THE DRAUGHTS CONGRESS.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 5

THE DRAUGHTS CONGRESS.

NEW ZEALANDBES CRITICISED. [frou our own cobhe3pondknt.] [By Teleqkaph from the Bluff.] MELBOURNE, November 30. Mr Paterson, of the Melbourne Draughts Club, has won the first prize of JSSO in the Centennial Draughts Congress, and becomes entitled to hold the championship of Australasia for six months, after which he will be required to meet any players by whom ho may be challenged* Mr Brown, also of the Melbourne Club, wins the second prize of .£lO, and Mr Gallagher, of the Collingwood Club, the third prize of JBS. The play of Mr Boswell and Mr Helhvrick, of New Zealand, was unfavorably criticisod. They had four successive draws, each game not occupying more than ten minutes. The Australasian says:—" The action of these gentlemen was criticised with some eeverity. Those who blamed them were naturally under the impression that tbe condition of all such contests Iβ that the players concerned shall devote to every match in which they may be engaged enough of time to enable them to do full justice to their respective capacities and skill, but the code of law to which the players at the Draughts Congress are subject is silent as to the duty each individual, player owes to the whole body of competitors, consequently any pair of players might in conformity with the rules play as fast as they like, and :if Mr Boswell and Mr Mcllwrick got through their gnnies at lightning speed, they might cliiim it as evidence of unusual mental facility. lb was susceptible, however of another interpretation— ta a possible intention to keep in. the contest by mntnal draws until One Victorian player had worked the other out and then been worked out himself by some New Zealand player. When Messrs Boswell and Morris were pitted also their contests resulted in fonr successive draws.