THE PASSING OF A PIONEER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 64, 13 September 1926, Page 6

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER

A Press Association message from Auckland reported the death on the Bth instant ol Mr. Hugh Hart Lusk, at the age of 89 years. Tho late Mr. Lusk was one ot New Zealand's leading chess players In the 'seventies. The Auckland West Chess Club defeated tho Rest of Auckland in a match played in April 1871, when Mr. Lusk captained the losing side. Every member of the team had to play 15 games in this lengthy contest of threo full rounds, in which Mr. Lusk's score was only beaten by that of Mr. J. Borton, who subsequently won the championship of Auckland. In August, 1871, Mr. Lusk assisted in forming the first Auckland Chess Club, and he was its leading representative when it was defeated by the Ponsonby Chess Club in 1875. In l.brunry, 1876, ho played at board 3 in the first telegraph match, Auckland v. Dunedin, and drew his game against a strong opponent, viz., tho late Mr. John Mouat, who was the runner-up in New Zealand's second championship congress (1888-89). The "New Zealand Herald," in congratulating the Auckland team on its win, said that "the victory will be gratifying to the whole province, and it will amply atone for the defeat of the Auckland footballers when they were searching for laurels down South." Tho article terminated with a passing reference to Auckland's victorious career on the cricket field, and also on the rifle range. In September, 1876, Mr. Lusk, who was member for Franklin in the House of Representatives, took part in an exciting match, "Parliament" defeating the newly-form-ed Wellington Chess Club by one game (13-12). The club equalised by winning a consultation game in tho following month, when Messrs. Ballance, Bryce, and Lusk conducted. the gamo on behalf of Parliament. Honours were again equally divided in the following year (1877), when the Wellington Chess Club played two moro matches against the Parliamentarians, each side scoring a win. The first New Zealand Championship Tourney was held In Christchurch in August, 1879. Mr. Lusk and Mr. C. W. Benbow (the then champion of Wellington) both entered, but at the last moment found themselves unable to make the trip. Consequently the North Island was not represented—for the first and only time in the history of New Zealand chess. As a set-off to this it may be stated that in the 23rd tourney for the Dominion championship (1909-10), all the competitors were supplied by the North Island. It may be added that the winner of the championship on that occasion was Mr. John Mason, who is now the member for Napier in the New Zealand Parliament.