Frank Hollins

Born: 1871, Aston, Birmingham, England [1]
Died: 28th July 1958, (aged 87), Inglewood, Taranaki, NZ

The 1881 english census found Frank was by now a scholar.
The 1891 english census found Frank was by now a brass-founder’s clerk.
The 1901 english census found Frank a brass-founder.
Frank and brother Herbert around now hatched up an idea of breaking the Birmingham mould, and on 04/12/1901 (when it would be summer in the antipodes), 30-year-old Frank Hollins and 22-year-old brother Herbert, described in the passenger list as mechanics, set out on the steerage section of the ship Ruapehu, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, destined for Wellington, New Zealand. Frank, and presumably Herbert as well, settled in Huarangi, in the Taranaki “county” (whatever the correct term is) of New Zealand’s South Island. This was not so far from where Worcester chess-player the Rev. William Ernest Bolland had been born back in 1847.

Frank Hollins [1]

R.M.S. Ruapehu [2]

Appreciation [3]

Hollins, F. vs. Jasnogrodsky, N., St. George C.C., Birmingham, March 1893 [3]
ECO "C45" Scotch Game, Schmidt Variation
Annotator "Birmingham Weekly Mercury."
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 {Now accepted as the best defence.} 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d5 7. exd5 cxd5 8. O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 a5 12. Rae1 a4 13. Ne2 Bg4 14. Qg3 Qd7 15. f3 Be6 16. Nf4 a3 17. b3 Kh8 18. Qh4 {Winning; play as Black may.} 19... Bc5+ {This costs a piece. Black is in difficulties, having apparently only the option of 18... h6 when White wins at once by 19. Bxh6 (if) gxh6 20. Qxh6+ followed by 21. Nh5. Or if 19...Nh7 20. Bxg7+ Kxg7 21. Qxh7+ Kf6 22. Qh6#.} 19. Kh1 Bf5 20. Bxf6 Bxd3 21. Nxd3 Bd6 22. Bd4 c5 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 Rfc8 25. b4 Qf5 26. Rf2 Re8 27. Rfe2 Re6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Re2 e5 30. Qe1 Re8 31. Bd4 e4 32. c4 dxc4 33. Rxe4 Rg8 34. Rg4 Qd5 35. Qe5 Qf7 36. b5 Re8 37. Rxg7 {A good ending to a very fine contest. The game was played singly over the board, at yje St. George's C.C. Once more Hollins has done honour to Birmingham chess.} Rxe5 38. Rxf7 Kg8 39. Bxe5 Kxf7 40. b6 {Resigns.} 1-0

Mackenzie, A. J. vs. Hollins, F., St. George CC Championship Tournament, November 1893 [2]
ECO "C29" Vienna Gambit
Annotator "Birmingham Weekly Mercury."
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 {6. d4 should have been played at once.} 6... Bc5 7. d4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Nf3 {White may be pardoned for not anticipating the answering brilliant coup, which enables Black to give a double check, protecting his Queen and leads to a remarkably fine pair of mating variations. Of course if White does not take Bishop his game is equally lost.} 10... Bf2+ 11. Kxf2 {Black mates in three.} 0-1

At the Hastings Tournament of 1895, Hollins entered the British Amateur Championship Tournament. [6]
He was drawn In section IV, where Hollins finished 2nd qualifying for the Consultation Prizes Tournament.

Hollins won the Consultation Prize Tournament.

Chess Event Summary [7]
Prior to arriving in NZ, these were Hollins major chess events:

Board 1 for MCCU, 9 matches: W7 D2 L0
1890 Cambridge (in class three) 1st
1891 Brighton (class one) 3rd
1893 North vs. South (100 boards) Board 18 1/2-1/2 G. A. Hooke
1894 North vs. South (100 boards) Board 11 1-0 E. M. Jackson
1895 Hastings British Amateur Championship Section IV 2nd
1895 Hastings Consultation Prize Tournament. 1st
1896 Match vs. Bellingham, lost 5W 10D 7L
1897 Southampton 5th
1899 Birmingham ??

Once he reached NZ, as reported Hollins was too busy settling down and farming to play chess. [4]
"It was expected that Mr. Frank Hollins, known as " the Birmingham expert," would have competed in the last New Zealand championship tourney, and since he failed to do so it has been positively asserted that he would participate in the forthcoming tourney. To definitely settle the matter Mr. Mouat, of the Otago Witness, wrote to Mr. Hollins, making inquiry as to his intentions. The latter replies that' he would very much like too, but finds it quite impossible to spare the time; in fact, unless the time of the contests' is altered to the winter season he fears that it will be some years before he has the pleasure of competing with New Zealand cracks. This will be a disappointment to New Zealand chessists, as Mr. Hollins' advent at the annual congress has been looked forward to with keen interest. However, as the gentleman named is engaged in establishing a home in New Zealand he is wise in preferring business before pleasure."

An item on ‘Chess in New Zealand' reported "Seven games were submitted to the adjudication of Mr Frank Hollins, of Taranaki, a fine player, formerly of England." [5]

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References:
[1] Yorkshire Chess History (https://mannchess.org.uk/People/Hollins,Frank.htm)
[2] The ship Ruapehu. Dickie, John, 1869-1942 :Collection of postcards, prints and negatives. Ref: 1/1-002409-G.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23025620
[3] 1901 British Chess Magazine, Volume XXI .
[4] New Zealand Herald 5 December 1903
[5] Lasker’s Chess Magazine, June 1905
[6] 1895 British Chess Magazine, Volume XV. .
[7] New Zealand Mail 22 January 1902