TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8987, 27 February 1888, Page 6

TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

CANTERBURY V. AUCKLAND. At midnight on Saturday this encounter was brought to a Conclusion, the result proving by no means satisfactory to Auckland. Christchurch players have added another victory to those obtained over all the large centres in New Zealand, and much credit- is their due that they so steadily reversed the unfavourable positions some of their games exhibited after the first night's play. Taken as a passing event, this match has perhaps passed off as satisfactorily in the working as meetings of the kind may be expected to yield ; ana we entertain no doubt that—the more so since Auckland chess-players harbour a feeling of assurance of their ability to raise a team against which none other in the colony could stand,the congratulatory message sent to Christchurch on conclusion of tne match by the seer, miry of the Auckland Chess Assoc.in .on was heartily echoed by the . anquished plavers composing the Northern team. Of the one or V.. questions which might have yielded material to infuse danger of a rupture, little need further be said ; they are the almost unavoidable outcome of this kind of encounter. Indeed there can be no doubt there is much room for improvement in conducting these matches, which at their best offer by far too many opportunities for the occurrence of little contretemps quite capable of enlargement into a general rupture. The difficulties of unsatisfactory powers of communication in discussing a disputed point tend also to increase rather than dissolve the chances of unpleasant results, whilst the task of happily meeting the question of selection of umpires is, to our mind, tho great stumbling block of the occasion. Christchurch was represented hero by a gentleman who for a long time was a member of their club, whose sympathies were entirely with Christchurch, and who did his duty to those he represented in a manner so eminently well that the remarks of a Southern contemporary bearing upon the point are nothing short of unmanly slander. Nothing could nave been more fair to Christchurch than the happy stringency of Mr. Jakins in exacting fairness for the Christchurch players, and that he succeeded in doing so without permitting his position to jar upon those from it was his duty to enforce the penalty of the rules is another tribute to the nigh claims that gentleman possesses to the thanks of the Canterbury Chess Club. On the other hand Auckland was represented in Christchurch by a gentlemen wholly unknown to them, either as a player or individually, and who, nominated by Christchurch, must be possessed of the highest of judicial faculties, that of strict impartiality, if he succeeded in properly representing the Auckland team. There can be no shadow of a question that Mr. Johnston acted honourably in his intentions; but it is obviously unreasonable to expect that absolute faith in a representative whose qualities are unknown which would be inspired by an umpire selected by those he represents, and whose ability to fairly and properly watch their interests was a known and substantial quantity. Yet, though Mr. Johnston appeared at times to misinterpret his position, as for instance on two occasions when he claimed "privilege" for Christchurch, which is, of course, quite without his sphere, very hearty thanks will doubtless be accorded him by the committee of the Auckland Chess Association for undertaking what generally appears a thankless and troublesome task. If Mr. Johnston's appreciation of his position was at variance with that of those he represented, it can under the circumstances only be regretted : no blame perhaps can be attached to him.

There is little probability of a return match taking place, so that the defeat Auckland has to acknowledge is more regrettable. Perhaps the most marked factor in the want of success may be found in the lack of faith in their " form " of the gentlemen playing at the middle boards, who seem to have entirely collapsed on the second evening of play. The score stands as follows:—

Ilookham (C) won from Brocklebank (A) (by penalty) Ryder (A) won from Ollivier (C) Munro (A) won from Wood (C) McWilham (C) won from Gorrie(A) Todd (C) won from Honking (A) Searell (C) won from Ashton (A) Cant (C) - won from Malcolm (A) Milner (C) won from Green (A) Pope (A) _ won from Guinness (C) Kennedy (C) ' won from Watkins (A) Cltitsam (A) won from Clissold (C) llland on (A) won from Jones (C) Christchurch has, therefore, won the match by seven wins to five. On Saturday last the Christchurch contingent were represented by Mr. Esam, who emulated in every sense the able manner in which Mr. Jakins, whoso place he kindly consented to fill, had succeeded in expressing the duties undertaken. At the close of the proceedings a cordial vote of thanks was passed for the very efficient, correct, and obliging way in which the fentlemen of th§ Telegraph Department, lessrs. Hemus and Falkiner, had transmitted the moves, and for the general arrangements locally, which had enabled the players to see the match through with comfort to all concerned. The secretary of the Association was also directed to convey the thanks of the committee to Mr. Prince, of Victoria-street, for kindly placing twelve excellent clocks at the disposal of the players.