The annual meeting of the Shanghai Cricket Club was held on Thursday at the Shanghai Club. The President (Mr. J. L. Scott) occupied the chair, and there was a numerous attendance of members.
'Yhe Chairman sail that the business before the meeting was t" pass the Report and Accounts for the past year. He apologised for the lateness of the meeting, whic could not be held in March, as' usual, owing to the unavoidable absence of the Hon. Treasurer. As to their financial position, at the end of last year they were loft with a blanco in hand of Tls. 1,866 against Ts. 1,666.47 the previous year. The various items of receipts and expenditure did not show very much change from those of the preceding year. The amount of the subscriptions was Tls. 4,639.00 against Ts, 4,515.00 the former year. The rent was the same, and other small items were of no special moment. On the ex-Mis. 2,362.86 against Tls. 1,984.76. The penditure side the ground expenses were
Gear Account was Tls. 1,166.74 against Ts. 592.31, Advertising Account about the same as the previous year, and the Entertainment Account, tiffins and teas, Tls. 402.10 against Tls. 675.30. The Tennis prizes came to is. 117,02 against Tls. 79.39. The Interport Match Account was Tls. 893.78 against Tls,599.90, They owed the Recrention Fund Ts. 1,100.00 last year, and they had paid on that account Ts. 600.00, the debt at Ts. 500.00. In the Inter Account the miscellaneous items were about the same, and ey ended the season with abou' Tls. 200.00 more to their credit than in the vious year. He noticed that Mr. 'A. E. Lanning ind Mr. Curru hers headed the averages for batting and bowling, and Mr. Ranissy had won the Spring Singles and also the Open Championshi Challenge Cup, played on our ground. Their visit to Hongkong he thought he might describe as an unqualified success. At cricket, they beat the Straits by one wicket and Hongkong by seven. He was sure that the members would join in offering Mr. Farbridge and the individual members of the team their warmest thanks and congratulations. They hoped to have 'a representative team from Hongkong this autumn, and he felt confident that the team chosen to represent Shanghai at that time would again be successful_in Keeping for them the southern flag. He had also to congratulate Mr. Ramsay in Keeping up the credit of the Club so well in lawn tennis. In golf they did not meet with such success, but perhaps it was best not to sweep the board completely and Jeave our neighbours with no consolation whatever.
Mr, A. Fleet said that it was very satisfactory to find that the revenue of the Club was so well maintained. He was very sorry, however, to see such a large item on the other side for the interport cricket match, but it was not a matter for surprise because sine kind of intimation was given last year that the item for fares would be charged. He would urge the committee to seriously consider this question, whether this payment was to be made" year by year for if such a large proportion of the revenue was devoted to personal expenditure it was possible that there would be a proposal to reduce the annual subscription. There was one small item he would like to refer to there, and that was the outstanding account of Ts. 36, due since 1900.
The Chairman replied that the account was a good debt, and he believed it had Deen paid.
The Chairman, in replying to the ro-marks made by Mr. Fleet anent personal expenditure by members, said that the Committee wore in the hands of the members in the matter. The same thing was discussed at the last meeting of the Club, and he then remarked that it was for the members to instruct the Committee either one way or the other. In view of the extreme difficulty there was in getting together a team for Hongkong, the Committee considered, after they had heard the views of the members, that it was advisable to pay the fares. Unless they received a distinct instruction from the members to the contrary, the Committee were of opinion that the matter should be left alone. If no other member wished to make any remarks, he would propose that the Iteport and Accounts as presented should be passed.
it. P. F. Lavers seconded the proposition, which was unanimously carried.
The Chairman announced that the next business was the election of a General Committee for the ensuing season. Ten members had been nominated, and the number required was seven, Mr. A. Fleet said that if it was possible ho would add the name of Mr. H. J. Clark to the list, and also suggest that the old committee should be elected en bloc. 'They had served the Club well, and they had dono very good work, and he thought that they should be' reelected. Mr. Clark was not a partisan of cither Inwn' tennis or cricket players, as he played both games, and the speaker thought that his name should be adopted.
The Chairman said that the suggestion made by Mr. Fleet might be made as an amendment, "That the old members of the Committee, plus Mr. H. J. Class. be reelected."
Mr. J. H. O'Dowd pointed out that such a proceeding could not take place, as it was contrary to the rules, avd said that if the amendment was brought forward ho would propose the names of di ferent members for the list. beginning with the name of Mr. W. J. Tyack.
Erontually a ballot ras held of Messrs. H. J. Clark und W. 3. Ty being additional, and the result was the election of the following Committee: Messrs. J. Is. Scott, A. P. Wood. A. Jones, F. W. Potter, E. T. J. Blount, P. F. Lavers, and K.'J. McEuen.
The Balloting Committee was constitute ed as follows:—Messrs. C. Biron, £. T. Blount, E. T. Byrne, R. Carr, W.'B. Cheetham, R. C. Farbridge, A. Fleet, H. Godfrey, A. E. Jones, H. S. King, P. F. Lavers, K. J. McEwen, E. 0. Cumming, J. L. Scott, W. N. Fleming, N. B.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.