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Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 5, 6 July 1910, Page 3

CHESS

» WELLINGTON CLUB.

A "well-attended meeting of the abovo j club was held at the clubroom, King's Chambers, last evening. Mr. E. WPetherick (president) occupied the chair. Messrs. Tyer . and Barr were elected members of tbe cluC. v The hon. treasurer reported Chat an [ anonymous donor had kindly given the j sum of £7 to be devoted to encouraging tie game in the manner thought to be most effective. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the unknown donor, and it was decided to ask the Match Com- . mifcteo to report on the best manner of .giving effect to the object in view. Tho various remits received from the New Zealand Chcßs Association were then considered. It was decided to approve the proposal to print in cheap pamphlet form the games of the next championship congress. Two members of the committee naving promised some assistance in connection -with this matter, it was decided to notify the association that the club will take fifty copies of the book of games if the proposal to publish same is carried out. The motions standing in the name of the Auckland Chess Club were then considered. They are as follow: — (1) That the giving of money prizes be discontinued, and that in lieu thereof gold and silver medals, suitably inscribed, be awarded for first and second prizes respectively, at a total cost of about five pounds. (2) That a club nominating a competitor should be bound to defray his travelling expenses. (3) That the sitting be limited to six days, and that, if the number of- entries will not admit of the tournament being completed within that period, the tournament should be played In sections. (4) Tbat the association should devote five pounds towards the entertainment of competitors; the remainder (if any) of the cost of such entertainment to be borne by the local club where the tournament is held. The following motion by Mr. Barnes was also considered with the foregoing No. 4 : — "That, as the cost of the annual congress is becoming a heavy tax on the centre undertaking the same, it is desirable that expenses for entertainment of tompetitors should not be incurred." After discussion, it was apparent that members were in sympathy with the aims of the Auckland CO., as disclosed in the motions quoted, but were of opinion that the object in view could be better attained by making a substantial reduction in the scale of prizes that has obtained for many years past, coupled with the passing of the motion submitted by Mr. Barnes. A suitable motion was proposed by Mr. W. E. Mason, and duly carried. Mr. W. E. Mason moved that Ladder Rule No. 5 be abolished, and the following substituted : — Ladder challenges, in addition to being posted on the club s notice-board, are to be handed to the secretary (or to a member of the Match Committee for delivery to the secretary), the challenged member to bo notified that he must commence the match within a fortnight or forfeit his place on the ladder.' This was seconded by Mr. Morris, and carried. Several members made feeling reference to the loss sustained to the cause of New Zealand chess by the recent death of the club'B senior vicepresident, Mr. A. I. Littlejohn. A suitable motion was proposed- by Mr. F. K. Kelling, and carried in silence, members standing. It was also decided to write a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, and that the vacant office be not filled during the current year. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Peth- ! crick for presiding closed the meeting. ANNUAL HANDICAP TOURNEY. The final round of the section play in tho club's annual handicap tourney is j sot down for decision on Saturday next, j the drawings being as follows : — Section j A : Barnes v. S. Mackay, Bock v. Tou- ! hy. Fell v. W. E. Mason ; and Hicks v. Kelling. Section B : Carman v. Ward, Cooke v. Grantham, Morris v. Douglas, 1 and Scott v. Arden. The best scores to j date in section A are as follows :—: — | Barnes, 4J wins, 1£ losses ; Mason, 2J — },; Hicks, 4—2;4 — 2; and Kelling, lll.3 — 1. Section B : Scott, 34— 14 ; Grantham, 3£— 14; Arden, 3—2;3 — 2; Morris, 2—2;2 — 2; and Carman, I—l.1 — 1. As each section consists of seven rounds, it will be seen that a lot of games are in arrear, and it will, consequently, be some little time before the finals can be commenced. As stated on a previous occasion, the tliree highest scorers in each section qualify for the finals. The members who attended the clubroom last evening seem to have been well posted in the latest news from Reno. : At anyrate, in the various "skittle" games it was noticed that when the player of black failed to win he was humorously reminded that he had failed to attain Johnsonian heights!