OTAGO CHESS CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 6

OTAGO CHESS CLUB.

The-annual meeting of the Otago Chess Club was held in the club's rooms, Liverpool slreel, last night, and wan largely attended, Mr O, Balk being in tho chair. The following is the annual report' presented:— Your committee have much pleasure in presenting to members tho fifteenth annual report of the Otago'Chess Club. The position ol tho club, numerically and financially, continues to be satisfactory. Our balance sheet shows a balnnce in hand of £o 13s Id, and a balance to our credit in the- assets and liabilities account of £01 IBs Id. The number of member* on our roll is 70. There are few, if any, cbc-es clubs in the colonies that are in a better position than this. Yet your committee greatly desires to see a still larger membership roll. Tho principal chess events which have taken place during the ycur are:—(l) The handicap tournament for Mr Thorp's trophy; (2) a telegraphic match between our club and the Oamaru Club, ]9 playera a-side, which was wan by Oanifiru by 11 points to 8; (3) a match between our club and the Itoslyn Club, played on the 28th-,October, eight players a-side, which was won by the Koslyn Club by 10 games to G; (4) a problem-solving'competition, held on 7th November;' (5) the club championship, competition. The champion of onr club for'the year is Mr H. Lydci-s, and he is- now the holder of the very handsome trophy generously presented to tho club by Mr It. A. Cleland for the championship competition. The result of this year's competition lor .the prize presented by Mr '••Mr H.- J. Cleland .. .. 5 points . Mr K. A. Cloland .. .. i points Miss Sutherland .. .. 3 points . :Mr Barclay .. .. .. 2 points ' Mr Balk .. '.. '.. .. 1 point Prizes were presented to each of these playera, except Mr Balk, through the kindness of Messrs J. G. Moody, O. Balk,' C. H. Osmond, and J. Perry. Messrs Balk and Edwards tied for fifth -place, and it .was arranged that Mr Balk should got/the point and Mr Edwards the prize. The most important chess event of-the year was the'annual Chess Congress of New Zealand, which was held here, in December and January. Your ordinary committee and a sptcial Congresß .Committee- held many meetings in connection with the preparation for this tournament, in order to ensure that the arrangements should be ;of a complete and satisfactory character. The leading citizens responded gei.eronsly to an appeal lor honorary members, and ample funds for the tournament were forthcoming. Unfortunately, however, the number of competitors.was not so great as usual. Our 'chib naturally takes much pride and pleasure in the fact that the chess championship of New "Zealand for 1899 was won by Mr R. A. Cleland, who has for many years, as everyone knows', been champion of this club and one of' its'? mainstays from every point of view. The visitors and. honorary members were entertained.at a- smoke concert held on the 31st day of December last, which was a very successful and enjoyable function. The club held its annual picnic at Waitati on the 14th January j last, it being, as usual,1 a very enjoyable oiit- ! ing and very largely attended. I The thanks of the. club are due to all the gentlemen named who have presented prizes; to the ladies who worked so successfully to make'the picnic a succ6ss;to Mr . Thorp • for a handsome fo\u--. handed chess-board presented to the club by him; to Mr J; E Reado for furnishing problems for the solving competition; to llr C. S. Reeves'-for-auditing;our'accounts; and to those gentlemen'who acted on the special Congress Committee for their valuable services. Your committee feels that all members of, the club will join in an expression of sincere regret at the death- of the" late president of the New. Zealand Chess Association—Mr Henry Hookham. Mr'.Hookham's long connection with chess, and the very valuable services he rendered m promoting the study and cultiva-. tion of; the game, Have well entitled him to tlw.nam'e that has, by common consent, been for some years bestowed upon him^that of the Father of Chess in. New Zealand. The' President (Mr 0. Balk) said a- very satisfactory year had been experienced, and the prospects for the year ensuing. were very good. One important feature of the year was the holding of the New Zealand Chess Congress in Dunedin, when Mr R. A. Cleland, a member of the Olago Club, carried off the championship. The-thanks of the club were . due''to the honorary members who contri-: .bu'teel towards. the championship prize fund, and lie (the■ chairman) expressed the hope! that those gentlemen who so liberally contributed; would continue to take an interest in tlie'.'club.'.'. The balance sheet showed a sound financial position.' -He moved the adoption of the report, and balance sheet.—The motion was' carried. '}, :'..".■:■'"■ Mr J. B. Bprton, who has been for many years an, active member of the club, and in nianj" ways has rendered good service, was unanimously elected an honorary life member of. the club. It -was decided that the opening of the season should take place on Saturday evening, 29th inst., whan the usual match between sides chosen by the President and Viee-presi-! dent will ho played. All chess players are ' cordially 'invited to> attend and take part. The followihg office-bearers were elected for the . ensuing year:—President, Mr J. .Edwards'; vice-presidentf—Messrs'A. K. Barclay' and J. (i. Aioody; secretaries—Messrs R.'.W. Baird and G..Crow: .committee—Messrs R. Ai Cleland, H. J: Cleland,, J. Hamel, ;L. Warsaw,.'O. Balk, and H.Xyders.' ' .'■'■'■ The customary votes of thanks closed the meeting. ...-.'