CHESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 53

CHESS.

OTACO CHESS CLUB. The thirty-third annual rnetting of- the Otago Chess Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. buildings on the 14th. Mr R A. Cleland presided over a large attendance of members.

During the past year the club has made no rapid strides, but on the other hand has not gone back. Six. new members were elected, but four were lost through resignations and removals. Amongst the latter refereno© must be made to Mr P. N. Stewart, who has returned to Auckland. During the time he was a member of the club, Mr Stewart showed * that he was not only an enthusiast of the game, but that he was prepared to help the club in every way. Telegraph matches were played against Canterbury and Wellington, Otago winning the former. The correspondence match against the Christehurch Club resulted in a very decisive win for Otago. The majority of the playing members of the club competed in the annual problemsolving competition, held under the auspices of the Good Companion Chess Problem Club, of Philadelphia. Some of the senior players, notably the president, acquitted themselves creditably. The club competitions resulted as under:—Junior championship, Rev. N. Freiberg; handicap, Mr P. N. Stewart 1, Mr W. H. Allen 2. Unfortunately, no_ interest was taken in the senior championship, and sufficient games were not played to warrant this title being awarded. Mr R. A. Cleland retains the title of senior champion of the club. Mention must be made of the services rendered to the club by the retiring president (Mr R. A. Cleland), wno has now filled the chair twice, after an Interval of a quarter of a century. ITie financial position of the club is not quite as good as it was 12 months ago, and it is absolutely necessary that at least 10 more members be gained in order to place the finances in a sound condition.

In moving the adoption of the annual report the Chairman said that during the past year the membership had increased by two He referred to the loss the club had sustained through the transference of Mi' P. N. Stewart, and he read _ a letter from -that gentleman, who is now in Auckland, wishing the club success and forwarding his next year's subscription. Ho hoped that during the incoming year there would be more telegraphio matches. He congratulated the members who had taken part in the Good Companionship competition.

In seconding the motion, Mr Balk said he had been talking over matters with some members, and it was thought best to catch the rising generation and make them chess players. He proposed holding winter chess classes in connection with the Maori Hill School, and he understood that Mr Hamel was prepared to do the same at Kaikorai. He felt certain that other members would do the same in their respective districts. Mr Myers said that in the past they had a good attendance from the High .School boys, and he advocated endeavouring to secure them again next year. He also referred to the Otago Open Championship that it was proposed to hold during Winter Show week. He hoped it would be the means of interesting country players in the club.

Mr T. M. Gillies suggested an active canvass for honorary members. The motion was carried unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr H. H. Henderson; vice-presidents—Mr W. G. Stenhouse, sen., and Rev. H. Friberg, jun.; hon. secretary, Mr D. Harris Hastings (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Mr W. H. Allen (re-elected); committee —Messrs R. A. Oleland, S. S. Myers, 0. Balk, L. D. Coombs, A. E. Ward, and C. j. Watson; hon. auditor, Mr G, D. Wright; hon. solicitor, Mr J. Lang. Upon the motion of Mr Balk, seconded by Mr Gillies, it was resolved: —"That all returned soldiers be offered the privilege of free membership of the club for one year."

The opening of the season was fixed for May 12, and the Mayor will be asked to perform the opening ceremony. Mr Balk said that the members of the club had decided that this unique occasion could not be allowed to pass without specially drawing attention to it. Ho referred to the fact that Mr R. A. Cleland was retiring from tho president's chair after occupying it the second time after a quarter of a century interval. He had much pleasure in presenting Mr Cleland with a Morris chair, bearing the following inscription: " Presented to Mr Cleland, our foremost member in work and play; vicepresident, 1893-1918; from the members of the Otago Chess Club, 14/4/19." He referred at considerable length to the valuable work Mr Cleland had done as president, treasurer, committeeman, etc., and said that as a player he might be called the permanent champion of the club. Mr Cleland was well known as a problem composer, and also for his written literature on chess, and he (Mr Balk) hoped that he would find time to edit and publish his various works. As the senior surviving member of tho club, Mr Hastings also offered Mr Cleland his -congratulations, and said ho had done more for the game than any other man in the dominion, and he was perhaps the best known chess player. Other members of the club having voiced Mr Oleland's good points and the esteem in which he was held by all chess players, that gentleman thanked them for their present and good opinions. The latter ho really valued more than the chair, and that he did not undervalue. He gave some reminiscences of the club since he had been a member. Three hearty cheers and rrmsyial honours terminated a pleasant little function.