Cricket 1884

FEB. 28,1884. CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 23 Eleven, in which are portraits of old Clark, Alfred Mynn, old Lilly, 0. C. Pell, Fuller Pilch, Hillyer, Guy, Sewell, George Parr, Martingell, all of whom I knew so well, and old Denison, the slow bowler, a queer old stick, with his white hat and black band. In a frame, side by side, are George Parr and George Marshall (who both were from Nottingham). There is the original water-colour drawing of the match played at Sydney in 1859, which Victoria won by two wickets ; and another with photos of the players in that match. The colour is much faded, but it is a faithful representa­ tion of the Sydney Domain in its then state. Tom Wray had the photos done in Sydney, and I think he ordered 100 copies. I won­ der where they all are now. There is a photo of the M.C.C. Eleven of ’65, and I fancy as strong an eleven as the club ever had. The portly form of poor old Biddle is in the centre ; then such as E. W. Wardill, T. J. D. Kelly (who made most runs last season and most wickets—999 runs and 77 wickets), Edwin Fowler, Tom Wills, Jack Conway, Sam Cosstick, Caffyn, George Tait, Ac—-some good men (when bowling was bowling, not the trash too often seen now); a good photo of the Surrey Eleven, with poor old Fred Miller, looking very cocky, in the centre; a photo of Parr’s Eleven, with Marshall by Parr’s side in the centre; a splendid pinto of Ivo liligli’s team. I have played several times with Mr. Bligh’s father, the present Earl of Darnley, who was at Christ Church, Oxford, at the time I was at Trinity, Cambridge. There is a very interesting and good photo of Wills, J. M, Bryant, G. Marshall, Tom Butterworth, and Gideon Elliott. Tom Butterworth was, I think, without excep­ tion, the best longstop I ever saw, and a fine little fellow he was; but, alas, he has joined the great majority, like so many others of the old lot. My own photo, as captain of the first Victorian Eleven that ever played at Sydney, is honoured with a place in the secretary’s room, underneath the frame con­ taining the signatures of the Princes Edward and George when they were made honorary members of the club. So I am in good com­ pany. They laid the foundation-stone of the pavilion, and the inscription recording the same is on the stone at the east corner as you pass from the ladies’ reservo to the front of the pavilion. There are two or three interesting photos presented by Mr. Kelly, and in large frames are several good photos of men who have done very much for cricket and athletic sports, sucli as Mr. H. C. Harrison, Mr. W, H. Hsndfield, Mr. D. C. MArthur, Dr. Ford, Mr, Alex. Fraser, but I missed Tom Hamilton. Mr. Barlow is, however, there, and much the club is in­ debted to him and to Mr. Alex. Fraser, as they were faithful “ guardians of the purse ” when money was not so plentiful as now. Mr. W. H. Hull is there—another old identity, who always looked after the L.S,D. A very pleasant half-hour may be spent amongst these old faces. The club, as I remarked, has made very rapid progress lately ; in fact, ever since the big stand was built, which was due chiefly to Mr. T. J. D. Kelly’s advocacy, and the club has been very lucky in securing a first-class secre­ tary in the person of Mr. Benjamin Wardill, who^e business tact and ability have been •of immense value to the club. The pillars in front of the big stand are to be removed, •and light iron ones substituted, so that the view of the play will no longer be interrupted. The stand on the Association Ground at Sydney is a very good one, but I think, on the whole, I shall prefer that of Melbourne when the above alteration has been effected. A ladies’ stand, to cost some £2,000, is to be built in the ladies’ reserve between the pavi­ lion and the grand stand, and thus a great want will be satisfied, as in wet weather ladies have often a very bad time of it when the grand stand and pavilion are crowded with members and people. When I visited the ground lately, the first time since the late memorable match, Victoria v, England, it was looking so fresh and green, and the elms planted by the first England eleven were in fine full leaf. What a pity the names of the planter of each tree were not kept; now no one knows which is Stephenson or which is Caffyn, or which is anyone else, and I doubt if anyone ever will know, for although I saw them planted, I could not solve the mystery now. There are two nice elegant bars on the opposite side of the ground to the pavilion, at least one is complete, and the other soon will be. These of course at grand matches are a great public convenience. I had almost forgotten that now popular game, lawn-tennis ; there are two excellent courts at the right hand of the pavilion, and another is being laid out. I do not see much myself in lawn-tennis, although very fond of watching the real game played in the old country, but it is a very popular game with our Victorian youth, and as ladies take much interest in it, no doubt it will long continue to be so. Such briefly is the ground of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and when its financial position is considered, and that