autumn, to again plough the ground, and sow it down in the best lawn grass. By noxt season, therefore, it is hoped tho Reserve will bo in good order for cricket. The Club will this year havo to incur an expenditure in preparing some piece of ground for use for the present season. As the Municipal Council have had a valuable reserve vested in them, to bo used for recreation purposes, and as tho reserve cannot be used this year for tho purpose for which tho right was vested, probably the Council will mako a grant of either money or labor towards the preparation of a piece of ground for cricketing purposes. Three matches have been played by tho Club during tho past season with rival Clubs; two with St. B..thans (both of which were won by this Club, after' spirited contests), and ono with Palmerston, which was won by Palmerston, (not so spirited for various reasons). Several matches havo also beon played in Naseby between members of the Club. Your Committee, in resigning office, cannot, conclude their report without referring to the handsome and hearty support always accorded their efforts by tho public, They beg to express a hope that tho vitality of tho Club will bo greater- even this year than I:ib*» • Tho Treasurer's report is attached horetOi D. Barhon, Chairman. W. H. Ash, Hon. Sec. W. M'Hutcheson, Hon. Treaa. TREASURKB'S REPORT. In laying before you the first financial report I regret it sho'ild not bo so satisfactory as had been r.nticipatcd—a result mainly attributable to the illiberal manner in which the Corporation dealt with us upon resuming control of tho cricket ground. As tho general report explains the circumstances which led to the erection of tho fence by our Club, I need not say more that, though tho Council acted as it had an undoubted right to do, it hardly came with a good grace from that important body to refuse so reasonable a request to a small number of their own ratepayers, who, at considerable expense and trouble co themselves, had carried out u work of admitted public utility.

With the exception of a trifling balance of a few shillings due to the Treasurer, tho Club is, however, free of Uubt, which is, perhaps, all things being considered, a matter of congratulation. The reccipts-havo been—From members' subscriptions, donations, &c, £3O 155.; loan for fencing, £3O; making a total of £6O 15s. Tho total expenditure for the same period lias been £6l 3s. Gd., of winch £44 Bs. was swallowed up in cricket ground, and the remaining £IG 15s. 6d. spent in carrying out tho various matches of pafct season, providing necessary crickoting material. Sic. Tho number of members on the roll to date is—Playing members, 21; honorary members, 8 ; total, S9.

Mr. M'Hutcheson, as representing the sub-committee appointed to carry out the arrangements for ereoting Recreation Reserve fence, read a copy of a letter he had written to the Council, urging it to reconsider its decision in only allowing the Club £3O, the fence having coat £34 10s., and requested that the meeting should state whether it approved or otherwise of the letter, he having been given to understand that some of the Councillors had considered it to be not respectful. Resolved unanimously— That this Club endorses the action of the sub-committee in endeavoring to procure the extra £4 10s. expended in erecting the fence round the Recreation Reserve, considering that the Club is justly entitled to the amount really expended, more especially as the Council's representative had approved of the fence.

Resolved—That the reports, as read, be adopted. The following gentlomen were then elected office-bearers, for the year —The Rev. J. Hobbs, President ; Messrs. W. Inder and B. A. Chapman, Vice-Precidenta ; Mr. W. H. Ash, Hon. Secretary; Mr. S. M. Baxter, Hon. Treasurer ; Messrs. de Lautour, Busch, M'Hutcheson, Browne, and Barron, members of Committee ; Mr. de Lautour, practice captain ; and Messrs. M 'Hutchcson, Brown, Jones, and Buckley, ground committee. Resolved-r-That Messrs, Barron, Inder, Browno, and Baxter form a deputation to wait upon the Municipal Council, to urge the claims of the Club in reference to the extra expenditure incurred in connection with the Recreation Reserve fence. A challenge was read from the Palmerston Cricket Club, asking whether the laßt Satur-

day in October would be suitable lor the return match with Naseby. Resolved—That the Secretary be requested to write to the Secretary of the Palmerston Cricket Club, informing him of the difficulty this Club is in in reference to ground, arid asking him whether his Club would postpone the match, in consequence, till some Saturday in January> by winch time the Club hopes to have a piece of ground in playable order. Resolved— That youths under sixteen be admitted as members of the Club at 4s. per annum, to be paid within a month after admittance. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring Committee and the chair, whereupon the meeting broke up.