The Wanganui Tournament.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 40

The Wanganui Tournament.

TO THE DRAUGHTS EDITOR. Pir,— lu •*. recent i^ue of your column 1 coticed a letter from Mr Brndie, the than rli.i.nj.'oif of New Zealand, which calls for retuaik fr m me. Mr Brodie set me a problem which 1 had not time to look at, as at that time I had a very tough nut under analysis which would not bear neglect, so I set Mr Brodie's aside until a more convenient occasion arose for me to sond you in the solution. I must say that Mr Brodie's problem was to me very easy of solution— in foot, so much bo that I tb ought it not up to your standard es a problem, therefore unfit for publication, as tho merest tyro oonld solre it at sight 1 will commence its solution by extracting from the same letter Mi Brodie extracts from, but as Mr fiaidieounaioffr omits that part whiohcolvea

his problem, thereby " actfnff to <Jefleiv»" your readora by endeavouring to malign my integrity, he compels me to cut deeper than suited him to do. Explanation of Mr Brodie's extract .'Seefntf that Mr Brodio will not resign his title to the Wanganui meeting, All who recognisod his right coold not compete on principle If there was none who recjogui<od Mr Brodie 1 ! title and kept away from Wnnganui on that account, then I submit that I w&n wrong in skying "there is another question which will be the cause of keeping some competitor/) »\vt*y." Further extract from my lettor t I have an lmprasioa that fhe Boronam-Brodjn mfttoh wan arminged because there vrai no likelihood of a tourney taking place at that time to deolde the quentfon of championship, and I understood that tf a tourney was arranged the champion*!) !p would bo given to the committee. That theso nre my Kontiments, and that I acted consistently on principle throughout, an extract from a letter written by m« previous to the Boreham-Brodie match to a very prominent southern draughts player will confirm, and if circumstances should arise which would necessitate its publication I have no doubt that the gentleman referred to would publish it. Seeing that Mr Brodie broke faith with me by clinging to th« title and trying to barter it away to the Wanganui committee, instead of resigning it as understood between us to the first tournament committee started for the purpose of settling the championship question, I do not recognise his right to the title after April 2; aye, even though I staked £35 to gain it. Mr Editor, in the above yon have my solution of Mr Brodie's first problem, and I hope to stand " clean." The eeo md problem is even a worse production, and less deaefving of publication than the first— any or-Hnary clear-headed person can see through it. After I wrote the much-extracted and now famous letter to the Oamaru Mail, and before I consented to compete in the Wanganui tournament, it was publicly announced that moneyprizes would be given at Wnnganui. , Sir, having solved tine problems set to me by Mr Brodie, with your kind permission I will strike out on another line, the intricacies of which nny .puzzle Hr Brodie. Although Mr Brodie holds himself up to the public as the champion- of New Zealand, he has net much respect for the title -himself. And although endeavouring to (jet the public to ignore the power of the Wangamu committee, recognises that power himself, for in a letter to the secretary of the New Zealand Draughts Association his words mean t~" If you will guarantee my expenses I will come to Waogunui and compete for the title " ; to which he recaived a reply with this meaning : — "Our committee cannotiee its way clear to incur further liabilities, but if you come and take part in the tourney and do not win enough to pay your expenses, we will guarantee you the difference." After which Mr Brodie kept silence and ignored this extremely fair offer.

One more subject, and 1 have done. Mr Brodie has played draughts matches and knows tbe effeot of being upset by outside trifles, yet, with a thorough exhibition of vindietiyeceaa, he writes to Mr H. B. Williamson asking him to read nublically to the congreßS hia letter in your paper dated March 28. As to Mr Brodie's challenge, which I think uncustomary, I shall be very pleased to meet Mr Brodie at Oamjiru at the next meeting of the New Zealand Draughts Association. Until then I have the honour to subscribe myself James A. Boueham, Champion of .New Zealand. Aln street, Oamaru, April 18. TO THE DRAUGHTS EDITOn. Slß,~l notice in tha Wanganni Chronicle a statement that entries were received from Dunedin for the Wantfanui tourney. As Dunedin players are very indignant over the above item, as they treated the tourney as a farce, will Mr Williamson kindly correct the statement and oblige. —l am, &c, D. A. Brodtb, April 22. Champion of New Zealand, (on behalf of Dunedin players.) TO THE DAAUOHTS EDITOR. ' Sir,— -It wa3 not my intention to trouble you with any further particulars of our late tourney, but as my attention has bean called to maudlin sentiment-* expressed by several corrcspoudauta with reference to B'odio 1 shall place before you Borne facts. Ou March 10 I wiw instructed by my committee to -wire Mr Brodie hoping Uo would enter, and offering on behalf of the draughts players here a hearty welcome. The following is his reply : —

"Dunedin, Marah 12, 1896. "Dear Sir,— Your telegram of Iflth inst. to hand. I have, however, to decline your invitation (1) because my right to the title has been entirely ignored ; (2) I had to risk a large sum of money to win the title, and cnaaot risk another £7 or so to compete for a trophy. While I should be very pleased to see the draughts championship played for annually I feel that I am compelled by the action of your committee to take the above position. Tf, however, my travelling and boara expenses are assured to me by your committee I will, even a', this late hour, arrange to be present »'id play in the tournament and thus settle all difference of opinion." To which I replied :— " Wanganui, March 17, 1896. " Dear Sir, — I have to acknowledge yours of 12th lust., and regret you decline to enter for the tourney to be held here during Easter week to decide the championship of New Zealand for draughts. I will, however, take the earliest opportunity to place bsfore my committee your proposal, but as the members of same are widely separated ifr would be unlikelt I could let you know their decision in time for the closing of entries, 26th inst. I have mentioned the matter to one of them, but he is afraid that on account of the expense alrealy incurred (£SO) it is not likely they would bep'epared'to undertake further liability. I might point out with reference to youi self that it would be a mistake if you adhered to your present resolution. There -is no doubt in my mind of your ability to retain the coveted position, while by your absence you will allow some other by a hard fight to call himself by that yroud name, champion of New Zealand. I think yon may remember when you crossed swords with Boreham the Witness at that time thought neither youraelf nor Boreham had a ri»ht to the title of obampion, and that it belonged to Mr Little, of Christchurch, and I even now fail to s*ee why you should not defend the title in Wanganui." After metting n»y committee on the 23rd and discussing the proposal it was resolved to send Mr i Brodie the following telegram :-r" Committee say if you don't win sufficient to pay expenses they i will make up the balance." Mr Brodie never J acknowledged either of these (two last) communi- j cations until the tournament was almost over, when I received a postcard a.*kinr ma to raad to the competitors his lotter in the Witness, and in a footnote tosamehesaid "Letter and wire to hand. 1 We could do no more to induce Mr Brodie to attend, and I consider we acted very fairly to him throughout. You may notice the value Brodie puts on the chanipionship-.£7. He would have been here had that sum been jruaianteea or sent— it was a question of money, not the title, and no did not care one jot in that case what Mr Borebara would then either say or think. "DAmbrod's" letter from Wanganuf In the Witness of the 16th inst. is incorrect. No draught* player here has the slightest sympathy witft Brodie — no such letter ever emanated from any one of them.— Yours truly, H. B. WILUAMSON Secretary N.Z. Draughts Association. Wanganui, April 18.