Draughts Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 37

Draughts Items.

Mataura Club.— The secretary of the Mataura Draughts Club writes :—" We held an adjourned annual meeting of the Draughts Club on the 29th ult., when there was a fairly good attendance considering the state of the weather. Our annual balance showed Is 6d on the wrong side of the ledger, so we have to carry it forward for the present season to wipe out. During last year we played four matches, losing three and winning one, the number of games played was 201, of which we won 82, lost 81, and drew 38. The office-bearers for the present year are — Mr R. Winning president, Mr F. M'Kay vice-pre-sident, and Mr J. S. Shanks (reelected) secretary and treasurer. On Friday evening the 13th inst., we intend holding our opening match President v. vice - president, and J trust to have a good turn out ofmembers should the weather be fine." Christie, the champion of England, declines to have anything to do with the second English championship tourney, on the ground that he has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Any player having a hankering after the title must go to Sunderland and play the present holder for a stake. Although it was tacitly agreed at the last tourney that the affair should be an annual event, it was easy to foreee the difficulty which has been raised, rightly or wrongly by the champion. The players of Pittsburg (U.S.A.) are anxious to match Reed once more against C. F. Barker for the championship of America. If we mistake not, however, Barker's inclinations favour a game of a higher order, and it appears that' Wyllie will yet again be compelled to defend the championship.