DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 47

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERNETHY. Boliitkraa ol problems, games, and analyses inrited lor this column. Games should bo written In six oolumns as below, and nil correspondences addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4371. By the late D. A. Brodie

White. White to play and draw. The above is a sample of the skill when only about 12 years of age. It_ is the ending of a "Dundee" game played with the late J. P. Bell, one of the bast "players in New Zealand at that date, and was diawn in play.

PROBLEM 4372. By the late D'. A. Bbodie Black.

White. Black to move and draw. This is another end-game of about the game period as the previous one. Black looks hopeless, but Brodie- saw the draw without seeming to do any calculating, and went straight ahead without hesitation. TO CORRESPONDENT. J. G. —Keenly disappointed that we missed you. Had -we known you were south, would have -made arrangements to meet you both and gather the tribes. That modesty which keeps you out of the limalight is appreciated, but Dunedin was the loser. Don't do it again. Mr Brodie passed away the day after you left here, which will accentuate the regret that you did not see • him on Friday. Shall be pleased to have something from you on the player with whom you have contested so many keen games. Your joint greetings heartily reciprocated. GAMES. The following two games were played between the late W. Wamock, then champion of Australasia, and the late D. A. Brodie, in 1890, when Brodie was a mere boy. They serve as samples of Brodie's early skill. Game 8595 —"Single Corner."

(a) 15 10, 7 14, 23 18, 14 23, 26 12 would draw for White. (b) A trap for Black. If 32 27, Whitewould win by 15, 27 23, 9 6,2 9, 5 23. fo) Still open. (d) Trying to catch the draw, for which White is now playing. (e) If Black had plaved 15 10, White would have played 9 6,2 9, 21 17, 14 21, 57. Game 3598 —"Single Corner."

Drawn. Playefl between the lato J. P. Ecll and D. A." Broclie. Game 3597—"WniltoT." Black: J. P. Bell. "White: D. A. Brodie.

OBITUARY. It is with very deep regret that we have to record in this "issue the death of two wellknown players. First came word by Mr Gardiner that ALEX. MATHESON, of Black Swamp, Balfour, died in Gore on January G, and was buried on the 9th, Messrs James and John Gardiner and others attending the funeral. This will bo sad news to many in Dunedin. It was our privilege to know the deceased well, as it was for soml time our practice to meet with him once a, week either in his homo or our own; and we cannot help picturing his gentle wife and two sweet little girls, who are now left to mourn the irreparable loss of a trie and worthy husband and father. The deceased was a well-built 6ft son of Scotland, hailing from the rugged islands of the northwest coast, and brought with him to this land a fine combination of the best qualities for strengthening the foundations of "God's Own Country." He possessed a broad and liberal mind, was fearless in the expression of his beliefs where it was necessary, hated wroag, and loved right. It was natural, then, that ho became popular with a,ll who know, him, and his few years' membership of the Otago Draughts Club will not readily be forgotten. Ho retired from his pursuit of farming for several years, and spent his vacation in Dunedin—the period of his association with lhe local club. During this time he took :i run Home to his native isle,' and on returning seemed to find inactivity somewhat irksome. It is rot long since ho took up land! in the Balfour district, leaving a gap in the draughts circle in .Dunedin which has never been filled. On behalf of the Otago players iii general we extend to Mrs Matheson the very warmest sympathy in her great loss. DAVID ALEX. BRODIE. Just at the eleventh hour our plans for this issue had to bo changed on receipt of the word that Mr D. A. Brodie had passed away . suddenly on Sunday evening last, February 3. The news came with a great shock, as he had not been ill. He was seized with what appeared to be a fit at 9 o'clock in the evening, aaidj a doctor was called in. He evidently did not anticipate anything serious when he left the patient, but two hours later he was called again, and arrived too late to be of service' We have been in close touch with the deceased practically all his life. He was a mere boy when we first came into touch with him, and was so delicate that he was not sent to school. W© took him in hand and imparted the necessary lessons in English, writing, etc., and saw him outgrow his physical weakness and become a' strong, heavily-built man. For the last 12 years or so he was employed as a linesman with the Drianage Board survey staff. He married a few years ago, and leaves a widow to mourn him, but no family; nor does he leave any family relations, both his parents and brother having predeceased him years ago. Reference to the deceased as a draughts player cannot be accomplished in a few lines, nor can it be dealt with in the timo at our disposal this week. He was so well known, throughout Now Zealand as a player that we extend an invitation to anyone who desires to con<ribute anything to an outline of his career. This may take the form of a personal estimate, a game, problem, ending, etc. His performance is so good and his' connection with the game so long that there must be many a player, in addition to the notable men in the game, who would like the opportunity to tell something of the deceased, even if it be only some interesting incident in play. Anything will be welcomed, and is really called for as a tribute to one who has done no much for the game of draughts. In the meantime Mrs Brodio can b 3 assured that there is only one thought and one heart in the draughts-piay'.ng community, and both go out in sympathy to her. DEAUGHTS ITEMS. Mr J as. Gardiner. —Mr Jas. Gardiner, the well-known and popular player, was in Dunedin on Friday last, and left on Saturday, en route fox liis home in Westport. The celebrated "Jim" was accompanied by his brother, Mr John Gardiner. A very enjoyable month had just been spent with "the old folks at home" in Gore, where "Jim Gardiner" is a name to conjure with. Whilst in Gore the champion gave a simultaneous exhibition against 10 niembsrs of the club, the scores being Gardiner 19 wins, 1 los3, and 4 draws. The lost game was secured by Mr John Gardiner, who plays a strong game always. Both the Gardiner brothers attended the funeral of the late Alex. Matlieson, whose demise was unknown here in Dunedin until Mr Gardiner gave the information. During Mr Gardiner's brief stay in Dunedin he contested several games with Mr J. A. Lucas, who was the only player available.

