OTAGO CHESS CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 21743, 11 June 1934, Page 2

OTAGO CHESS CLUB

JUBILEE FUNCTION To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the club the members of the Otago Chess Club attended a social function in' the Allbell Chambers on Saturday night, the president (Mr D. Harris Hastings) presiding over a large attendance. The Chairman extended a welcome to the visitors, especially Sir James Allen. The speaker was also pleased to see present Mr G. A. Le Petit (of the Invercargill Club). Mr J. Dunlop (the present champion of New Zealand), •and Mr F. Jones, M.P. in proposing the toast of u The New Zealand Chess Association,” the De-puty-mayor (Cr J. J. Marlow), who is also" the senior vice-president of the club, said that sometimes they were inclined to overlook the work done by the governing body. They played their games, but forgot that there was an exceptionally capable organisation of men controlling the games. Last year there had been an exceptionally tine congress, but this could not have been were it not for the great deal of thought given to it by the association. He apologised for the absence of the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox), who sent his congratulations to the club on reaching its jubilee, and wished it every success in the future. “The thanks of the far-flung clubs taking part in the telegraphic matches must ,go to the association,” said Dr 15. N. Herrington, president of the association, in replying to the toast. It was the major body, but not the senior one, as it was only celebrating its thirty-eighth anniversary. The association had taken on trie great responsibility of the various activities of the chess clubs throughout the dominion. He referred to Mr Fedor Selling, of Wellington, who had made a tremendous appeal to chessmen in New Zealand All would bo pleased to see that Mr Cecil Purdie had recently won the New South Wales championship. His performance was magnificent.. The question: Why was I born? was one that the Otago Chess Club might ask itself while celebrating its ]ubilee, and the happy answer was to ho found ill its record extending over the fifty years of its activity. He complimented the secretary of the cfub (Mr W. Herbert) and the members of the committee on their good work in the interests of the club, and congratulated Mr Dunlop on winning the championship. He wished Mr Dunlop every success in his coming trip to Australia. Stressing the moral and the educational value of chess, Sir James Allen, in proposing the toast of the Otago Chess Club,” said that time had to be occupied, and one of the best ways to do this was to play chess. The international spirit had to be encouraged, and chess was a means of doing tins. He referred to the value of much of the work being carried out in the club room, and mentioned that he learned the game while on board ship. He extended to the club very hearty good wishes for its continued success, A vice-president of the club (Mr J. Crow) replied to the toast. He said that his earliest recollection of the club was when'he visited the rooms used by it in Manse street. The club was organised on a very solid foundation. The late Mr R. A. Cleland; was tbe father of elieSs in Otago, and his brother (Mr Hugh) and Mr F. G. Mowat were also prominent in the club then. They were cultiired men, and one could learn a lot from them. Ho also spoke ot others who had had a great deal to do with the work ,qf the club, many being very fine players and very fine students. Chess was a very old game; in fact, it was said that tbe early Egyptians played it. It then extended over many other countries, and became a universal game. “ This is one of the proud moments of my life—to see the jubilee of the Chess Clubs,” said Mr 0. Balk, who was asked to give a few reminiscences. On his first day in' Dunedin, he said, he stepped into the Chess Club rooms. He hoped the spirit of the older members would be passed on to the new players, who would carry on to reach the century. The chib was in a particularly flourishing state when the two Mr Clelands took such an interest in its .affairs. There was no other man who had been of such value to the club as the late Mr R. A. Cleland. Mr Thomas Johnstone was also a very willing worker. _ The late Mr Cleland, it was interesting to know, was the man who arranged the New Zealand Chess Association. Prior to that there was no governing organisation. Mr Rossbottom was another member who took a keen interest in the club. Mr Balk also referred to the remarkable record of the club, and recalled many humorous incidents associated with the game in its earlier stages. Proposing the toast of “The Visitors,” Dr G, Barnett said, like Sir James, he also learned to play the game on hoard ship. There were one or two misconceptions about chess that should be cleared away. Some people thought it was a hard game to learn, but this was not so.

In responding, Mr F. Jones, M.P., said it was very pleasing to the visitors to hear the reminiscences that evening. It was gratifying to know that the present president was one of the original members of the club. The speaker recognised the value of chess as a mind developer. He hoped the future of the. club would be very bright. The toast'of “The Champions of New Zealand ” was proposed by Mr T. H. Gillies, who said that the present 'champion (Mr Dunlop) was the most consistent player and student of chess the club had known for years. Three times in succession he had been the champion, and now he had gained the honour for the fourth time. The speaker also referred to last year’s winner (Mr R, S. Watt), and added that five game was an inspiration to the young players. Thanks were returned by Messrs Dunlop and Watt, the former mentioning that a great deal of his success ho owed to Mr G. F. Dodds.

Mr J. Crow proposed the toast of “ The Secretary,” stating that Mr Herbert was an energetic and capable officer.

Mr Herbert briefly replied. During the evening the following contributed to a musical programme:—Mr N. Bach op (pianoforte overture), Mr Le Petit (flute solos)-, Mr E. Syrett (songs), Mr R. Herbert (elocutionary items), Mr G Ferguson (songs), Mr W. Lang (violin solos), Mr W. H. Allen (songs).