OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17811, 10 July 1923, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR E. SULLIVAN. ( Mr Eddie Sullivan, who died in Christchurch recently, was well known in musical circles and was regarded by musicians throughout the Dominion as a most enthusiastic bandsman. He was a member of the Lyttelton Marine Band for a number of years, and it will be remembered that at manv band contests held in the South Island he proved his ability as a cornetist. The late Mr Sullivan leaves a widow and four children.

On Friday morning there passed away in Dunedin Mr Robert A. Clcland, one of the foremost chess players of Now Zealand. He was not only one of the strongest players, winning the championship of the local club three years in succession (after which he censed to compete), and the championship of the Dominion in 1898, but he shone in every branch of the game. He was an expert in the problem art, both as solver and composer. The Ne,w Zealand Chess Association (of which he was president for some years) owes its present constitution to Mr Cleland's efforts (says the "Otago Daily Times"), and-he also took a leading part in framing tho rules governing mafcch-plny by telegraph. The well-known "Clcland Ladder" for grading and encouraging challenge play was the invention of Mr Cleland and his brother Hugh, and it lias been adopted in many other branches of sport. The Otago Chess Club owed Mr Cleland a deep debt, as its splendid equipment of playing material, furniture, etc. (second to none in the Southern Hemisphere) was largely due to his energy and foresight. Mr Cleland was elected president in 1895, and 25 years later the members again conferred this honour unon him. He was on the committee almost without interruption for nearly two score years, and he also served as treasurer for some years.