Otago Chess Club.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 40

Otago Chess Club.

At the annual meeting of 'the Gtogo Chess = Club Mr Ealk, who presided, in moving j the adoption of the report and balauce sheet, reviewed the work of the year, and said the club had the pramierohip as regards rooms and membership among chess clubs in the \ coloay, and it rested with members to take first ' place in play. Instruction classes -had been sue- I cessfully conducted, and it was hoped would be j continued. After leferriug to the loss of Mr Mellor from their ranks, he mentioned that the roll of lady members continued to giow. Mr T. JohNoTONE (treasurer) said that the receipts fell short of those of the previous year by £11, entirely through inabiliiy to sublet the rooms. The clear assets amounted to £68 odd. 'ihe outstanding subscriptions amounted to £12 Ss. and ht> urged members to assist the treasurer by paving promptly. Mr Edwards, after congratulating the club upon the financial position, reminded members that the Chess Congress would this year be held in Dunedin. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The following office-be-iters were elected :—: — President, Mr 0. -Balk ; vice-president?, Messrs J. Wd-wards and J. G. MooJy ; hon. treasurer, Mr T. John&tone ; hon. secretary, Mr A. R. Barclay ; committee — Messrs AUcd, 8,. A. Clelancl H J. Clelaud, W. Dawc, Osmand, Walls ; auditor, Mr O. S. Reeves. Mr B. Throp presented a handsome stand of \ ivory chessmen under a gh\3s stand as a trophy, i and was accorded-a hearty vote of thank 3. i ANNUAL REPORT, 1897-98. j Your committee have much pleasure in pre--j senting to members the fourteenth anmial le- ( port oi the Otago Chess Club. } The position of the club numerically and fi- } nancially is satisfactory-— probably as satisfac- j tory as that of any club in the colonies — but the measure of improvement in both respects in a ' club of this kind is almost unlimited. The I number now on the roll is 70. " j The principal matches that have taken place ' during the year are — (1) A telegraphic match i with Oarnaru on the 21st and 28th August last year, 14 players a-side, which resulted m a tie, { the number of draws and games won credited • to each side being the same. A3 our opponents subsequently played a match with Christ- . church and tied them, Oaruaru may fairly claim ■ to possess a pretty strong club. (2) The annual club tournament, for which there were 31 entries — a considerable advance on last year. There were two divisions, senior and juiiioi", and three classes m each division. A prize was given to the player with the best record for the tournament in each class, luessrs R A. Cle- ' land, 3 G. Moody, F Litolfi, S. R. Martin, W. Allen and Mrs Mouat (tied with Mies Cofumb) , were the prize-winners in 'their respective ' classes. (3) The annual championship tournament, for which there were six entries, and " which was won by Mv R A. Clelancl, who, hay \ ing gained the club championship trophy three times in succession, now retains ,it, unfortunately, altogether. (4) 'A club members' match, played on May 54Ruy Lopez opening), between sides picked by Messrs Weclclei spoon and Hast- ' ings The latler's side won by 13i to BJ. (5) A ' club members' match, played "on May 22 (Queen's pawn opening), between sides chosen j by Messrs Edwards and Mouat, resulting in A ■ tie— l2J games each (G) The annual invitation j match to all players jn the wly and suburbs — ! North v. South of Liverpool Street— played on i Ootobej 27, 1897, resulting , n a W]n f ov [h e , North by one game Eoity playeis tooV part, i and the result was North "21 and South 23 games. (7) A Jubilee match, Dunedin v Visi- ! tors, played on Fnday, March 25, m this year, [ and resulting m s win "or the club by six j ganiea. j The chess clubs in Timaru and in Christ- ; church vvpio pnoh invited to play friendly j matches rath us but both were unable to accepi the invitation. ! The social functions promoted bj r the club this year wpie -H? annual smoke concert, ; hold veiy successfully m the rooms on May_ 17j.

1897; its annual picnic, which was largely attended and proved very enjoyable^ held at Portobello on December 18, 1897; and a Jubilee smoke concert in celebration of "the Jubilee of Otago and in honour of visiting chess-players, held in the lower Choral Hall on March 25, 1898. The ladies of the club very kindly supplied afternoon tea to the visitors during the match on the afternoon of the same day. Your committee made special efforts to secure a good gathering of chess-players in Dunedin from all parts of the colony during Jubilee week, circulars of invitation being prepared and widely circulated amongst the clubs and prominent chess-players in New Zealand. A match was arranged, as already stated, and a smoke concert in the evening, but unfortunately the miniber of visiting chess-players was, comparatively speaking, small. Items of general interest to the club are the following : — The subscription for country members — that is members living more than sis miles from the clubroom, but not including members coming daily to town for business — was, at a special general meeting of the club, held on May 15,*1897, reduced to 10s 6d xoer annum. Two new tables have been obtained, and the lease of club rooms has been renewed for two years. Our club had two representatives at the annual Chess Congress held in Auckland last December — Messrs J. W. Mellor and 3. Edwards, who came out i-espectr"ely fifth and sixth in the final result.

We have to regret the loss of Mr Mellor as a club member and as editor of the chess column, in the Evening Star by his departure to Christchurch to fill the post of lecturer in the Agricultural College. Your committee passed a suitable resolution conveying their regrets to Mr Mellor. Mr J. Edwards has kindly consented to take charge (with the permission of the proprietors) of the chess column.

During the year, on the suggestion of Mr J. Mouat, a Is subscription was raised to present to Mr Steinitz, the celebrated chess-player, and the sum of £1 was duly forwarded to Herr Lasker for that purpose. The instruction class was this year conducted by Messrs Mouat and Edwards, to whom the thanks of the club are due for their work in connection therewith. This class is a very important part of the club's functions, and generally results in valuable additions to the club's numbers. Thanks are due toTVLr C. P. Roberts for the presentation of a imicjue set of chessmen as a prize for the annual tournament, and to Messrs Balk," "Warsaw, and Mouat for prizes for the same contest. We are also much obliged to our neighbour, the Rev. Mr Ronaldson, and the masonic body for Mndly permitting us on various occasions the use of part of their premises. le were gratified to receive a visit from his Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Raufurly, and Captains Alexander and "Ward, on Friday, March 25. The opportunity was la ken to present his Excellency with a silver key of the clubroom as a souvenir of the occasion. His Excellency expressed himself as much pleased with his visit.

The ladies we have, as usual, to thank for their very valuable services during the year, more especially in connection with the social functions. The balance sheet for the year shows the position of the club to be satisfactory, there being a credit balance at the bank, and a credit balance of assets over liabilities of £68 11s 8d after allowing 5 per cent, for depreciation in value of furniture, &c.