DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 56

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

The Otago Witness Company ha\e v.,v geneiously donated the suai of JE2 2s to t'lf tunds ot the New Zealand Draughts Asso> itt\o'i this year In previous jears, alto, the AVit.'iess has haao.iomeiy suppoited the game on vv a 2 a 2 ous occasions out-'de the opeiations ol Jie association, and we fefl sure, by what uc hear, that Xc-w Zealand piayeis are not lusrnsible to tlie (.'l'iipar.y's gc.erusiH. All IJ. A. Brodie arrived fiom the south on Jlo'uL.v' night, ancl appeals to be in fine fettle ior ihe tournament. .Messrs liuhey «u:d Giay are to anne toil '_ lit C- uib'd'y). Mx J. G.ii'tiii"' 1 , cr Gore, arrived 1a Dunedm oa Satuij^j' evening, e.i route for Palmei&ton IVorth^fflPe i > m good health, and has no ccmplamis iEc""ni:>^' > <"• ->j;it his loim. tie was showing them so'je tuck? at ihe Oi.igo Cub on Monday c u'l.ig, and is to be there to-:ngut (Tue=;c!ay). We regret to learn iuat -it the last moment Mr J. A Scctt, 01 GOIO. va s un.-ble to journey 1101 th on account, ot naivc^t bsmg to late. ■This io a aidt.jtici le-,s to the tour/ ey. There •». at time of writing, some doubt about, Mi (ieo. Fo'Cin.in going north for the lourn.^'-K'i.t. Hi- v\ - c a goo l account 0 liui.'-i'ii 11 he can i.i.'u'at.t: to get away. The „uo has c'lVen him more opportunity j.or practice. The Manchester Times sa} s --Mr Stc>vart, champiOii of Scotland, is a blindfold plajer of iv hWe skill, and has contested 12 boaads at once pgainst a picked team of the Kelty Club, vho hold the cup tor the ekib championshin cf > -fe^Vure, without losing a game, and Wiiii.i' g a majority of games. Standing ruL'y lift ihi n his stocking";, and of powerful a:hletic frame, Mr Stewart has more the appearance ot a champion wrestler than a champion of a, peaceful and purely mental wartime hka thaughts, brt his broad -exppnsive forehead, and keen grey eyes, also dercle that his lutel.ectual capacity is as gieat as his physical 3'ature Pillfburj lecently pave a blindfold exhibition pgams:, 12 ot tne stiongest checker pHyer3 in Grfvter Xcw Yoik, which lasteJ fiom 8 p TT. in 1 r> ni., and lesultecl 111 the following creditable scoie — Pillsbuiy, 2, All New York, 4; drawn, 6 Pillsbuiy won from B. Scully, the blind plaj-ei from Huber's Museum, and H. Prrednian, ex-champion of Scotland; and lost to Clousar, De Freest/ Collins, a:id Berusse. A novel idea, winch could be adopted by Otago Ciubs with advantage, is thus described b>' the Leeds Mercuiy — The Brighton V M C.A. Draughts Club have inaugurated, what is called a "Record of Stiength Competition." At the commencement of the competition the names of those members taking part are ajfijW|lged alphabetically in a glass show crsp, TTtiich is hung in a conspicuous positior. The rames are written on narrow strips of caidboard, which are lodged m the case oa hooks, so that the positions of t^e names enn be easily altered. Hooks such as are used by dressmakers answer the purpose very veil if glued or otherwise anixed to the sheet of cardboard formii-g the back of the case. TIII3 L=t is known as the "Ordei oT S'rength." Tie rules governing the competition are as follows — 1. Any member whose name is on the "Record" list shall have the right of challengmg for place the player immediately above him. 2. If any member fail to respond to a cha'I lenge within thiee day 3, acd to com-^ete I the match on appointment within 14 days, the player challenging nyy claim the match. ,es^* 3. No player, if victorious in a "record" match, need play the same opponent again within one n.onth 4. No player shall be engaged with mere than one challenge or match at the same time. i 5. Players mu=t inform the hon. sccretaiy of the Tssult-, of their matcnes, unon which the necessary alte.atioi's in t'ldr rositions on the list v. 'U be made. 6. Each lraLch shall co lM'-t of h\a g?m« S'lould the match rp=nlt 111 a diaw, the player challenged shall rehu 1 his position on the list. 7. PL?;,- to be governed b} r thp Stand^'d La\> s of draughts Dispute-) to >c decided by the committee, whose decision shall ba final. The names of tho=e- members who do not take part in the competition can be paced under the heading "Xo position."