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Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 40

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Jordan's Visit.— Wo, have just received, a letter from Mr D. E. Hay, Melbourne, in which he expresses surprise that wo stated in this column of June 30 lh»it " all money subscribed for a testm'Oiiial to Jordan must be remitted to him (Mr Hay), so that a fine purse may be presented to Jord'in on Ins arrival m Melbourne." Had v,-o iciliy stated or implied this it would, of cour.-.o have misrepresented Mr Hay in the nwttui-, which we phoukl sincerely regiet; but we cannot find that we have done so. Mr Hay in his fii-ot letter said: "The Victorian players aie subscribing for a purse of sovereigns to present to Jordan on arrival," and that is whit we cm bodied m the paragraph alluded to. If it could have mount anything else, it should noC. Mi Hny is nfioid New Zealand players will undeiolsuid that subscriptions from this colony, arc to be remitted to him, and that would prejudice the player.-j ; but thcie is nothing in the paraguph to lend colour to such a supposition. Mr Buy, as secretary of the Victorian Association, is, however, making the necessary arrangements for Hie tour, and thereby will earn the thanks of all lover?, of the game. If the di>te of tho New Zealand championship tournament is not too lote (Eastci), Mr Hay will endeavour to pLn Mr Jordan's tour so that he may be hi Dunedin at the time of the gathering. Duncdiu players seem anxious, so far as we can find out, to hove o vi--it from the champion, and the im- ! portant itom of board and lodging is practically 1 promised during his stay here, which 13 equal , to a good subscription. i Ameiican checker news is noticeably "' short." Everybody intent on forcing the ending with Spain. No time nor inclination for anything eke. It's Spain's move, and &he will surely lose her pieces, and her king, too, if she does not lesigu the game, — Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph. The Blindfold Championship.— Tn the bilh which have boon issued announcing Mr Gaidnci' 1 ; exhibition of blindfold draughts ho is st-led " Champion Draughts Player o£ England and Blindfold CLampion of tho World." There is no disputing the first title, and although pcveral have set up claims to the second, we know of none •who have equalled or appioached Mr Gardner's record ot Hull, find .since repeated at Leed'i, of playing 2.} <-'"nes simultaneously. This feat Iws never b>cn equalled before or sisT.oo, and ceiti-mly ryeois •• uj thing that has evoi boon r.Lti'nij/vd by othei claanauts to tho title oi " blluclfokl clu-a^.iou.' 1 Death of the Pioneer "Automaton."— Charles 11. Mochlp, who wad the pioneer operator of this amusement ia America, died in Cincinnati recently. Mr Moehle was a strong chrtss jiViyei, and could put up a clever s.une of checkers as well. & The Draughts World.— ft coricspondent of the Draught", World, jubilaut over tho fact , that that magazine has found its way to tho I recreation room of the House of Commons, ! breaks forth into pong, of which the following is a verse: — : You need na say oor game's obscure, I An' only studied by the poor— i Tho' that would be noe grievance— I For, man, it's played by pooi an rich. In cot an' ha' it (ills a niclte, An 1 noo has reached St. Stephen 3. Our Psoblkm CoMnm-nrN. i Wo have received the awards in th<» origins! i stroke competition; the award m the selected stroke may come any day The judge in the cmll game &ections alsc expects to have his awards ready in the course of a week, and we shall publish all award's together.