Wanganui will s always live in tho memories of draughts pliyorß as bßing the first town in Hew Zealand to bold the nhampionship toarna ment, and here I might state that I con sider you have Borne sterling players to battle for the title. lam an old draughts payer and mown throughout New Zea* land, and I wish to Bay without appearing. to flatter that Wanganui representatives are the fairest playera I ever met, With the greatest of pleasure I wish to publio'y ' appreciate the remarks made by Mr J. Anderson, the promoter of the association : to me la«t Saturday. These are his worcUi " I would like to see Wan?anui win providing we can do it honourably. 1 If -we caa't do it in this fashion we don't \ waot it ai all." There is a ring about ' this statement tt;it Mr Brodie will • admire. The draught p'ayera of New- Zealand — tb,inketo Wauganui — haveaow ; a strong association to promote the game, ; and it is a 6nccesß boyond denbt— in fact, 1 far snpßrior to anything anticipated by" ' any visitor The tournament now in progreßs if to djoido Ib«ssnamp:on player ' in Mew Zealand, and there bu? never met before ia the colony such a thoroughly representative gathering of good players. I his association has decided to recognise the winner of the tournament as the obompion, and will not, under any con-, sideration whatever, recognise any other, ivhether it be Brodie or anyone else. It Brodie want 3to be called champion, let him come and fight for it like all of us— against all comers Outsiders csn call themselves what they like, tut aa far as the (vjsc elation is concerned, the eliiin will be wolthless, As a visitor, siv, I hope you will allow me to publioly thank the draughtn players and citizens of your towa tot the CDurtesy extended towards me and all the other competitors. It is' really a thorough enjoyment to sit down and play our gameE, In my lon* career I have eetn some fine games pUyed, but the bestcf all I have witnessed in the room where the tournament is being contested. 