CRICKET.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 100, 25 September 1874, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE PROJECTED VISIT OF A VICTORIAN ELEVEN. A meeting of cricketers was held last evening, at Warner's Commercial Hotel, to consider what arrangements could be made for a match with a Victorian eleven, and to elect a match committee. Mr Wynn Williams was voted to the chair. Mr A. Ollivier stated the object for which the meeting had been called; he regretted that Mr Stevens would be detained until a later hour, and said that this matter had been mooted last year, and Mr E. C. J. Stevens, who was going home, had promised to call upon Mr Handfield, hon sec to the M.C.C. Club, and other leading cricketers, which he did. Mr Handfield believed the idpa to be practicable, and told Mr Stevens that, if he was returning that way, he might see him again, and that the visit might then be arranged by correspondence. Mr Stevens on his return home again called on that gentleman, who promised to send the probable cost of the expense, but this had not been done j Several letters had passed relative to the proposed matches, and he would first read a letter received by Mr Wynn Williams from MrJ Rattray, president of the Dunedin Cricket Club. " Dunedin, August 26th, 1874. " H. Wynn Williams, Esq, Christchurch. " Dear Sir, —I ibelieve you are president of the Christchurch Cricket Club, as I am of the Dunedin one. On that ground I venture to address you about a proposed visit from a Victorian eleven to New Zealand, which was mooted from this side laßt year, but came to nothing, and which has been mooted again this year by Mr Runting, secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club, who appears to think an invitation from New Zealand would be cordially received there. He does not Bay on what terms a Victorian team would come down; but, no doubt, as several of them would be professionals, a considerable payment must be offered. You will see by the enclosed memo, what we think here should suffice. We reckon on drawing about £SO for the gate ground, and getting £SO subscribed in guineas by admirers of the game. Our ground is, unfortunately, a public park, or we could reckon on £2OO from gate money for such a match. May I beg of you to have the memo. I enclose considered by your leading cricketera, and to favour me with a reply at your earliest convenience. Mr Beal goes to Melbourne by the Tararua on the 31st inst., and if we can send to him by the succeeding steamer a joint proposition to tender to Mr Runting, the matter may be definitely arranged before the end of September. I quite think a visit of this sort would stimulate cricket in the two provinces as much as a big English affair, and it has the advantage of admitting of a return visit by-and-bye. Mr Runting says the time which a team could give for the trip would be, at the most, five weeks. From annexed calculations of their time-table, they can scarcely play in any other province if they play Canterbury and Otago. " Yours truly, "J. Rattray." Mr Ollivier then read the following:Probable Time Table.—Team leave Melbourne, say per Alhambra, February Ist; arrive at Dunedin, February 7th ; play Dunedin, February 10th, 11th, and 13th ; leave Dunedin, February 14th ; arrive at Christchurch, February 15th; play at Christchurch, February 18th, 19th, and 20th ; leave Christchurch, say per Otago, February 22nd ; leave Hokitika, February 26th; arrive at Melbourne, March 4th. Suggestions for a visit from a Victorian team of cricketers to Otago and Canterbury. —Messrs Beal, Mears, and Rattray to be a committee for undertaking all arrangements for the match at Dunedin, and for selecting the Otago team. They to correspond with the Canterbury committee, and to arrange with them a joint invitation to be sent to Melbourne. The invitation to be something like this : To be addressed to Mr Hunting, of the Melbourne Cricket Club, inviting a Victorian eleven to come over in January, 1875, the eleven to include at least, five of the eighteen who played against Grace's eleven at Melbourne in December, 1873 ; the eleven to play a three days' match at Dunedin against fifteeu of Otago, and a three days' match at Christchurch against of Canterbury. Otago committee to give Victorian team £IOO towards their expenses fund on the day of their arrival in

Dunedin ; Canterbury committee to do the like on the day of their arrival in Christchurch. . On this subject Mr Stevens had received a letter from Mr Handfield as follows: " Melbourne Cricket Club, " 7th September, 1874 " My Dear Sir, —Adverting to our conversation on the subject of a Victorian Eleven visiting New Zealand about January or February next, I may inform you that I have spoken to several cricketers and others connected with the management of clubs about the proposal, but it has not been very warmly taken up as yet, and before I can move further in the matter I must know definitely what arrangements will be made for the expenses of the team, the route they will be required to take, and the actual period of absence from this colony. " Yours truly, " W. H. Handfield, Hon sec. " The matter is complicated by our having in all probability to send three elevens from home this season, —W. H. H. " E. C. J. Stevens, Esq., " The Club, Christchurch, New Zealand." Mr Rattray had telegraphed to Mr Stevens, " Alhambra sails hence to morrow, what are we to write Beal about cricket." It would be for the meeting to say if it was considered desirable to enter into negotiations with Dunedin to arrange for a visit of the Victorian eleven to the