CHESS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3043, 2 April 1917, Page 3

CHESS

THE NGAIO CLUB Tho fourth annual meeting of the gaio Club was, held recently, Mr. A. . 'X'opp (president) being in the chair, iio report presented by tho hon. seoitary (Mr. A." S. Green) gave" an. iniresting review of the past year's operiions. The annual handicap tourney as stubbornly contested, the handiipper, Mr. Banks, being successful in -inging about a close finish. Mr. A. . Topp won the first prize, and took le Sutherland trophy. ■. Mr, Lindsay on the second prize, and Mr. Banks le third. . The brilliancy prize was warded to Mr. Tucker. Two_ prizes ere allotted to'Hhe Second Division, [r. 'Banks taking the first and Mr. rown the second. Two matches were layed with the "Wellington South lub, the latter winning both. Two Drrespondence games were played with le Whangarei Club, both ending in . a raw. • Several ladder matches were layed, a : gratifying feature in these' imtests being the rapid progress made y some; of the junior players, which 'as 'responsible for some interesting, r unexpected,: changes in the club's adder. Reference was made to the lossibility of losing more members wing to the war, and tho need for nrolling new members was stressed. Tiere, was also a plea for better atendancesat the club room on playing lights,- and for the introduction of a nore rapid time-limit in connection pith tourney and ladder games. The balance-sheet showed the club to ie,in' a good- financial position, viz., :ash .in, ..hand,' £2 55.; liabilities, nil; issets. £6 10s. . The ; report and bal-mce-sheet were unanimously adopted, ;he president congratulating the youngs' 1 players on their rapid progress. The jlection 'of officers resulted-as follows: —Patrons, Messrs. R.' A.-. Wright, M.Pi, Lieutenant-Colonel J.. J. Esson, 3.M.G.,, and Messrs. Sutherland, Nicol ind Crump (Mayor of Onslow); presilent, Mr. A. B. Topp; vice-presl-lepts, Mr. E. Hicksj senion; Lom secretary, Mr.' A. 9. Green; hon-. treasurer, _ Mr. E. Hicks, junior; ' match ;ommitiee, Messrs. Topp, Twker, and Lindsay.' Mr, Prince replaces - Mr. Banks on the executive. An attractive programme is being drawn up for the ensuing reason. WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB. The tournament to decide tho above :lub's championship for 1917 is now in full swing. , The eight strongest availible members are taking part. As a result of, the first month's play, Messrs. Welton- and Harper are unbeaten, while. Messrs. G. P. Anderson, and Purjhas (the present champion) have eaoh lost one game. The "Welton v. Harper game stands adjourned at a very interesting stage.' A close finish v to ihis contest seems assured., THE MASTERTON CLUB. ; The Masterton Club .recently held a very successful annual meeting in the local Y.M.O.A. roomp, there being a good attendance. The outgoing president (Mr. F. P. "Welch) presented a report covoring ; tho club's operations in\the. past year, and made feeling reference to the' recent .death of Mr. A.. G. Fell, president of the' New Zealand Chess Association. He paid an eloquent tribute to the invaluable service; rendered by the late Mr. Fell to the cause of New Zealand chess during the eight years that he was the association's lion.' secretary and treasurer. Mri'J. A. Council was elected president for the ensuing year, and Mr. A. E. Clcmas was appointed hon. secrotary and treasurer.' A strong committee was set up to carry out the operations of the coining season, which will probably 'inclat'a 'mutches with Wellington clubs. Mr. .Walter Conliell, tno winner'of. the Dii.gg Shield, having removed to Welington up a position in the Public -Trust Office, tho trophy was handed over to Mr. Connell, serir., who was congratulated on .his son's achievement. , . A vote of thanks wn 5 accorded to the Messrs.-'Kummer for providing cars for tliei two matches _against Featherston Camp, (in wluch honours are easy, each side havipg scored a win). : Grateful reference was also made to the good work dono by Mr. G. A. Jones as hon. secertary. After the president had declared tho season open, several interesting games-were played, an enjoyable evening ending with a supper. '' GENERAL NOTES.' Mr. John Mason, .New Zealand's 1910 champion, who left with the Twelfth ■ Reinforcements, is still doing ambulance work in Egypt.' While stationed at Moasear lie won the first prize in a, tourney promoted by the Y.M.C.A. authorities': There were sixteen competitors, Mr. Mason being the only New Zealander taking part. His brother Blake Mason (who was run-ner-up: for the New Zealand Championship at the Oamaru congress twelve years ago) received several shrapnpl wounds in the legs during the fighting at Flers in September last. He was still in hospital in England at the end of January. As a ros'ult of his injuries he has a drop foot, and his right arm is partly paralysed from the effects of the concussion. . The Rev. B. G. Fox, writing to a friend in this city, states that his health has improved since he took spiritual charge at the Chathams a year ago. ' He reports having met ten chess players on tho Island. The foremost of tliehi, Mr. Guest, who was a member of tne Wellington Club ton years -ago,- will shortly bo joining the Fhrces at Trentham. ; The Rev. C. _E. Fox, who has -returned to his missionary work in the Solomon! Islands (and who was the only player to score a win from tho redoubtable Mr. Barnes in the last New Zealand Congress), was very ill with dysentery in' December At latest advices lie was making good recovery though still somewhat weak.' : Tho Auckland Club is holding a very successful Red Cross tournament. Play is at the very rapid rate of forty moves' per hour, so the "skit.tlers" are moro likely to feel at home than the /'dawdlers." '. A South African writer likens the German peace offer to a chess playei who, recognising .'that he cannot win, offers a draw hoping, ' that his opponent will riot see the winning line of Play. ,