CHESS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 108, 8 May 1916, Page 4

CHESS

WELLINGTON CLUB

The fortieth annual general meeting of the above club was held in the V.M.C.A. Building on Saturday -evening, when sixteen players were present. Mr. A. G. Fell (president) occupied the chair. The committee's annual report was as ! toiiows :— .".Matches.—Owing to the-smallness of tbf membership and the scanty attendances <n the- club room, it has been impc£S'.ble to hold any- tourneys during the past season, which is thus' a unique one in tho history, of the club. With, the nuisthnce of a number of. friends we have., however, been able to'hold two big sides matches, which were very successful. In August 68 players took part in the, match, Bowlers- v. Non-Bowlers, •which the latter won by 21 games to 13. In-October 96' players ■ were paired in. a, match, Combined Suburbs v. Club Team, the former winning by. 28' games to 20. These contests were productive of many hard-fought battles, and were greatly enjoyed. "Tha match of two games played by correspondence, with the Sydney School of Arts Chess Club was won by our c!ub, whict scored one game and. drew the other. Only one ladder match has been completed during the past year, Jlr. W. Maokay capturing- rung. 2 from .Mr. Still after a tough contest. The annual telegraphic matcb with the Canterbury Chess Club- (12 players- a-side) was played on the evenings, of 15th and 22nd May, when our opponents found! the turn in a long lane of adversity, and won handsomely—scoring. 7 games to our 5. Mr. W. If. Barraud, who won his game 'at board 8, was the only member of our team who played in the" first' match in 1879—0n which occasion he drew his game at board. 6. | "Of the nine matches played to date the Wellington- Chess Club has won five, the Canterbury Chess Club two, and- two have ended in a tie. The even nature of these contests is better illustrated by the fact, that of the 106 games played to date we can- only show 56 wins to ■ the Canteuvbuvy's Club's 50 (a- draw being reckoned' i a win to each side). "Finance.—Our hon. treasurer (Mr. A. Gyles) reports that the club has a small credit balance, and that there are notabilities. ' "Membership.—The- membership of the club has falien' away considerably during the last few years, and' is now disturbingly small, as we- have only twenty active and ten hon. members. With no young- recruits coming forward and mosti of the older brigade persistently- avoiding the clubroom week after week and! month after month the outlook is. not' bright as the ciub enters its forty-first: year. Mr. W. Cowper-HiQ, who has' been our- hon. secretary and treasurer for the past two years, left New Zealand recently as a member of the 11th Reinforcements. We are grateful t* him for bis> valued labours in keeping the club from; dropping to pieces> and tender him oarbest wishes for a. safe return after the. European checkmate. " ■' "Our best wishes are also with two ex-members well known in congress- circles, viz., Mr. John Mason, who held the New Zealand championship in 1910, and! Mr. A. W. Gyles, who has. 'three times been runner-up for, that honour. They are both in the Field Ambulance Ser- . vice. We are glad to learn that Mr. Gyles has recovered from the attack of rheumatic fever that he contracted shortly after being transferred from France to Salonika. "Obituary—Mr. E. W. Petherick, a, former president who was- noted for his generous support of chess and endeared: himself to members by his lovable personality, died on Christmas' Day, at the [ age of 75. Mr. Petherick, who was the; ! second white child born in Wellington, presented tne two trophies bearing hi& name, and often came quietly to the: rescue when our club was financially embarrassed. We have expressed our sympathy to the bereaved family. "Members also desire to tender condolence to our president, Mr. Fell, whose daughter Mrs. Earl Johnston (wife of Brigadier-General Johnston, of tie New Zealand Expeditionary Force) died in Cairo recently. Mr. Fell, who has been hon. secretary to the New Zealand Chess< Association for the past eight years, will assuredly have the sympathy of players1 in all parts of the Dominion. "Acknowledgments.—Thanks are once more due to Messrs. S. and W. Mackay for continuing to supply the club • with the British Chess Magazine. We also desire to thank our president, Mr. Fell, for a valued donation to the club's funds, and Mr. W J. Helyer for presenting a handsome trophy for the coming year. "New Zealand Chess Championship.— We are pleased to note that this title became vacant on Ist January, and that the New Zealand Chess Association has decided to hold no further congresses during the currency of the present great ■ war, thus bringing this championship into lint with the various other New Zealand championships. "The Year 1916-17.—As already stated, the outlook for the future is not of the brightest just now. It is hoped that- in the coming year members will more actively support the committee in its endeavour to hold the fort till better days come along. An effort, will be made to revive two 'lapsed'fixtures, viz., the 'Petherick' tournament and the oldtime match with the Working Men's Club. We also hope to have the assistance of other chess forces in this city in connection with the proposal to hold an 'all-Wellington' Championship tournament.—For the committee, Fedor K. Kelling, Hon. Secretary." The report and balance-sheet were, unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr. Turner, who had the meeting with. I him in the appreciative reference to the good work of the hon. treasurer, Mr. Gyles, and the good position of the club, despite the many difficulties en : countered in the past year. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. G. Fejl; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. W. Tanner and W. Mackay; hon. secretary, Mr. G. A. Tyer; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Gyles; committee. Messrs. Barnes. W. E. Mason, Ward, Pitrchas, and Kelling; auditor, Mr. S. Mackay; match committee (elected by the new committee). Messrs. Fell, W. E. Mason • and A. Gyles. It was decided to accept the dates submitted by the Canterbury C.C. for the annual telegraphic match, viz., 20th and 27th instant, and, if possible, to carry out in tho coming year the programme outlined in the annual report.

The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to last year's office hearers, a thoughtful tribute to whose untiring labours was paid by Mr. Tanner.