Otago Chess Club. ANNUAL REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 40

Otago Chess Club. ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is_ the report to be submitted to the annual meeting on Wednesday, April 14 :— I a presenting the thirteenth annual report of the Otago Chets Club your committee desire 3to congratulate members on the success that has attended the past session. The membership remains fairly satisfactory, but your committee considers it could be considerably augmented by a little exertion on the part of the members. The number now on the roll is 70. The club's annual smoke concert was held with much eclat on May 4 last. The attendance was larger than at any time previously, and the evening appeared to everyone a mo^t enjoyable one. A telegraphic chess match was held with the Wellington Chess Club on November 28 last and two following .Saturdays, 12 players a-side, which resulted in a decisive victory for Wellington by SJ points to 3J. It is to be hoped that members will recollect that it is impossible for us to rest tamely for. very long after a defeat of this kind, and that we must look forward to a return match to regain our laurels. A feature of this match was the admirable arrangements made for carrying it out. It may be literally said that there was not a single hitch during the whole of the three 1 nights' play, and the thanks of the club are due to Mr Williams, the telegraphist. A match was played at Moagiel on August 26 last between 10 of our members and 10 Taieri players— two games each — resulting in a victory for us Our thanks are due to Mr Inglis and his co-players for their kindness to our representatives. On September 2 last a match was played in the club rooms which, in point of numbers engaged, ynur committee thinks makes a record for New Zealand. The match was those living north of Liverpool street v. those living south. Invitation was given to those who were not club members as well as those who were to attend, and 60 players to jk part. The result was very close, the North winning by 35 games to 33 Refreshments were handed round duriog tho evening, and the whole meeting was very successful. It was the first time in th? history of the club such a match bad been arranged and carried out, and the re&ult of the experiment was eminently satisfactory. On Saturday, December 19 last, the clubVannuul picnic waßheld atWaitati. It was largely attended and very successful, the drive to Waitati being very enjoyable. Much o' the credit of this is due to R[rs Mouat and the other lady members of the club, who organised the expedition most admirably. Your committee have much pleasure in reporting that our club representatives, Messrs Mellor and Edwards, attained good positions at the

annual Chess Congress tournament at the end of last year, the former securing second place and it falling to his lot to play Mr Bnrne3 off for the championship. We had a visit from Mr Barnes shortly after, and we held a social on February 4 last to welcome him. ft was very enjoyable, and wound up with a dance lasting to the small hours of the morniug. The championship of the club was this year won again by Mr R. A. Cleland, with a score of eight wins and two losses. A very satif factory club haudicap tournament was also played last year, only nine games out of a total of 182 not having been played out. Fourteen members entered, and the winner was Mr J. Wedder-poon, with a total (including handicap) of 15*. Your committee, however, is strongly of opinion that more of the members should take part in these tournaments. The championship trophy and tournament prize were presented by the vice-president (the Itev. B. M King) at a gathering of the club held on November 18 last at the club rooms. Your committee has much plensure in saying that the president's autograph roll is now an accomplished fact, and trusts that the haud-ome ornament which it makes will remain for long a feature on the club walls. j The committee and the club are indebted to Mr Edwards and Mr Mouat for the work they are doing in carrying on very successful instruction 'classes in connection with the club, and those who arc taught should be more indebted still. Mr Lyuers also kindly lent assistance when Mr Mouat was uu fortunately unwell. j Thanks are due to Me srs Mouat and Mellor for conducting the chess cilumns in the Witness and Star » respectively. Thanks are also due to Mr Mellor for an exposition of the new system of notation which he gave to the club on December 21 last, and also to Mr O. Balk for a very interesting address that lie gave to the club explanatory of Japanese and Chinese chess. ThankF, too, are due to Mr Frierllander (for whose departure for Japaii during the past year the chib feels much regret) for a gift of watpr decanter, tray, apd glasses, and to Mr D. H. Hastings for the gift of a mamigrapb. The balance sheet shows the club to be in a healthy linancial condition, the assets now anvjuti7ig to £81 11s Id, and the liabilities to about £4. During the year the club has been registered^ under the Unclassified Societies Registration Act, and is therefore now a duly incorporated body. In conclusion, the retiring committee desires to thank members for their coi'dial assistance during the past year, and trusts that they will continue to support the new office-bearers and committee to the utmost of their power. It may be said that the Otago Che«s Club has more than a local name throughout the colonies, that it is a club to be proud of, and that your committee believes that the men bera will on no account allow any diminution of efficiency to take place during the future.