THE LATE MR JOHN MOUAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12395, 3 July 1902, Page 5

THE LATE MR JOHN MOUAT.

•At the usual Wednesday meeting of the . 0 tago Chess Club last evening Mr J. Crow, vicc-president, in the absence of the president,' feelingly referred to the loss sustained by the club by the death of Mr John Mouat. He said there had just passed away, full, of years, a gentleman' to whom ches3 in Otago owed a great debt of graiitudo, and it was only right that the members of the Otago Chm Clul> should have an opportunity of conveying to the widow mid family of the deoeased gentleman their sorrow and deep sympathy in their great 1 bereavement, Mr Mouat, lie said, might well be called the father of chess in Otagp, lor not only was lie well known in this province'as an able player and exponent of the game, but also .throughout- tho length and breadtff of Jfow Zealand and Australia; indeed, his name was not unknown in chess circles in Europe,, for they found extracts from 'the column so' ably edited by him in the Otago Witness published in the chess columns of European. I papers. Mr Mouat had held many positions 'in tho club, and/was a most valuable member, I wlioae place .it would be difficult to fill. Dnring'its whole history ho was an active mea- | her, and bo highly wero his servicos esteemed j that tho club, in recognition, ■unanimously ; elected him an Honorary life member. For years he was a regular visitor to tho club's rooms, until overtaken by illness a few weeks' back, and lie was always willing and pleased to impart knowledge to beginners, and many' players could now look back witli pleasure to the days of their initiation, into the mysteries of the game. Ho "was a keen pl&yor, but'a most generous epponcnt, and chess could ill afford to lose such students of the game. Th-a ' Revs. Canon King and Chodowski and Mr J. Edwards (ex-president) also spoke very foel•ingly of the worth and the esteem they lolt lor the deceased gentleman. vk