CHESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 103, 1 April 1929, Page 4

CHESS

WELLINGTON BEAT PALMERSTON NORTH. The tenth annual chess match between a visiting Wellington team aiid tho Palmerston North Chess Club was played during the week-end, Wellington winning bj\ 17$ games to ss. Scores were as under, Palmerston North players being mentioned first: —A. G. Richards 0 v. F. J. Kelling 2; R. 0. Scott 0 v. S. Faulkner 2; H. L. Thirtle $ v. E. E. Hicks $; A. H. Wright 0 v. J. C. McCrea 1; W. H. Messenger 0 v. F. J. Brooker 2; A. W. Whitaker $ v. D. [Purchase $; L. Sim $ v. H. I. Bennett 1$; A. Clemas Iv. C. W. Tanner 1; A. Stewart 1 v. J. A. Glasgow 1; H. Christensen 0 v. F. Grady 2; W. Mitchell 1 v. F. Gough 1; W. Lattimore 1 v. H. Anderson 1. Changes in second round: Thirtle 0 v. McCrea 1; Wright 0 v. Hicks 1. Totals: Palmerston North ss, Wellington 17$. On Saturday evening the Mayor welcomed the visitors on behalf of the municipality. The president of tho club, Mr A. G. Richards, who introduced the Mayor, commented that, so far as he knew, it was the first time that the club had been honoured by civic recognition. There were many old identities present whom he would like to welcome. > They wero Messrs J. C. McCrea (who, when postmaster at Palmerston North, had taken a large part in forming the club and had been its first secretary), R. Scott (champion of Wanganui), T. A. Morine (a past president of the club and Several times its champion), A. E. Clemas, C. W. Tanner (secretary of the New Zealand Chess Association), F. Iv. Kelling (official recorder of the association), H. Christenson (Taihape), and L. Sim (Himatangi).

Mr Graham stated that it was one of the greatest, and one of the few, pleasures attaching to his office to welcome visitors, more especially as they were usually of the finest stamp. To be present that night took him back many years to when chess was first played in Palmerston North and when the first club had been formed. He could remember sitting in the telegraph room of the Post Office while big telegraphic matches wore being played. He hoped that both teams would enjoy the match and would get relaxation and recuperation from their encounters. He would like to draw to their notice the rapid progress made by the town in the last half century. Fifty years ago Palmerston North had just been a clearing in dense bush, but what had been accomplished, he believed, would be as nothing compared with what was destined to bo done in the near future. Mr Graham then welcomed the visiting players. Mr F. J. Brooker expressed, on behalf of the Wellington Club, appreciation at the welcome that had been extended to them and took the opportunity of congratulating the Mayor and councillors on the progress that had been made in the last few years. It was astounding. The Square had been practically rebuilt. He had not seen better gardens than the Esplanade during his travels. The future of Palmerston North was assured, for not only had the progress of the town itself been rapid, but also they had a wonderful advantage in the surrounding country. The Manawatu was some of the richest land in New Zealand, which turn was one of the richest countries in the Empire, the richest nation of the world. Without undue exaggeration he could say that there were very fow more fertile spots on tho earth than the Manawatu,

Mr Brooker’s remarks were seconded by Mr Kelling who , also congratulated Palmerston North on its achievements. Some yeats ago it had been said that to live out of the Square was to .live out of the world, but to-day it was different. The Mayor had been a member of the original club thirty years ago and they were glad to have him present.

Mr A. Whitaker, secretary of the Palmerston North Club, thanked Mr Graham for honouring them with his presence. It was, however, not the first occasion on which the club had been recognised. Once before, when Mr Nathan had not been able to attend,' the senior councillor had deputised for him. Referring to the visit of the Wellington players he mentioned that it was the tenth contest and stated that the honours were slightly in favour of the Empire city players.