DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 62

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Draughts Club. — The annual meeting of'tluOtago Club, which 3iad to be postponed from [ tho 26th ult., owing £o the unavoidable absence &f both piesident'and secretary, will be- held iy- s xt Saturday ' evening (lOth) at 8 o'clock."Dunne's Draughts Praxis; or Modern Match Games" is the titfe of the new book by Mr Frank Dimne, which is now in the press. It will be a book of some 250 pages, demy Svo, and will comprise the Jordan v. Fieedman Match Games; English Tourney Games', 1302 and 1904; SocttiEh Tourney Games, 1901, 1902, ar.d 1903 ; A Selection of End-games ; A Chapter for Bfcginnners; Standard Laws; Rules of the English and Scottish Associations; and' will be wharh its name implies, a reliable "Guide" to modern draughts-playing. The subscription list covers over 500 copies, and inckidles most of ths leading draughts players of the world. - Mr Dirane expects to have it ready for kstis early in December. — Leeds Mercury Supplement. Mr Niumeanaker, an old-time Chicago player, has (sfly,s the Ciiicago Inter-Ocean) just returned froni Boston, where he spent a few weeks. In talking about the way the game is played at the "Hub," he said: — "The poorest player in ihe club thinks nothing about taking from five to twenty minutes on the simplest proposition on the board. I played about 20 different players, hoping to find someone who would play as fast as I did, but without sue- " cess, as they all seem to take a nap between moves." When the late James P.' Reed vanquished Charles F. Barker, he resorted to subterfuge — that is to say, the very minute Barker moved Reed also reached for the man he in- ■ tended to move, and in less than ten seconds after Barker's move was recorded, Reed, had! Charles Fiancis feiwclying again. This was an. innovation, as he w?vS compelled to move about every five minutes, and being accustomed to the ten to 20 minute limit indulged in at the "Hub," 'lost the match. The qtiestion that is being continually asked is, "Why change tha . tini-9 limit? Is i l to suit the seif-consfcitated committee at Boston, or a few slow ones from across the- water?" Riohard Atwell. — Atwell's consistent propaganda for some long time past to project for himself a reputation has (says an" exchange) been wonderfully successful. It has extended . to the United States. The Yankees are noted! for a spirit of free and independent familiarity, and this spirit has of late displayed itself amongst certain of our American exchanges ins the application of the playful nickname. The "London Jaw3mith" is the latest amusing sobriquet by which Atwell appears to he known on the other side^of the Atlantic.