MOTUEKA CRICKET CLUB.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 12, 20 September 1901, Page 4

MOTUEKA CRICKET CLUB.

The thirty second annual meeting of the Motueka Cricket Club was held in the ante room of the Church of England school on Wednesday evening. Mr H. E. Gilbert, vice President of the club occupied the chair, and there was a numerous attendance of members. The chairman, in a short speech, menthoiied that cricketing in the district was a dead letter last year, very few matches having been played. He attributed the lac-: of interest in the game to the enthusiasm in the volunteer movement. Just now the zeal in. military concerns was not so marked; lie therefore anticipated that more interest would be evinced in cricket during the coming season. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been adopted, the Secretary read the report and balance sheet. The report is as follows: I have much pleasure in placing before the members of this club the annual report. We started the beginning of this year with a debit balance of ,£1 13s, and outstanding accounts t o the amount of <£s 12s 6d. Tins year there is a debit balance of ,£'4 7s 11 and one outstanding account of ,£4 12s 4d. Perhaps you are not aware that owing to some carelessness in previous years that the rent of the ground for one half year was not paid ; therefore, instead of.the club paying their rout in advance, they were paying it when it became due, and always had a half year t > pay. I have hunted up all the receipts I could find with regard to the in-itter, and have had the records searched both in the Public Trust Office in Nelson, and Wellington and found that it was owing. I must inform you, ge-tlemen, that you have paid that off, and now the cricket ground is free of rei.t up to January next, so that instead ■■n just holding our own, as in previous years, Ave are slightly to the good. We have two first class lawn mowers, and enough cricket material to make a start for the ensuing year. The ground is let for November 9th for a monster floral fete, and one day towards the end of the same month t ;the Horticultural Society, who a.e go>ing to erect their large show teat on the ground. These two days will mean «£2 revenue to the club. During the year - I have had the trees and shrubs attended to, :> part of the hedge cut, and also a much needed alteration made, by having a new urinal built away from the pump and the scoring tent. Altogether, I think wo have d me very well, and that this year we are going to do far better still. In reply to questions, about the rent for use of the ground for volunteering and other purposes, the Secretary explained that the section was leased to Mr Gates for grazing only, and that the Club received the fees*charged for jts use. The report and balance were adopted. The following gentlemen were electe I office bearers : For- the njs'.tion of President, Dr Deck and M • Symes were nominated. A so iw of hands secured the position f >r Mr Symes. Messrs Holyoake, R Rankin, T. G. 15 "ugham, Maney, Gilbert, and Jeiikirs were elected Vice Presidents. Mv Hall proposed that the number of Vice Presidents be reduced to three. This was seconded by Mr L. Manoy and upon being put to the meeting was lost. Mr G. W. Jenkins, amidst applause, was unanimously elected Secretary and Treasurer. O immittee: Messrs L. Manoy, L. Biye--, Stewart, Greensil, H. Boyce : n 1 toe Secretary ex offic'o.

Practice Captain: Mr Lionel Boyes. The members present selected Mr Boyes for the position without hesitation, or dissent, it being considered that as he lies close to the ground, and is very often at the practices, no better choice could be made. Messrs H. Boyce and L. Boyes were appointed delegates to the Cricket Association. Tbe subscription was fixed at five shillings for adults, and two shillings and sixpence for boys under 16 ; payment of the s-ame to c m t'tute membership. It was decided to enter the Club on the junior hst for the ensuing season. Mr Manoy proposed, and Mr Hall seconded, That Mr Macfarlane be requested to act as Umpire, and that he be thanked for his past services. Carrie d un anim o usly. It was resolved to have practices on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and evenings ; to open the season on the 2nd October- ; and to invite the Rivvaka Club to play a friendly game on that date hi I»i tueka.. „ The Secretary, Mr Jenkins, was accorded a. htarty wte of than; s for his past services. Similar votes were given t > the officers of the Club and to the Chairman, Mr Gilbert for presiding at the meeting.