POVERTY BAT CRICKET CLUE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1106, 26 July 1882, Page 2

POVERTY BAT CRICKET CLUE.

Ax influential meeting of the above Club was held last evening in the Commercial Room of the Albion Club Hotel. Captain Winter in the chair. The Chairman explained that the principal business of the meeting was to discuss the question of converting the Recreation Rpsprvd into a Cricket Ground.

The following reports were then read:— Copy of a Minute of the Gisborne Borough Council passed at a Meeting held on Tuesday, 28th Feb., 1882. Proposed by Cr. Brown, seconded by His Worship the Mayor—“ That a Committee to consist of Crs. Townley, Lewis and Somervell be formed for the purpose of meeting the Cricket Club to confer with them, and bring up a report at the next meeting.” Carried. Copy of Committee’s Report. The Committee of the Poverty Bay Cricket Club respectfully request that the Recreation Grounds be vested in the Committee of the Poverty Bay Cricket|Club for a|term of fivejyear or for twelve months with the understanding that the vesting shall be renewable for the above term, provided that the Cricket Club shall carry out what they now proposed to do. Proposals. —To thoroughly drain the ground ; to keep all the fences in proper repair ; to protect the trees and shrub© that are now planted, or planted hereafter ; to level and turf as much ground as may be required for Cricket purposes; to keep the whole of the ground in good order for recreation purposes.

Conditions. —That in return for the above the Cricket Club Committee shall have full control over the ground. That in the event of Cricket Matches being held on the ground, the Cricket Committee may be allowed to make reasonable charges for admission, and for the privilege of selling refreshments, etc. That in the event of Committees of other Sports requiring the use of the ground for recreation purposes the Cricket Club Committee may be allowed to make charges as above, provided that they shall retain one-half only, of the proceeds of gates and privileges. In the event of the Council finding it necessary for public reasons or purposes to take the management of the ground out of the hands of the Cricket Club Committee, before the expiration of the five years, a valuation of improvements done, shall be made and the Cricket Club shall receive a fair compensation from the Council for any loss that they may sustain. That the Cricket Club shall properly plant a live hedge of box thorn round the ground during the ensuing season, the Borough Council finding the plants. That the ground shall be always open to schools, except when specially required for matches, or sports or exhibitions. At a meeting on the 14th March the above report was adopted on the motion of Cr. Tutohen, seconded by Cr, Somervell,

Report of Committee appointed to prepare Estimate of Cost of Converting the Recreation Reserve into a Cricket

In accordance with a resolution passed at a meeting of this Club held on Wednesday evening last, your Committee have examined the Recreation Ground, with a view of having it put into proper order for cricket, and think that before this can be done a considerable amount of money must necessarily ba expended. They would suggest that an area of five chains by three chains be properly drained, also that the main drain through the swamp bo deepened and cleared out. They would also suggest for the purpose of obtaining a good, match, and practice wickets, laying down about a quarter of an acre in turf. Your Committee have made a rough estimate of the proposed improvements, which is as follows i—--3330 Tiles @£s per 1000, say £l6 10 0 60 Chains Labor @os 12 10 0 2 Loads Manuka for bottom of

Drains ... 3 0 0 Carting Tiles at say £2 per 1000 610 0 Turfing 2J chains by 1 60 O 0 £9B 10 o Extras 20 0 0 £llB 10 0 In order to provide ways and means for raising the above mentioned sum, your Committee would suggest that of course as much as possible te obtained by private and public donation, and should thia prove inadequate to tho amount required, a Committee be appointed with authority to make such arrangements as they should think fit with one of the Banks ; this doubtless could be done by getting certain members of the Club to guarantee repayment of any sums so borrowed.—G. J. Winter,

It was proposed by Mr D. Marchie, and seconded by Dr. Leggatt, and carried, that the report of the committee re improvements be adopted, and that the committee be impowerod to proceed with the work at once. Dr Leggatt proposed, and it was seconded by Mr Nolan, that a subscription list be opened. This was decided to be done, and the Chairman informed the meeting that he knew of one gentleman who would, if satisfied that arrangements would be carried out properly, put down his name for £lO.

About £25 was subscribed by those present. Mr E. K. Brown moved—

That this meeting shall now authorise the Committee already appointed to interview Mr Mark Davies and make arrangement with him to undertake the care of the ground. Mr Davies to have the privilege of squatting on the S.W. corner of the reserve, having for his own use for the term that the Committee of the Club may have power over the ground, a quarter of an acre of the ground, in consideration of which he shall look after the enclosure, keeping tho fences in repair, and the gates locked after dark, keep out stray horses and cattle, and protect the trees. This was seconded by Mr Murohie, and carried. The chairman suggested that the question of the advisability of securing a professional bowler might be discussed. He had been speaking to Mr Ball, and that gentleman would in the event of the club engaging a bowler who was a practical gardener, give him employment during the hours his professional services were not required. What was really wanted was a man who could bowl straight on the wicket. They did not so much require fancy twists and breaks, but good straight bowling.

The Chairman’s suggestion opened a discussion in which nearly all present took part, some thinking that a man working hard up to the moment he was required, would not be so good as one who had some easier occupation. All agreed, however, that a bowler would give cricket an impetus, and that subscriptions would come in much more readily if people could visit the ground with the certainty of finding some one upon whom they could depend on making them look to the defence of the wicket. During the past seasons anyone desirous of practising might possibly find that the only other person on the ground was a most indifferent bowler, and perhaps only one bull in a dozen would bo sent in straight. It was certain that there

would be more practice by cricketers if sueh a man were procured. Eventually Dr. Leggatt volunteered to write to Mr Wardell, the Secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club, in order to find out if lie could secure a really good straight bowler, and on what terms.