DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 38

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Auckland.— On August 10 Mr C. Gunthorpepaid, a visit to a place called Bombay and playea all comers at live boards, managing to complete 30 games, of which he won 30, lost 3, and drew 3. Wj ndham v. Gore.— 'lhe return match between these toamawaiai ranged forWedneday, 4th inst., at' Gore. Wj ndham.— Mv H. R. Nut«ford has presented to the Wyndham Draughts Club, for competition by the yUyers, a fine board of his own make. The t-i<M is nou'ly 14in, and the square?, neatly inlaid, are of red totara and white pine, while the bo flir is of Aiirtrnlia-.i ce^ar obtained from the Tararua wiecls. 'Jhc l.oard U I'iench noluhed, aud Cinnot fail to vlcaso the cii icil eye of any draughts player. The checks contrast well, blacfc and white piecs showitiß; up on the board. Tho board does credit to Mr Nutsford'a handicraft, and we feel snr« he will be heartily thanked by the club for his very suitable donation.— Wyndham Herald. B'.uff.— A match was played in lhe Sailors' Best on tke 27th ult. betwten te-.im of 12 the BlufF and Sailors' Rtst Clubs, ran! ting in a victory for tho tormer by live gvmc3. The iuccefcsful players for the winners wtre W. Pieston 4. J. Bl'Naughton, J L. Sullivan, It. aa* W. Dixon ea--h 3 ga*nes ; for the losers M. Hutton and J. Nixon 3 each, W. Lawßon, J. Walker, and G. Campbell 2 each. Seveu games were drawn. The BryiU:ii Shearer Match.— The draughts )i\ tyt-ra of Fifes »ire and tbo North of Scotland are looking e^fj^rly forward to this conttst, and much speculation is life as to whirh of the players will win. Botfi hato their juitisAns, aud oltliouch Bryden'H ftood pa»t iccord warrania his s ipporters >n lookini? for great thing 3, yet the extwordinary skill and gift of xuemoiy jw-seesed by Shearer are not to be " winked at." Httbtrlo ho has l>e«n a kind of "dark bo-B-\" but those in immediate Uuch and practice with him consider him one of the thtctt living pJUyere, and worthy of any foemauV Bt<:*l. During the pa<-t few ie-ira the unex« p;cU <l has usually luppentd ia draughts KiaUrhes, and in tliis m*tch young Shearer may show the wo)UVh draughts players that he is p-s««sed of th< finest taleuts, and is a gem of the tirst water. .Mv James Labadie, the celebrated Canadian draughts player, died at Chatham, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jur.e 5, his de^th being cftueed. by pneumouin. and paialysis. He was ouly 40 y«ars of ace. As an analyst and pUyer he had no equM iv Canada, and but fow superiors in th« j wml-i. I Play brg-sn on Wednesday, May 29, in al2-gamo match for the Diaught? Championship of Rhede* Island, between Mr Lawson (champion) and Mr Cliarlc* Übel (cballcHger). Mr Übel won three of the iir«t f ur g*ines and drtw the other; and thcreupoH Mr Lawson resigned, pleading that beio/5 trouble* in mind he was not able to bl«y tho game at he ought to do Mr Übel, who n« holdg the championship title, is only 21 years of asc. Attention wps recently called in America to thg number of wetl-kuown draughts players who write th« initial J in their signature*. There aw, for examuU, J. WjllU. J. Ferris, J L. Uickmond, J. Hill, J. P. R*cd, J. Labauio, J A. Kear, J. Miiizi, J. D. Janvier, J. Looa, aud J. Johutry. Ia most cases J stands for J-tmcs.

Sonnet When winter's supremo o'ir dale and bill, Ami cbilliug blasts ioir tluou^h the leaflets ttves ; When virgin suow doth road and hedgerow fill, And when the gluss has mnk to ten degrees Of froit, 'tis p^a'sant round a blazing fire To sit with friends and talk of what you pleaso ; With inch converse we very seldom tire. But blvjuUl att«ntion flap, Uie eag<jr gflze Is turned to where the light its lustra throws Upon the " dainbrod " in i>s pride of pl«Cf ; The " m»u " aro then plnco<l on the triple rows, And aoou the frierids in mimic bittlo dote. AU eyea uve bow *ttentiou, nnd with care They wutck the contest of the well matched pair. —Aberdeen Weekly Frte Press.