FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2256, 29 March 1886, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WAiitARAr-A Rugby Football Union. A meeting of delegates representing the various Football Clubs in the Wairarapa was held on Saturday evening last at tho Marquis of Normanby Hotel, Cartorton, to discuss the advisability of forming a Rugby Football Union in the Wairarapa. The delegates present were Messrs McKenzie, O'Connor, Wickerson (Masterton), Seed, Ewen, Dompsey, (Carterton) Jackson, Webster, and Beard, (Greytown). Mr Seed was voted to tho chair. The Chairman having introduced the Bubject in a brief manner, Mr Wickerson proposed " That it was desirable, in the interest of football in the District, to form a Wairarapa Rugby Football Union.' In doing so, he said the that the time had arrived when the Wairarapa, with its several clubs, was sufficiently stnng to manage its own affairs, and he was euro that if a Union was formed in the Wak rarapa it would he conducive to the interests Football In the district. It was quite evident that as at present constituted the Wellington Union was a purely Wellington Institution, the preponderance of voting power held by them placing the country clubs at a 'disadvantage.,, By forming an independant Union, Cup matches tor senior and junior clubs and teams could be arranged which would cause great interest to be centred in tho games in the district, and the affairs of the Wairarapa could be dealt with as the circumstances of the Clubs warranted,, _ Mr McKenzie in seconding the resohit tion fully endorsed the opinions of the mover, and thought the footballers of the district were of one mind on the subject. Mr Webster yti very glafl tho movo-

Mont had beon made. He thought the past two or three seasons had shown that the • Wairarapa interest had not been studied by the Wellington Union, and ho was greatly in favor of the estabUshment of a Wairarapa Union. He dijflKt think the Wairarapa Union could expeltto find a place in Wellington provincial teaiiiß, but would have to fight their battles independently. He could not say ha was in favor of cup, matches. He thought they caused more ill-feeling, and play that ww anything but football had crept into the game since the cup matches had been introduced. . ■ Mr Jackson was in favor of and was of an opinion a Wairarapa Vnion would bo a success. ' . ' ' '. Mr Beard speaking in favor of the resolution drew attention to the manner in which the respective teams were selected, the Wairarapa members of the Match Committee being ignored. The Chairman said he was pleased to hear the delegates discuss the question so well._ It argued well for football in the district when so much interest was taken in it. With regard to the Wellington Union he could not speak much in thoh? favor of the treatment the Wairarap* clubs have received at their hands, and he felt confident that the Wairarapa clubs were able to form a strong Union, and manage their own affairs satisfactorily, The motion was then put and carried unanimously. ; The election of officers was then proceeded with:—Patron, W. O. Byijianan, Esq,, M.H.R ; President, G. Mtham, Esq., M.HiR.; Vice-President!};.!. % Russell, Esq., J.P., A; R. Bunny, Hiql, and W. Seed, Esq.; Secretary and'lVei. surer, Mr Jackson, It was decided to leave the. election of Match and Managing Committees ovei till next meeting. Mr Webster proposed, and Mr Dempsey seconded, " That immediate steps be taken to join the Rugby Union of England.''—Carried. Mr McKenzie proposed, and Mr Wickerson seconded, "That the Greytown delegates bo a subcommittee to draw up rules and arrange preliminaries, and report at a meeting of dolegatcs to bo held in a fortnight."—Cairied. The meeting then adjourned till Saturday, April 10th, with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Mastertnn Club opened the season on Saturday afternoon on the Park 'Oval, there being upwards of thirty players on the ground. Pelling and O'Connor picked sides. The former's team had rather the best of it after a verv fair nraotice.