THE TOWN BOARD AND CRICKET CLUB.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 123, 14 June 1876, Page 2

THE TOWN BOARD AND CRICKET CLUB.

What may be considered, to use the words of Sir Lucius oTrigger of happy memory, a very prcily quarrel as it stands, lias arisen between the Town Board and the Patea Cricket Club on the question of the portion of the Recreation Reserve fenced in by the chib for cricketing purposes. A joint committee composed of equal numbers of Board and Club members had a conference, in order to come to terms, but could not succeed in doing so. Subsequently, if we arc rightly informed, the club communicated with the Government, who in turn communicated with the Board, and the latter, after furnishing all particulars of pievions negotiations to Captain Wray, propose (o call a meeting of ratepayers to express an opinion on the matter’ The terms submitted by the Cricket Club arc as follows : 1. That the Town Board be requested to. lease block 44 to the trustees, vix„ Rev. A. Dascnt, Dr. Croft, and Mr R. C. Torment, to be held by them for a term of 21 years at a nominal rental. 2. That the Patea Cricket Club, havingbeen in existence four years, and having formed the ground, be recognised as having a prior right to other clubs, and any other club being formed would have to apply for permission to use the ground to the trustees, and to pay any sum equitable, such money to be spent on the ground. 3. That the trustees be allowed to sublet the ground for sheep. 4. That the trustees be allowed to charge gate money not exceeding- Is. per bead, on the occasion of important matches. Bart of this to be banded to the club playing the match, and part to be expended in improving -the ground. 5. The trustees to have the sole management and control of the ground. G. In the event of the office of trustee becoming vacant, the committees of the clubs using the ground shall elect a gentleman to fill the vacancy, subject to the approval of the Town Board. On the other hand, the conditions offered by the Board arc—1. That the cricket ground remain in the possession of the Town Board for the present. 2. That the pitch now formed be considered the property of the Patea Cricket Club, for the lime the said club is in existence. 3. That other chibs be allowed to play on the ground, priority of application in all cases to have the preference. Tlie Town Board engage to keep the fences in repair. An alternative clause for the last ran as follows That the Patea Cricket Cricket Club be allowed to keep possession of the ground, without payment, for 12 months from the commencement of next season, on the same terms as at present. The sub-committee of the Cricket Club agreed to all but the first of those, but that would not be yielded, and, indeed, we hear that all have been rejected since the conference. How the dispute will be settled remains to be seen. At present it stands as above.