province. Mr Sweet said that Mr Fowler wished him to apologise for his non-attendance that night through business, but as far as he (Mr Sweet) knew, Mr Fowler was in favor of the Victorian eleven paying a visit to the province. Mr Stevens here entered the room and said that when he was in Melbourne he asked Mr Handfield whether the M.C.C. would send an eleven between the 12th of January and the 12th of February next, to play first in Dunedin against Otago, and afterwards in Christchurch against Canterbury, and then against a united eleven of the two provinces on the Canterbury ground. He (Mr Handfield) undertook to write, stating the amount required to defray the expense of the Victorian eleven, and said that no doubt they would send an eleven if we would send one in turn to Victoria ; but that, if not, they would send one if the expenses were paid. He (Mr Stevens) had hoped that Mr Handfield would have mentioned an amount. In passing through Dunedin he saw Mr Rattray, and found that that gentleman was on the point of sending to Mr Beal (who was in Melbourne) instructions to arrange a match with Mr Runting, secretary to the South Melbourne Cricket Club, on the basis of the proposal already read by Mr Ollivier. It would be seen that the Otago managers thought of an " odds " match—fifteen of Otago being played. He (Mr Stevens) remarked to Mr Rattray that he doubted whether Canterbury would play an " odds " match. The proposed stipulation that Victoria should play at least five of the eighteen who played against Mr Grace's eleven could not be accepted by Victoria, for the reason that their match engagements would prevent it. This circumstance Mr Handfield refers to in his letter. After reaching Christchurch he got the telegram from Mr Rattray which had been read, and he replied that he (Mr Rattray) had better instruct Mr Beal to find out what sum Victoria would require as expenses for coming to play the three matches which he had mentioned. Mr Handfield had told him that one professional bowler would certainly accompany the team. He would state that his own view was distinctly against an "odds" match so far as Canterbury was concerned or as regarded any united match. [Hear, hear.J A discussion of a desultory nature took place on the probable cost of a visit from the Victorian team; one gentleman expressing his opinion that about £2OO ought to cover it, as the team would be sure to get return tickets at single fares. Mr Ollivier said that ho did not think the meeting could do anything until'they had an approximation before them of what the trip would cost,, as some of the team might come and pay their own expenses. A gentleman in the meeting went into calculations, and showed that the expenses of ,the team would reach at least £3OO, making £l5O for" Canterbury to raise. He considered that they might calculate on taking £SO at the gates during the matches. , Mr Olliver moved the following resolution : —" That a committee consisting of Messrs Wynn Williams, B. C. J. Stevens and E. Fowler be appointed to-ascertain if a Buffieient sum of money can be raised to provide Canterbury's proportion of the expense of a visit from a Victorian eleven, and that they be authorised to communicate with the Dunedin committee, and make any arrangements they may think fit, and to report to a general meeting of cricketers at as early a date as possible." Mr J. H. Bennett seconded the resolution, which was carried; A ballot then took place for the election of a match committee, when the following gentlemen were chosen :—Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, C. C. Corfe, E. Fowler, W. Wynn Williams, A. Ollivier, T. S. Sweet, and J. Wood. Mr Stevens said that as the committee had been appointed to do certain work, it would be as well that they knew what they were to do. The Otago men wished an "odds" match, and they ought to decide that point that evening ; also whether the cricketers in the province wished that a match should be played against a Canterbury eleven, and one against a united eleven. He would propose—" That any match either against a Canterbury eleven, or united eleven, be played on even terms.'' Mr Sweet seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Stevens proposed—" That if possible it is desirable that a match should be played on this ground against a Canterbury eleven, and if possible against a united eleven, to loe taken from the Otago and Canterbury Elevens, and to be selected by the captains of the two teams." He thought the team Bhould be selected on its cricketing merits, and he did not think that any persons were so likely to select the team on its merits, and apart from local prejudice, as the captains. [Hear, hear.] Mr Ollivier had very great pleasure in seconding the resolution. That was the proposal when a match was contemplated in 1868, and he believed with Mr Rattray that a team from Victoria would do more to improve cricket in New Zealand than a visit from the All England Eleven, as not only would the expense be very heavy, but as on the last occasion of their visit there would most likely be a great deal of cricket before the match, and none fur some time after* wards,

The resolution was put and carried. Mr J. Mclntyre proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Stevens for the trouble he had taken in getting up a match with a Victorian eleven, which was carried by aoclamation. Mr Stevens, in reply, said he was very much obliged to the meeting for the vote, and would always be very happy to do everything in his power in the cause of the game. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.