DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 376, 12 June 1889, Page 4

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Tui: Can vdiax Championship. — The Canadian playeis seem anxious to play Mr Fleming, bub none have the courage to challenge him fot the title he now holds. He states: "I do not care the toss of a button for the championship if it is taken fiom me. The man who takes it has to come to Markbam and wrestle it from me. I will only play for fche championship and the amount ol stakes that it carries. Ido not hold it to make money, only for bhe love of the game, and I will defend it against all eoirers, and when taken it will be by a stronger player than myself." Here is now a good chance for Mesbrs Kelly, Labadie. i)yke», or Campbell to show then willingness and gi it, with which, and a little stiffness of fche backbone, they mighr, accomplish the ta^k of relieving Mr Fleming of the thing he has so faithfully held.—" Turf, Field, and Farm." The private match which is to be played between Mr Cray and Mr Houston, and in which the prize to be cariied off' by the winner is Lhe " Le Fevre Cup," is to consist of eight unrestricted games. The first meeting for play has been fixed for Wednesday, the 22nd mst. , the place to be the Sir Hemy Loch Hotel, in Johnston - street, Collingwood. Of course the match will be completed at a single sitting, and it hat been arranged that the second meeting shall take place at Mr Cody's Hotel, in Brunswick-sti eet. Mr J. P. Reed, the American blindfold champion, ha-* been entertained to dinner by the Checker Club of Chicago, in honour of his becoming a permanent resident of that city.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF AUSTRALASIA Mr James Paterson having adopted the title of draughts champion of Australasia, objection to the assumption has been raised by Mr James Little, the draughts editor of the "Canterbury Press." After stacing that he won the title of draughts champion ot Australasia at an open tournament held in Dunedin in January, 1885, Mr Little writes: "Mr Paterson will require to defeat me in a match for the bible in accordance wich Andersons lnws before he possesses the right to style bitnselt ' draughts champion of Australasia.' " Tho Wellington Club now numbers 60 members. Ie is anticipated that representatives will be sent to Dunedin to take part in a tourney to be held during the Exhibition.

The two colts, Kirkham and Narellan, which the Hon. J. White has entered for the English Derby, will leave in the Orizaba next Saturday. The jockey, ft. Boase, who is accompanying them, has been presented with a testimonial by his Victorian friends. Mr W. C. (Jooper, another Australian, but who is now in England, has also an eye co the good things of the English turf, and has sent instructions for Lad> Betty, one of the best two yeai-olds of her year, to be shipped to him. Nothing definite with regard to her leaving has yet been determined, but it is more than likely that .she will accompany the representatives of the b we and white.