Black: D. A. Brodie. White: W. warnock 11 15 27 23 16 20 1 6 26 30 < 22 18 4 8 9 5 18 15 1 6 15 22 81 27 20 24 6 1 27 32 25 18 8 12 26 23 7 11-c 6 1 12 16 28 24 24 28 1 6 32 27 29 25 11 16 5 1 11 16 1 6 9 13 14 9 28 32 14 10 27 23 18 14 5 14 15 10 15 18-D 6 1 10 17 18 9 7 14 6 1 23 19 21 14 1 5 18 9 16 19 1 6 16 20 19 15 17 22-b 1 5 19 15 24 19 5 14 1 5 18 14 6 1 6 10 23 19 82 27 10 6 E-30 26 25 21 16 23 23 18 19 23 1 6 10 17 27 ~9 27 23 6 1 26 22 21 14 20 27 18 14 22.26 6 1 13 17 82 23 8 7 80 25 15 10 23 18 12 16 5 1 23 27 B.wins. 8 11 23 18-A 23 18 25 21

Black: D. A. Brodie.. White: W. Warnock 11 15 16 20 2 6 7 11 1 10 22 18 29 25 26 22 16 7 23 24 16 22 8 11 ~6 10 3 17 10 14 25 18 24 19 31 26 27 23 19 15 12 10 4 8 10 17 17 23 12 16 18 14 19 16 22 13 23 19 15 10 9 18 6 10 11 15 8'12 14 6 23 14 25 21 2G 23 32 27 18 23 10 17 10 17 15 18 5 9 27 18 21 14 21 14 23 14 13 6 20 27

11 15 8 11 ■ 4 3 30 26 A-27 32 23 19 29 25 26 23 8 4 19 15 7 11 3 8 8 11 26 22 32 27 22 17 25 2*2 80 26 17 14 15 10 0 14 11 16 11 16 6 9 27 23 25 22 31 26 22 18 13 6 4 8 5 9 16 23 10 15 2 18 23 18 17 13 27 11 18 11 32 28 8 11 11 10 8 15 14 18 IS 23 18 14 22 17 24 19 23 5 28 24 Drawn. 16 23 15 24 16 30 23 27 26 19 2S 19 11 8 24 19 (A) Bell missed a neat w. in hero a3 folloTVSI 22 18 ♦31 27 IS 11 15 11 27 23 4 8 19 15 21 17 14 9 B.wins. 27 31 12 16 11 15 11 7 6 11 11 20 17 14 20 16