CHESS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2464, 18 May 1915, Page 9

CHESS

THE WELLINGTON OLTJ.B. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Chess Club was held on Wednesday evening, Mr. W. F. Barraud (president) presiding over a good attendance of members. The balance-sheet shows that there is a small credit balance on the year's transactions. The 39th annual report states that the annual "Petherick tourney was won by Sir. W. C. White (Class 5), the second and third prizes being dividod by Messrs. Still and Hill, who tied with five wins and two losses each. The club won the annual telegraphic match, with Canterbury bv 7i games fo 2J. The club has won one of its two correspondence games with the Sydney School of Arts Chess Club; the remaining game is unlinislied, the club having a slight positional advantage. A sides match was played on June 17 to celebrate the club's removal to its present quarters in the Y.M.O.A. Buildings. Mr. Still's team defeating Mr. Barnes's team by 8 games to 6. Regret is expressed at a falling away in the membership, the club having now only 21 active and 12 honorary members. The attendances during the past year have been unißtiallv small, and it is hoped that tf>e proposed "All-Wellington Championship Tournaments" (senior and junior) will eventuate and be the means cf restoring a large measure of lost activity nnd interest in the game locai'y. Mi. W. C. Hill represented the club at the Christcliurch Congress, and made a very creditable showing in this his first attempt to gain the New Zealand Championship. _ The report concludes with appreciation of the weekly reports that have appeared in the local papers, and thanks to all who have rendered assistance in the past twelve months. The report was unanimously adopted on the motion of the chairnan, who expressed regret that of late years very few young members had come forward to 'eplaca the gaps ihat 03;n; in the ranks from nine to t'mp Mr. C. W. Tanner suggested offering freo instruction to the younger members of the Y.M.C.A., and aslo opening the club on Saturday evenings to scholars in secondary schools, as was done last year in Auckland, with gratifying results. Something will probably be done in this direction at an early date. The officers for j 915-16 were elected as follow:—President, Mr. A. G. Fell; vice-presidents, Messrs. P. Still and C. W. Tanner; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. C. Hill; hon. auditor, Mr. W. Mackay[committee, Messrs. Gyles, sen., White, Barnes, James, and A. Varnoy. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. W. C. Hill for the valued services rendered by him as hon. secretary and treasurer during the past twelve months. At the conclusion of the annual meeting a committee meeting was held, when Messrs. Fell, Barnes,' and Hill were elected as the 'Match Committee for the enusing year, and final arrangements were made in. connection with the annual telegraphic match against the Canterbury Chess Club.

CANTERBURY CHESS CLUB V. WELLINGTON CHESS CLUB. Tho annual 12-aside match by telegraph between the Canterbury and Wellington Chess Clubs was aommenced on Saturday evening, the local team occupying their room in the Y.M.O.A. Building. The attendance of spect<v tors was larger than usual. About half an hour was lost in making preliminary arrangements, but play then proceeded briskly and all the games have reached an interesting stage. Spectators who drop in at the club room next Saturday should witness some fine finishes. The pairing is as follows, the name of the Canterbury player being

given first in each instance: —-Board I, Severne v. Barnes; 11, Nightingale v. W. E. Mason; 111, Cumberworth v. Still; IV, Lovell-Smith v. W. Mackay; V ; Woodford v. James; VI, Gourlay v. Rolling; VII, Hankins v. Fouhy; VIII Joyce v. Barraud; IX, A. L. Smith v. S. Gyles; X, Black v. Fell; XI, Shillito v. Hill; XII, Gant v. Tanner. The operators are: Messrs. George Clark (Wellington), and H. I. Bennett (Christchurch), and the umpiring is in the hands of Messrs. W. H. Messenger (for Wellington) and W. C. White (for Christohurch). The local scrutineers are Messrs. White and Gyles, sen. The first evening's play was very steady, and givos 110 indication as to which team will win tho match.