DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 48

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

A correspondent writes:— "l .waa-jpleased-^to read your remarks re Jordan's .proposed visit .to this colony. We have some good pfayertj/m.-ithw colony, but it is hard to say how thdy^VQuld "stand when compared with fir«t-rank Home player?. Of course, it J3 not to be expected that they should be quite as good, as' they have not the opportunity for practice against strong players. The first'-clas3 men of New Z -aland are scattered between Auckland and the Bluff and very rarely meet across the board, whereas at Home first-raters are frequently battling with plajers of their own weight. Nevertheless, such players as Boreham, Brodio, Foreman, Montgomery, etc., should give a very good account of themselves with time /or training and hard study. This they have now, and I urn. «ure colonials will look forward with keen interest to Jordan's visit. I hops that someone will be prepared to play him a match (perhaps for the world's champion°hip) xnd uphold the honours of this colony." -*"*

Brisbane. — A Town v. Country match wai played in Brisbane recently with 17 t-side. The Town representatives won by 32 wins to 20 wins. Disputed Authorship.— The trunk game ia Lees'* " Single Corner " game is credited to Mr Maize, o£ PitfcSburg. The game was played in the recent match between Martins and Bebro, and the latter almost won it. " It's astonishing how the memory fades," explained.the veteran; "he nearly beat me on my own game— a game, too, on which I spent years and years of study." On Us being explained that Lees quoted Maiz<>, the ex-champion replied that he had never i een Idea's book ; but he would be very much-interested to know how Maize cam* by the game. - The Gambling Spirit.— A discussion took place among' the members of one of the New South Wales draughts clubs relative to the disposal of a dum of £1. Several deafted to play for'ifc. A prominent member proposed that they should invest; it in Tattersall's sweep, which being agreed to the investment was made, with the result that they won a cash prize; which will now enable them to give several handsome prizes to oe played for in the near future.— Sydney Mail.— {It is to be hoped no otber club will follow suit. Uraughts is essentially a social game, and as such should be zealously guarded from any encroachment of the anti-social spirit of gambling.— Dr. Ed. O.W.] A. W. Lowe v. Braid.— ln reply to a recent communication from the draughts tditor of the Glasgow Weekly Herald, Mr Braid, of Dollar, sent the following particulars as to the progress of his correspondence match with Mr Lowe, of Dunedin :— "We commenced in February, 1895. Mr Lowe named the following ten openings, each to take the black side and the white : ' Old Fourteenth,* ' Glasgow,' ' Whilter ' ' Laird and Lady,' ' Cross,* ' Single Corner,' Ayrshire Lassie.' ' Fife,' 'Souter,' and 'Laird and Lady Refused.' W« have progressed without the slightest hitch and very satisfactorily. There i? a reply every three months. Some of the games are pretty far advanced— in one the pieces are reduced to four a-side. I think three years will finish them all. We have exchanged photos, and I have received some nice New Zealand views from Mr Lowe, who is a very nice player to correspond with. I have enjoyed the match very much, and have tried to make as much variety in the game as possible." Pillsbury's Score.— H. N. Pillsbury and James M'Entee played a series of six games, of which Pillsbury won three and drew three. At a subsequent sitting Pillsbury again won, but M'Entee made a better relative score, / Forty Years Ago.— The Liverpool Mercury states that an old cup was recently unearthed in London . which was awarded to Martins as a first prize in a tournament held at Birmingham during the fifties, the second prize going to Bullocb, of Sheffield, and the third to Grant, of Newcastle. The cup had been in the possession of Mr Blackwell up to the time of his death.

In Memoriam.— Mr R. L. Clegg has written the following lines as a tribute to the memory of Bowdish, Kirkwood, and Webster, three promlp nent players who died recently :—: — No storied urn or sculptured bust To sound your fame in empty praise I Your deeds ar« writ by printer's art, Securely for all future days. The biilliant play in skil#af game Is garnered for admiring eyes ; And whilst the handicraft remains The fame of craftsmen never dies.