DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 52

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

New Zealand Draughts Championship.—The committee who have charge of arrangements for this event met on January 31. There was a good attendance of members, and business in connection with the meeting is being pushed forwaTd to a very successful issue. The committee have now in hand £25. Siibscription lists have been forwarded to players in the different centres of Southland, and a committee has been appointed to canvass the town. At the last tournament held in Dunedin close on £60 was expended in prize money, and it is the intention of the committee to make a similar effort here. Mr D. A. Brodie, of Dunedin, who won the championship and £20, will, we believe, be c competitor. —Southland Times. C. H. Freeman, the noted coloured playfir, continues to interest the .Providence players by his marvellous skill at checkers and conjuring. Melbourne Draughts Club.—There was a large irmster of members on a recent Saturday evening, and a number of tournament games were played. Mr J. Abernethy, Draughts Editor Otago Witness, who is on a visit to Australia, was present, and was introduced to a number of the leading players. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so much enthusiasm for the game and for the cordiality of his reception. Mr H. Trevascus was elected a member. We have to record with deep regret (says the Liverpool Mercury) the death of James Patrick Reed, champion of America, which, we learn from an American correspondent, took place at the Homoeopathic Hospital, Pittsburg, from an epileptic fit. Mr Reed, who has not been read of in the draughts world for over two years, was well known on this side of the Atlantic. His first visit was in 1886, when he came to play a blindfold match with the late Mr Strickland, which, however, came to nought. On that occasion he played several matches, and either won or held his own except to James Ferric, who beat him by four games. On his last visit, about four or five years ago, he played a match of 20 games with Alfred Jordan, who was defeated rather badly. Mr Reed played numerous matches in America, and was successful against the majority of his opponents. He several times -played C. F. Barker for the championship of America, and wor the title on two occasions, and held it at the time of his death. He was 1 awarded the championship of the world upon a ruling which has never been acknowledged in this country. Mr Reed was of a genial, companionable disposition, and was most popu- r lar with all who knew him. In America he was familiarly known as " Jemmy " vßeed and " The Little Wonder." He was 40 years cf age.