CHESS CLUB.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4951, 29 April 1903, Page 5

CHESS CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of tho Wellington Chess Club was hold last night. There was a largo attendance of members.

Tho annual report, which was adopted unanimously, stated that the club’s roll now showed 3” full members y and ten country members. The attondauco throughout tho year was excellent and showed a gratifying improvement on that of tho previous year. During tho year tho club contested several interesting matches, the principal one being a tolograplrijQ contest, Auckland v. Wellington (20 boards), which resulted in a win for the latter team by 12-J- to 7-1. _By this victory Wellington city establishes its ckini to bo considered the premier chess centre of tho colony.

Two matches wore played against the combined Anglica.nl societies, the find, being won by the club and the second by tho societies. Another match which evoked a groat deal of interest was that' against a combined Parliamentary and Civil Service team (20 boards a side), which was played at the Parliamentary Buildings, and resulted in a, narrow win for tho.olnb. There is a very general wish that this match should be made an annual fixture. ■

, Tiie annual handicap tourney (13 competitors) was this year a Very successful contest, almost all the leading players being engaged and very few games being unplayed. Mr F. Oolllns', of Class 4, carried off Mr Petherick’s gold modal, tho second and tim'd prizes being won by Messrs R. J. Barnes and P. Still, of Class 1, respectively. In conclusion, the committee desired to thank Mr F. IC. Kelli ng few tho generous assistance given by him in arranging the-Above matches, and also to express their appreciation of his services as tho club’s representative at the last championship meeting. Thanks are also accorded to the Otagp Chess Chib for tho very handsome manner in which it treated the club’s representative during his visit. Tho following were elected member* of the club :—Messrs Frohauf, ■ Oppler, Chesterfield, Gottsehalk, Rawnaloy and 0. Davies.

Tho election of officers resulted os follows President, Mir O. W. Benbow (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs Ai. J. McTavish, A. I. Littlejohn, W. F; Barraud, C. T. Richardson* E. W, Petiicrick, G. Wright; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr W. E, Mason (reelected) ; committee,Messrs R. F. Smith, F. W. Collins, C. W. Tanner, O. 'Having and R. J. Barnes; delegates to Wew Zealand Chess Association’s Council, Messrs R. F. Smith and G. Wright' (reelected) ; auditor, Mr Gottsohalk. Mr B. W. Petherick, one of the vicepresidents, announced that ho would donate a cup for competition during the coming season. New' rules were adopted, being principally a consolidation of old rules;