OTAGO CHESS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 66

OTAGO CHESS CLUB.

The twentieth annual meeting of the Otago Chess Club was held in the club rooms, Liverpool street, on the evening of the 12th mst.. Mr J. Stone (retiring president) occupying the chair. The members present were . The Rev. A. T. Chodowski, Messrs S. S. Myers, J. H. F. Hamel, F. J. Mouat, J. Crow, O. Balk, J. Edwards, T. Johnstone, D. Forsyth, F. W. Clayton, J. C. Ponsouby, H. Lyders, J. B. Borton, Dr Heinemaim, Messrs G. D. Wright, T. M. Gillies, R. H. Osten, A. Mellor. R. A. Cleland, and J. Lang. Mr Stone, in moving the adoption of the annual report (already published), congratulated members on the satisfactory financial position disclosed. During the year the pleasure of playing in the rooms had been considerably enhanced by the splendid improvements in the matter of lighting — improvements due largely to the instrumentality of Mr C. H. Osmond, who raised the necessary funds by a special collection. Quite a number of matches had been played las± season, giving an impetus to the game and acting as an incentive towards raising the standard of play. There were also no less than seven club prizes to be presented — a fact which spoke volumes for the activity of play inside the club itself. — (Applause.)

The report and balance sheet were* unanimously adopted, Messrs Edwards, Crow, Gillies, Hamel, Johnstone, and Borton strongly affirming the desirability of effecting an increase in the membership.

The election of office-bearers for the current year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:— President, the Rev. A. T. Chodowski; vice-presidents — Messrs S. S. Myers and J. H. F. Hamel ; secretary, Mr F. W. Clayton ; treasurer, Mr J. C. Ponsonby; committee — Messrs J. Stone, J. Crow, J. Lang, R. A. Cleland, F. J. Mouat, and G. D. Wright; auditor, Mr T. M. Gillies.

The Chairman then presented Mr D. Forsyth, senior club champion, with a handsome silver salver (gift of Mr Cleland) and a. gold medal. Other recipients of prizes were: Mr G. D. Wright, junior champion, hand-scinely-framed picture and gold medal ; Messrs J. B. Borton and J. Stone, winners of ladder tourney, orders on D.I.C. for silver-mounted umbrellas, given by Mr C. H. Osmond; Mr J. H. F. Harnel, top scorer in handicap tourney, handsome set of ivory Japanese chessmen, gift of the Eev. Mr Chodowski; Mr G. D. Wright, runner-up in same tourney, silvermounted walking stick, presented by ■Mr Myers. The retiring president (Mr J. Stone) and Mr O. Balk (retiring treasurer) were awarded, in special recognition of their past services, a, silver cigarette-holder and silver cigar case rpspectively. After the customary vote of thanks to the retiring "executive and the press representatives, the meeting adj'oumed for refreshments, at the special invitation of the Key. Mr Chodowski, the newly-elected president.