CANTERBURY CHESS CLUB.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8932, 24 October 1894, Page 3

CANTERBURY CHESS CLUB.

The annual general meeting of this Club was held in the Club-room, the Chamber of Commerce, last evening. The President, Mr H. Hookham, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance. The Hon. Secretary (Mr Cant) read the annual report as follows :—Your Committee, in presenting the fifteenth annual report, have again to congratulate the Club on a year's steady progress. The membership roll keeps up to its standard, though, with " our abundance of accommodation, it is a matter for some regret that we had no great accession of new members. It is evident that there are in Christchurch many chess 1 players who are not members of our Club, and a little individual effort on- our part would possibly result in augmenting our list. Members are requested to keep this matter in view during the coming year. As you are aware, last year's tourneys - with sealed handicaps closed shortly after the annual meeting. Your esteemed President gained the distinction of beiug the Club champion for the year. Messrs Milner aud Angus carried off the prizes in the upper tourney, and Messrs John Connal and W. R. Cooke were the winners of tbe lower tourney. The thanks.. of the Club are due to Messrs Connal and Cooke for their generosity in returning the prize money to the Club. The New Zea* land Annual Championship Congress was played in Duuedin at Christmas time, when : your Club was again worthily represented by our President. Mr Hookham was not fortunate enough to secure a prize, but be was so close that, had he won his last game, he would have secured the championship. In accordance witb tbo wishes of the general meeting, a handicap tourney for the whole Club wai commenced in April, and has provided excellent practice all through the winter. Th*i handicapping may be said to have been good, for the result was uncertain until nearly all the games were played. Mr' Cresswell, who gained the first prize, improved wonderfully .during the progress of the tourney, and well deserved his success. Mr Eyre is to be congratulated on coming . in such a good second, playing as he did from scratch. Mr Anderson also thoroughly deserves his prize, for his play was of a very high order for so young a player. In addition to tbe tourney members have * been provided with match games against Linwood on two occasions, whilst the ' aides matches were again revived. A match by telegraph ■ ■ was played against the Wellington, Chess Club in September, when your representatives sustained a defeat, the first since 1884. It is to be hoped, however, that this reverse will have the-effect of spurring members on to greater effort and the defeat will be wiped out in the next encounter. Your Committee recently lost the valuable ser* ; vices of Mr J no. Connal, who resigned I through having removed out of town. The vacancy was not filled as it was so near tho annual meeting.: In conclusion your Committee would mention that the next Championship Congress will be held in Welling- - ton, and it is hoped our Club will be repre* sented by its best players. The: Northern players have the arrangements well in hand, and there is every prospeot of a suoceisful meeting, especially as:: it is confidently expected that the world's champion, Herr Lasker, will be in New Zealand at the time."'--.- '':'..:,'.; .'■.-'-. ..,.■,'■'-■• ''.t *:■■';

TheHoN. T__SASUB-_t (Mr Milner) read the balance-sheet, whioh showed receipts* £Sf 12s 4d, expenditure £43 19s 3d, credit balance £8 13s Id,

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. '

The election of officer! resulted is follows! —President, Mr H. Hookham ; Vice-Presi-dents, Messrs A. M. Ollivier and W. Acton* Adams; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. J.. Milner ; Hon. Secretary, Mr,A. .Cant; Committee, Messrs W. Hunter, J. G. L. Scott, J. Spiller, W. R. Cooke, and H. Anderson; junior. ,' v. Correspondence from the Otago Chess Club was read relative to instituting a - match North v South Middle Island. The Committee had. reported adversely to the project, and on their" receiving' a second letter from tbe Otago Chess Club, the matter had been referred to the.general meeting. After considerable discussion itwas resolved — " Tbat the Secretary be instructed to reply that the project was not feasible at present." A discussion on the question of popa lariaing the Club took place, and ie was ultimately .resolved, on the motion of M- " ActOv-Adams, "That'the Chamber of Commerce be requested to light tbe entrance to the building on Club nights and'to show on a transparency the name of the Club and a notification that visitors are welcome." - Mr Hiokns moved—*" That the incoming . Committee be requested to arrange a social about the last week in November." After some discussion this was carried. .

After votes of thanks to the retiring officers the meeting terminated.