DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 40

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

World's Champion's Visit.— At a special meeting of the Victorian Draughts Association, held on Saturday, March 19, Me H. B. Reid, president, being in the chair, air D. It. Hay read a letter which he had received from Mr Richard Jordan, stating that he was willing to pay ,a professional visit to. the colonies, and to arrange to arrive m Melbourne by August. It was resolved that Mr Jordan be invited to come, and that he be ra-quested-to be in Melbourne in time for next Town v. Country maich. A subscription list was opened to defray the champion's travelling expenses, and the sum of £7 7s was received in the room. The visit of Mr Jordan to the colonies will undoui*edly give a great impetus to ths game, and from the enthusiasm already evinced by the draughts pUyera of Victoria, there is no fear bufc that it will turn out a success, financially and otherwise. "We feel sure that the draughtspl»yers of the other colonies will be equally enthusiastic and generous in their treatment of the champion. Letters addressed to Mr David R. Hay, secretary Victorian Draughts Association, Melbourne, will bje duly attended to. Melbourne's Leading Match. — An eight-a-sida match between the Oollingwood anil Melbourne Draughts Clubs was played at the rooms of the latter club on Wednesday, March 16, the Collingwood team being cantained by Mr F. T. Best, the Melbourne by Mr D. R Hay. and the duties of urowiva beinff discharged by Mr W, Henderson, of the" Brighton Draughts Club. The match was stubbornly contested. It resulted in favour of the Gollingwood team by 8 wins to 6 wins, with 9 draws. At the conclusion of the play Mr Best proposed " The Losers," complimentipg them on the difficulty the winneis had found in defeating them ; and Mr Hay congratulated the winners on their success. It was thoroughly well deserved, as was sufficiently well shown by the fact that for four years in succsssion they had retained the premiership of the Victorian Draughts Associatiou. , England's Twelve. — A vote by post-card was recently taken by the Leedu Mercury Supplement as to the 12 players that ought to be chosen to represent England in the next International match, with Scotland. The voters specified 24 names in all, and the actual numbers polled w«re all compare 1 with 1000 as a common denominator.- The result was as follows :— (1) W. Gardner (Leeds), G-. Jevvitt (Hull), A. Jordan (London), eacH 1000; C4J J. Birkiushaw (London), 947 ; (5) F. Dunne (Warrington), J. L. Richmond (South Shields), F. Teselieleit (London), each 842; (8) W. Beattie (London), A. Hynd (Manchestei), each 789 ; (10) H. Jacob (London), 631 ; (11) H. Christie (Sunderland), J. A. Kear, sen. (Bristol), each 473. The other 12 names were plsced as follows :— W. J. Wray (Halifax), C. Horsfall (Halifax), A. Granger (London), L. S. Benson (London), J. H. Bailey i (London), J. A. Ke<4r, jun. (Glasgow, lateßristol), J. i Mitchell (Nottingham), W. L°wi? (Hanley), A. ! Cain (Liverpool), J. H. Strudwick (London), W, j S. Lambert (London), J. G. Lewis (London). Mr William Brown' cc.— Speaking of the New Zealand Championship Tournament which was to commence at Wellington on Easter Monday, the Chrinchurch Press says : " Our old friend, Mr William Brownlee, of Havelock, is as eager for the fray as any of the young New Zealand blood. Mr Brownlee i 3 70 years of age, and belongs to Carluke, and had the honour to be one of a Carluke team with the renowned Andrew Anderson ' amongst their number in a match against Wishaw. But Ritchie, the Wishaw player, won a game from Anderson, if Mr Brownlee's memory serves him right." Wanganui (says the Herald) will probably be represented at the New Zealand Draughts Championship Tournament in Wellington at Easter by Messrs J. Anderson, J. B. Murray, and C. Oliver. In addition to the match for the championship a keen contest is expected between the North and South Island teams for the cup presented by Mr H. E. Williamson, of Wanganxii. Tho cup was won the first day by the North Island players, and last year the trophy was secured by the South Island representatives. An effort is being made to secure the following team, for North Island :-rMessra Legatt (Wellington), H. W. Kay (Woodville), Bruce (New Plymouth), W. Blair (Otakeho), Gibson (Manaia), and Murray, Anderson and Oliver (Wanganui). Should these players be able to get away, it will require a strong southern team to retain the trophy.