it comprises within its ranks the most influential men in society, I think it may justly be regarded as “ the Marylebone” of Australia. I should add that the committee of the M.C.C. were equally fortunate as regards a secretary when they secured the services of “ Mac,” as he is called—M Alpine is his name—as curator, a good-natured, hard-working Scotchman, who served his time on the East Melbourne ground, and has been in his present place some five or six years. Mac is indeed the champion ground maker, and his wickets are perfection, and his heart and soul are in his work, although his soul is at times sorely vexed at the tremendous wear and tear his beloved wickets have to sustain. From old associations, I dearly love the old ground myself, and I feel pleased to think it has attained its present premier position among the cricket grounds of Australia. B oyle & S cott ’ s A ustralian G uide for 1882-83, just published. Can be had of W. B. Wright, at the office of C ricket , price 2s. 6d. B romley C lub . —The annual general meeting of this club was held at the Bell Hotel, Bromley, on Jan. 30. Thirty-one matches were played last season, of which sixteen were won, eight lost, and seven drawn. The highest average for batting was obtained by Mr. W. B. Wilson, who played in 21 innings, and made an average of 15.2, The same player also made the hiphest individual score (eighty-seven runs, not out), for which he was presented with a bat. Mr. H. Cosens was very successful in bowling, and took forty-five wickets at a cost of 4.3 runs each. The report and accounts were adopted, and Mr. Charles Lloyd Norman was elected president in the place of Sir Edward H. Scott, deceased. Mr. J. A . S. Jones was re-elected captain, and Mr; H. Cosens vice-captain. It was decided to advertise for a ground man and a professional bowler. THE LAW CLUB. The annual Smoking Concert in connec­ tion with the Law Club was held at Ander- ton’s Hotel on the 8th inst. Mr. Eomer, Q.C„ was to have presided, but was unable to be present owing to the death of a near relative, and in his absence the chair was taken by Mr. E. E. Webster, Q.C. The company numbered nearly 200, among whom were Messrs. Aspinall, F. O. Crump, J. Stirling, E. T. E. Besley, F, Cockburn, E. W, Williamson, H. K. Avory, E. T. Gurdon, N. C. Bailey, C. H. W- Beresford, AV. O. Hewlett, G, E, Waller (captain), W . O. Danckwerts, W. H. Humphreys, J. H. Tiekell, E. G. Gallop, A . G. Kenshaw, W. Hayes (hon. sec.), C. Ford, and many others known in the cricket or legal world, or both. The programme was of a varied character, and admirably executed, a num­ ber of glees being sung by a party of the Moray Minstrels, the recitations, songs, and violin and flute solos being given by Messrs. Conratti, Bucknill, James Kumford, Wood­ ley, and others. The most noticeable per­ formances were a recitation of the trial scene from “ Pickwick,” by Mr. H, F. Dickens (son of the author), which was delivered with a point commending itself especially to the legal minds present, and a topical song compoied for the occasion and sung by Mr. J. O. Lewis Coward. During the evening Mr, Webster addressed the audience, shortly recounting the doings of the club last season, and announced that 20 new members had just given in their names to him. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman, pro­ posed by Mr. E. W . Williamson, recalling many occasions in years gone by when he and Mr. Webster had met on the old school ground in Charterhouse Square. The chair­ man, in responding, said he had loved cricket for 35 years, and he could never do otherwise than take the keenest interest in it. Baron Pollock, the president of the club, wrote to say he was still in the doctor’s hands, and was, therefore, unable to ba present. H a m p sh ire C o u n ty C lu b . —A meeting of the members of this club was held at the George Hotel, Winchester, on Jan. 30., under the presidency of Mr. W. W . B. Beasley, M.P., the president, to receive the report of the sub-committee, appointed to consider the best means of obtaining a county ground. The report stated that the committee had been iu negotiation with Sir Edward Hulse, Bart., for eight acres of land at Bannisters’ Paik, Southampton, a lease of which would be granted for 28 years at a rental of £60 per year, a pavilion to be erected within six months from the time of the signing the lease, at an estimated cost of £600, this, with the cost of the fencing, &c., being put down at £850. It was decided that the sums re­ quired should be raised at a reasonable rate of interest, and a guarantee fund formed. Lord Northeslc said he would become a guarantee for £100. The president, Mr. A. F. Jeffreys, and Mr. G. H. Longman agreed to have their names inserted in the lease as lessees, and it was decided to write to Mr. Chamberlayne, Mr. A. II. Wood, and Mr. J. D. Lewis to follow their example. Several subscriptions towards the expenses were promised, and a sub. committee was appointed to carry on negotiations with Sir Edward Hulse with the view of settling the matter, and to re- port to a meeting to be held about Easter, Next Issue of CRICKET will lbe published Thursday, March 27.