PROPOSED VISIT OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4851, 9 October 1876, Page 3

PROPOSED VISIT OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

On Saturday evening a largely-attended, meeting of'cridketers and others interested in cricket was held at the Post Office Hotel to consider the question of raising moans to defray the expenses of' a visit to Wellington of the All England Eleven. Mr. G. Hunter, M.H.R., vice-president of the Wellington Cricket Association, took the chair, and apologised for the absence of Mr.; Pearce, M.H.R., who, the Chairman stated, had before the date of the'meeting was fixed contracted another engagement. ' ! The following report was read from the committee appointed a week or so ago to make enquiries:—’ Gentlemen, —Your committee have the honor to report that they have visited the Hutt racecourse, where a suitable ground might be obtained, but after meeting Mr. Bennett, the agent for the English cricketers, and visiting with him both the Hutt and Basin Reserve, they recommend that the match i e played on the latter, he having expressed a strong desire that it should be so on account of the central, position. Mr. Bennett does not think it necessary to cover in the ditch; and is of opinion that the ground will bo suitable. The sum required to put the Basin Reserve in proper order would be £l5O, other expenses £328, making a total of £478. , Your committee have seen Mr. Buchanan, one of the trustees of the reserve, who Informed them that the trustees had no funds available except the sum of £25. due from the Corporation, which could probably be expended on the ground. ■ Mr. Bell has seen the Mayor, who informed him that he (the Mayor) was personally opposed to any expenditure of Corporation moneys at present on the Basin Reserve. The Mayor also stated that all sums received from reserves had been expended on reserves; but that it was considered that rents from the town bolt ought not to be spent on the Basin Reserve, which was practically, monopolised by the cricketers. The Mayor suggested that a letter should be written to him officially on the subject, asking him to lay the request of the cricketers before the Council at its meeting on Thursday next. Your committee recommend that this suggestion be complied with,- and that a sura of £l6O be asked for, to go towards the expenses in connection with this match. ... Your committee have obtained from Mr. Bennett the precise terms upon which the English cricketers will play hero, viz.' Ist. That Wellington hears its share of the £3OO to be guaranteed by the different provinces. 2nd. That the ground and grand stand be handed over to the Englishmen, and they be allowed to make such charge for admission as they may deem lit. (This lias been agreed to by the Trustees and President of the Caledonian Society.) , 3rd, That they have the entire right of lotting booths, kc., on the ground for the match. K 4th. That three days’ play bo guaranteed. : sth. That on his (Mr. Bennett’s) return from Auckland during the coming week an agreement bo signed by himself on behalf of the English cricketers, and by two gentlemen on behalf of Wellington as a guarantee of the fulfilment of the above conditions. In closing this report your committee recommend that Air. Bennett’s terms bo agreed to—that a public subscription list be forthwith opened, and that a committee be at once appointed to successfully carry out the arrangements In connection with the visit of the English team. On the motion of Mr, Evans the report waa adopted. Mr. Arsittaoe, in reply to • a question from the Chairman, having explained that in case the whole of the money for improving the ground were not- raised, that would not put the club in any difficulty with Mr. Bennett, the contract being to make the ground as good as possible. The estimate was high perhaps, but it waa better to be a little over the mark. 'j Mr. Moorhouse moved that subscription lists.be at once opened, and in a short speech spoke of his experience of the visit of .the All England team to Canterbury a few years ago as teaching him - that wch visits greatly im-

proved local cricket and aroused the interest of the public in the game.. . j _ The motion was. agreed to, and it was resolved to appoint a committee to carry, .out the arrangements; the following gentlemen forming such committee:—His Honor the Superintendent; his Worship the Mayor, Hon./Major Atkinson, Hon. -W. B. Rhodes, Col. Moule, Messrs.’E.* Pearce, M.H.R.,G; Hunter, M.H. R,, J. Buchanan,H . D. Bell, J. Dransfield, Levin, Mace, I G. Orawford,« Moorhouse, M.H.R.', Ollivier, E. Dickson; A. Young, Bromley, J’ ; M. Porrieiv' : Gillon, Marten, Werry, Armitage, Knapp, Wills, Russel], avid the secretaries of the various clubs, Mr. Mace being requested to act ‘as hon. treasurer, and Mr. Armitage as hon. secretary. -, , ;j It having been' stated. that Mr. Bennett required an agreement to be signed by some persona on behalf of Wellington, Messrs. Bell and Armitage were requested to sign on behalf of Wellington. : ' The hon. secretary was authorised to write to the Mayor for a grant, and it was decided to call the first meeting of the committee for Tuesday evening.; ,' : ; The meeting then adjourned, the usual compliment haying heen paid to the Chairman. .