CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5159, 4 October 1877, Page 2

CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting o£ the Cricketers’ Association was held last evening at the Pier Hotel, Mr. J. A. Salmon in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The United and Telegraph Clubs were admitted members of the association.

Thefollowingreport was read and adopted:— “ Gentlemen, —I have the honor to submit for your consideration the following report of the doings of the association during the past season :

“ It will be seen by the treasurer's balancesheet that there was a credit balance at the bank at the beginning of the season of Us. fid , and that the total receipts amount to £4B 17s. fid., of which amount 21 guineas was for club subscriptions, and £23 4s. fid. for rent of ground, which was considerably more than was received the previous season from the same sources.

“ This impetus to cricket is attributable to the visit of the All England Eleven. Unfortunately the weather prevented the display of talent that might otherwise have been shown, both by our own men and the Englishmen. It is gratifying, however, to state that the visit caused a spirit of emulation to arise among the different clubs, as has been evidenced by the large number of matches played during the past season. “ The balance at the hank to the credit of tbe association is £3 18s. 3d., but the outstanding liabilities are pretty heavy, and amount to £lB lls»

“At Christmas time the association sent a team to Nelson to play the annual interproviucial match, and although beaten (it may be mentioned in extenuation that the team was a very indifferent oue), they gave a good account of themselves.

“ Great improvements were made to the ground prior to the visit of the All England Eleven, the holes in the fielding ground being all filled in, which greatly added to the safety of players’ limbs. “It is to be regretted that the trustees in granting the use of the reserve to the football clubs did not prevent them from using the centre portion, after your association spending so much money on its improvement. The damage done has been considerable, and by clubs who contribute nothing towards the maintenance of the ground, which I consider to be very unjust ,to us. Under these circumstances, I would suggest that a request be sent to the trustees to allow the association for the future to enclose the centre portion of the reserve during the off season. “On the 29th of August last a committee was appointed to draft .rules for the better guidance of the association, which I shall have the pleasure of submitting to you this evening. “ Some correspondence has taken place between tbe association, and Mr. Conway, of Melbourne, with reference to a visit of Australian cricketers, which will also be laid before you.

“ In conclusion, I have to congratulate the association on its prospects for the coming season, and hope to bring cricket to a higher standard of excellence than has hitherto been attained, and that the cricketers of Wellington will thus be enabled to hold their own against all comers.”

A letter was read from Mr. Conway in reference to the visit of the Australian team.

Mr. Haughton moved that the secretary be instructed to write to Mr. Conway stating that the association had reconsidered their former decision, and would now offer the Australians half the gross proceeds of gates,, booths, stand, &c. The former offer was the net proceeds only. The sub-committee appointed at the previous meeting to draft rules for the guidance of the association, submitted them to the present meeting, by whom they were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the current year : President, E. Pearce, Esq.; vice-presidents,G. Hunter, Esq., M.H.R., and W. S. Moorhouse, Esq., M.H.R.; treasurer, Mr. Salmon (in place of Mr. Bryce, resigned) ; hou. secretary, Mr. Armitage; committee, Messrs. Kennedy, Blaeklock, I. J. Salmon, Kirker, Munt, Tustin, Buckland, Grey, T. Buchanan, J. Staples, Bromley,. Cheeseman, Dixon, and Mace.

A match committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Buchanan, Buckland, Bromley, Dixon, and Mace, to watch the play during the season, and to select players for interprovincial and intercolonial matches.

The secretary of the association was instructed to write to the secretaries of football clubs, asking them to contribute to the expense of putting the ground in order, as they had the free use of it during the season, and had cut it up considerably.

It was decided that the uniform of the association should be blue and white. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and the chairman having been put and passed, the meeting terminated.