WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CHESS CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 59

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CHESS CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. Mr W. Lightfoot occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the above club on the 22nd ult., when there was a large attendance of players. The report stated that Mr E. J. Barnes won the first prize in the annual handicap tournament with the fine score of 12 wins and 1 loss. The other prizes were won by Messrs Wild, Burgess, Kelling. and Larking, in that order. Two interclub matches were contested. The club defeated the visiting Wairarapa team in June, but lost its sixth annual fixture with the South Wellington Chess Club in September. The election of officers far the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr E. Mace; vice-presidents, Messrs J. M'Nee and W. Lightfoot; referee, Mt A. G. Fell (of the Wellington Chess Club); hon. secretary, Mr F. K. Kelling; hon. treasurer, Mr James Wilson; match committee —Messrs Barnes, Burgesa, and J. Reid; delegates to New Zealand Chess Association, Messrs Dalrymple and Milesi. It was decided to accept the challenge of the Wellington Bast Ch«3s Club to play a match in the Habaitai Bowling Pavilion on Tuesday, April 80, and to consider the programme of further matches and tournaments at a meeting to be held at an early date.

OTAGO CHESS CLUB. The formal opening of the Otago Chess Club's season took place in the club rooms, Liverpool atroet on Monday evening, 6th inst., when were about 30 members and Mends present. The president (Mr H. J. Armstrong) occupied the chair, and notified apologies from several absent members. Before calling on the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. Wilsonj to declare the season open the Chairman extended congratulations to him on having been returned without opposition. The Mayor was received with loud applause, and expressed his pleasure at being present to open the season. He was totally ignorant of the game of chess, but he knew that it was very ancient and was practical, world-wide. Chess players had been likened to generals engaging in a battle, and as he looked round and saw the gentlemen who played the game he realised that he might have brains sufficient to be a mayor and yet not have brains enough to be a chess player. He would move a pawn to "king's 4" and open the season. A match was then proceeded with between teams chosen by the president (Mr Armstrong) and the vice-president (Mr P. i M'Laurin). The contest resulted as folI lows : j President. "Vice-president.

I 74 9i I At a suitable interval the players were entertained at supper at the invitation of the vice-presidents. CHESS ITEMS. G. Gundersen has won the chess championship of Victoria. Twelve players competed in the tournament. H. E. Grant was runnerup, and the other 10 players followed in this order:—Third, C. G. Steele; fourth, i W. H. Quinton; tie. for fifth, G. P. Harrison nnd M. H. Read ; tie for seventh, J. S. Stan- ; ley and P. A. H. Lampe; ninth, C. Moulin; I tie for tenth, A. Burr, P. Ockenden, and A. I G. Rainey. ! Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., formally opened l the chess season in Oamaru on the 26th nit., I when an eight a-side match took place between beams selected by the president of the local club (Mr A. Got) and the captain (Mr B. P. Armstrong). Among: the combatants was Mr \V. S. Wilcox, formerly of ! Inveroargill, who maintained his fame as 'a 1 sturdy opponent by winning two games ! against Mr G. P. Malcolm, the ex-Naseby I player. The result of the match wtas a : draw, each side scoring seven wins. ) At the annual meeting of the Timaru Chess Club on the 23rd ult., the following- were elected office-bearers: —Patron, R. R. Tavlor; president, A. Rack; vice-presidents—A. Paterson. E. A. Werry, and 11. Cuthbert; secretary and treasurer, G. P. Wood; captain, E. J. Mills (re-elected); committee—ll. Gourlay, J. Mallouk, and B. Hayes; match committee and bandicappers—E. J. Mills, G. P. Wood, and T. O. Mara. Mr Wood mentioned that the club was badly off for chess material. There plenty of boards, but a paucity of chepsmen. He moved that members" subscriptions be raised from 5s to 7s 6d ner annum. The club could get good pets of chessmen at 12s 6d or 15s a set. The higher subscription would enable them to buy a sufficient number, and also place the club on a sounder financial basis. (The) balance sheet showed a credit balance of £1 I lis Id and no liabilities.) The proposal was j carried. Mr A. Beck (president) intimated that he intended to donate £1 Is as a tour- : narnent trophy.

Wins. Wins H. J. Armstrong 0 R. A. Cleland 1 L. D. Coombs 1 C. M. Isaac ... 1 J. H. F. Hamel 1 J. A. Boreham 0 W. Fraer 0 Dr J. Howard 2 R. H. (Men... U P. M'Laurin ... A. V. Fraer ... 1 J. R. Hambleton 1 W. J. Owen ... 0 J. E. Hale ... 2 F. J. Mouat ... 1 A. H. Fraer ... 0 J. Alliim 0 H. Rappe 2 S. S. Myers ... 2 C. J. Watson ... 0