DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 48

DRAUGHTS IT EMS.

Town v. Country. — Already there are indications that the annual fixture will this year be a big affair ; the Country players will no doubt strive hard to reverse last year's defeat. Please note specially time and place of match : Walker street Hall (same place aa the last two annual matches), on Friday night, June 9. Players are requested to be in the hall by 7.15, otherwise the committee will not be responsible if they are not paired. It will greatly facilitate matters if intending visitors send word to F. Hilliker, 184 Princes street. It is hoped that the match will be one of at leaßfc 40 boards — 80 players. '

Jordan in Christchurch. — The following 'is from the Christchurch Press of May 24: — Mr Jordan, the draughts champion, played about 30 games on May 16, and in one of these he was defeated by Mr W. T. T. Fleming, a, Christchurch player. A game with Mr S. .T. Crook, of Oamaru, was drawn, and the remainder were won by Mr Jordan. Yesterday, of about 30 games, two were drawn, one with Mr Crook, and the other with Mr Fleming. In all the otherß Mr Jordan won. He played aome 40 games of draughts on Friday afternoon and evening — five games simultaneously. He won 35 and drew 5, the players who succeeded in drawing with him being Messrs W. Brownlee, Havclock, Marlborough (three games), W. T. T. Fleming (one game). On T-hursday the following drew with Mr Jordan: — Messrs Brownlee (two games), W. Anderson (two games), and W. T. T. Fleming (one game). The champion played over 40 games on Saturday, six boards being kept going all the evening. Amongst his opponents were two young ladies. Mr W. Brownleo (Ha-vplock) secured two draws, and Messrs F. P. Shepheard (Woolston Library), W. Anderson and S. T. Crook, one draw each. Mr W. T. T. Fleming, of Christchurch, has made the best score up to the present against the champion, having played altogether nine games, with the result : Jordan 5 wins, Fleming . 1 win, and 4^ drawn games. There has been. a goodly mimber of visitors to the rooms since Mr Jordan's arrival.

The Draughts World and S. D. Q. E.— Messrs A. Bryson and Co.'s publications cameto hand by last mail with their customary punctuality. The Draughts World for April is, as usual, full of good things. The games department contains a continuation of the Freedman-Batters-by match games, and the first section of Messrs Swan and Adamson's " Cross " analysis. We learn from this number that the young Scottish expert, Alex. Battersby, who has finished his time as a compositor, has joined the staff of the Draughts World to assist in the mechanical work of that magazine and Mr Bryson in his other works. Mr Bryson leaves nothing undone that can add to the value of his publications. The Scottish Draughts Quarterly (March number) contains many of the best things published in various draughts columns this year. Instructive analyses that do not appear in any of the books are preserved for reference in the S. D. Q. R. The chief feature of the games department in this number is an elaborate analysis of the " Black Doctor," extending over several pages ; but every page of the magazine contains something first class, which, indeed, ia the standard of Bryson and Co.'s works. No draughts player can keep abreast of the game without these publications. A. Bryson. and Co,. 92 Trongate* Glasses