A CHESS ANNIVERSARY.

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 145, 20 June 1921, Page 9

A CHESS ANNIVERSARY.

The first Wellington Chess Club came into existence 55 years ago to-day, having been founded on 20th June, 1866, by Mr. .C. P. Powles, who is still a resident of this city. The Wellington Independent, of Saturday, 23rd June, 1866, in referring to the. club's formation, mentions that tho Bishop of Wellington (Bishop Abraham) "has kindly offered the use of liis diocesan room at Thorndon." (St. Paul's Church had been consecrated earlier in the month, viz., 6/6/66, the four sixes making the date easy to remember). The club also had an offer of a room in tho Athenaeum (now known as the Exchange Buildings), and this was accepted as boing more central. This room, however, did not appeal to the pioneer members^ of whom there were 25, and, *with a view to securing more inviting quarters, the lion, secretary (Mr. C. P. Powles) n, month later advertised for a room "about the locality of the Oddfellows' Hall." A local in tho same issue of the Independent referred to the fact that the Nelson and Canterbury Clubs were then engaged in a contest (the first telegraphic match played in the Southern Hemisphere), and the hope w.as expressed that Wellingtonians would shortly be found playing a similar match. It is not an easy matter to find out just when ' this. first Wellington Chess Club lapsed. According to Mr. Montague Mosely, of Roseneath, it was flourishing in the early 'seventies when he left to reside in the Sonth Island. It was probably not in existence in 1875, otherwise it would hardly have been necessary for Mr. W. F. Barraud and tho lato Mr. Edward Reeves to make such a thorough canvass for membership, to enable the present Wellington Chess Club to be formed on Ist July, 1876. Any of our readers who can '6hrow any light on {ha chess doing in this city during the 'sixties or early 'seventies are invited to do so.