CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 88, 14 April 1930, Page 19

CHESS

THE WELLINGTON CLUB

'IVenty-two members, iuuludiug several of Wellington's most prominent players, were'present at the fifty-fourth annual generfil meeting of ihc Wellington Chess Club, which was held on Saturday evening at tho Gas Company Building, 61, Courterfuy place. Mr. W. Mackay (president) occupied the chair. Mr. \V. Toomatli (hon. secretary) presented the iifty-fourtli annual reiwrt, us follows:— Membership.—Our membership now ■ stands at 43 active and 13 honorary, this j being a slight improvement ou 'last year's figures. We regret the loss of Mr. W. Wring, a valued oflice-bcarcr who has made his home in Waimaugaroa, and of Mr. G. A. Hurley, 'who botli have been placed on the activo retired list. CJub Tournaments.—The annual tourney for the championship of the club was won by F. K. Kelling, who scored 8M: out of a possible 9, the second prize going to G. P. Anderson (li-3). Messrs. A. W. Gyles and G. Wigham, each with 5 wins, 3 louses, and one draw, tied for third place, and Bhould' therefore play oft for the third rung on the'club's ladder. The intermediate level tourney was won by J. C. P. Kirkwood, Messrs. H. J. Thompson and B. Gdugh dividing the second prize. The junior level tourney was won by Mr. C. S. B. Lambert. The "Pethcrick" handicap tourney is not yet completed. The three best scores are: A. W. Gyles, 12% wins, 1% losses; W. J. Fairburn, 12-2; and X S. Taylor, B^-1% (with It is gratifying to note that 18 ladder matches have been played during the season. Of these seven were won by challengers and 11 by defenders. The -Wellington League.—We again took part in the senior and junior teams tourneys of the Wellington Chess League, and have much pleasure in heartily congratulating the Ngaio Club on warning both competitions. We also congratulate Mr. A. W. Gyles; our representative in the champion-of-champions contest, on his success in again winning that competition. .Club Championship of New Zealand.— Our club succeeded in retaining this title, being successful in all' its telegraphic matches. Wins were scored in turn from the Auckland C.C. (10%-9%), from the Canterbury C.C. (13-7), and from the Otago C.C.' (9-7). Kind congratulations received from other centres are naturally greatly treasured. Chess Championship of New Zealand.— The thirty-ninth tourney to decide this title was very successfully carried out by the Wanganui Chess Club during the Christmas holidays. The championship was handsomely won by Mr. G. Gundersen, of Melbourne, who also holds the Victorian title. Mr. G. P. Anderson ably repres*ted our club, dividing fourth prize with Mr. J. A. Erskine, last year's champion. It is greatly regretted that Mr. A. W. Gyles was not able to compete on this occasion, but.we all hope to see him going strongly in New Zealand's next champion* ship tourney. Acknowledgments.—Our grateful thanks are tendered to Mr. G. P. Anderson for kindly donating a framed copy of Congress photo, also to the gentlemen in other centres who have umpired for us in telegraphic matches, to all who have assisted with donations, to all who have extended hospitality to our. representatives, and also to the Press of the City for valued reports given from time to time. • Finance. —From the balance-sheet presented by our hon. treasurer, Mr. C. S. B. Lambert, it will be seen that;there is a small loss on the year's transactions. The position is not a cause for uneasiness, but we are anxious to receive .payment of outstanding subscriptions at an early date, and also to increase our membership, which is 20 less to-day than it was 53 years ago. Mr. Lambert's fine work in thig executive office is greatly appreciated by your committee. Miscellaneous.—Mr. C. W. Tanner, one of our most popular members, who had for,many years done fine work as hon. secretary, of the N.Z. Chess Association, had to relinquish that office in July last through being incapacitated by a lengthy illness. It is gratifying to know that there has latterly been a marked improvement in his health. We are also pleased at recording, that Messrs. T. Fouhy, F. J. Brooker, and K. C. Sim have all recovered froni! their respective illnesses. Visits to our club-room by. Mr. M. E. Goldstein (four times champion of Middlesex), and by a che'seist from the "Kreuzer Emden," have been pleasant incidents of the year. A unique letter on our file of correspondence is a nice letter of thanks, written in German by the commander of the Emden. During the currency of the Wanganui Congress a pilgrimage was made' to the grave of the Hon. John Ballance, who was Prime Minister of New Zealand when he' died on 27th April, 1893,' aged 54 years. Mr. Ballance, who was one of the strongest players in this Dominion, was the second of the ten presidents that our club has had in the 54 years of its existence. ■ The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, several appreciative references being made to the valued work of Messrs. Tbomath and Lambert; the two executive officers. ..,.•''■ The following officers were elected for' the ensuing season: —Patron, Sir Harold Beauchamp, X.8.; president, W. Mackay; vice-presidents, F. K. Kelling, A: '£, Craven, E. S. Taylor, and G. Wigham; management committee, Messrs. T. Fouhy, G. P. Anderson, J. C. M'Crea, G. H. Hisnett, and F. Grady, With the officers of the club, ex officio; : match committee, Messrs. D. Purchas, E. S. Taylor, and J. C. M'Crea; delegates to the New Zealand Chess Association, A. W. Gyles and E. S. Taylor; delegates to the Wellington Chess League, A. T. Craven and J. L. Hardy; hon. auditor, A. W. Gyles; hon. librarian, D. Purchas; hon. treasurer, C. S, B. Lambert; hon. secretary, W. Toomath; hon. reporter and assistant hon. secretary, F. K. Kelling. , On the motion of Mr. W. E. Muson, it was decided to contribute £5 5s to the subsidy fund of the "Australasian Chess Review." His remarks eulogising this finely written monthly magazine, and urging the desirableness of joining with other clubs in keeping it going, were endorsed by Messrs. Mackay and Craven. Every effort is to be made to get the outstanding Petlierick tourney games played off as quickly as possible, so that all the club's prizes may bo presented with those won in other clubs when the league opens the 1930-31 season with the time-honoured North v. South fixture. Other matters that were brought up for consideration were referred to the incoming committee for necessary attention. Votes of thanks to last year's officers, and to Mr. Mackay for presiding, closed a very successful meeting.