RHODES SCHOLAR HONOURED

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 168, 16 July 1921, Page 7

RHODES SCHOLAR HONOURED

PRESENTATION TO MB. AIKKY«y CITIZENS" HANDSOME CHEQUE. Tn handing a cheque for £361 to MIV W. T. G. Airey, this year's Rhodes scholar, Mr. J. H. Cunson, the Mayor of Auckland, yesterday said that a few o£ the citizens had got together a few dayii ago and decided that Mr. Airey should not be allowed to go away without some tangible and practical token of esteem, ■as he was the first Rhodes scholar to " leave Auckland since the war. TTia Worship expressed the hope, on behalf of the citizens, that Mr. Airey -would, after the completion of his course at Merton College, achieve a brilliant suo-> cess, and return to New Zealand to take up some responsible position under Government or in the Industrial or commercial world of the country. (Applause.) In the course of his remarks, the Mayor snoke of the previous Rhodes scholars who had gone from Auckland, namely, Mr. S. N. Ziman, who was now in the'lndian Civil Service; Mr K. Sisam, lecturer in English at Oxford: Mr. A. G. Marshall. a chemist who was engaged in research work for the Shell Benzine Co.: Mr. A. Wallace, who was killed on GalKpoli: and Mr. YV. M Jones, who wa? at present at Oxford. Mr. Airey, in acknowledging ,the- gift, said lie looked upon it as a trust, and felt that he must make good, and repay it in work some day. Cecil Rhodes" ideal had been to bring peace to the world, and to work always for the good of mankind. Mr. Airev said he wen! away with the ambition ro gain a deeper knowledge of life and mankind, so that when lie had finished his course at Oxford he niisrht be able to do the work - that Cecil' Rhodes had expected his scholarship holders to do. jj? spoke feelingly of the sacrifices beinb made for I him by those he was leaving behind him. He said he owned n great debt to his mother, and he took that pnblic opportunity of paying her a tribute. In help-, ing him the citizen? had given his mother extremely great joy, and she was moro worthy of it than he was himself- ■ Always, he hoped to be worthy of the , ;renl honour the citizens had done him that day. I Mr. Airey was given three cheers oc the call of the Mayor, and those present I shook hands with him and wished hinj. luck.