RHODES SCHOLAR HONOURED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21533, 24 July 1935, Page 8

RHODES SCHOLAR HONOURED

! PRESENTATION TO MR I -W. F. MONK I CEREMONY AT ST. ANDREW'S ! COLLEGE I The staff and boys of St. Andrew's ! College assembled yesterday afternoon I to honour Mr W. F. Monk, M.A., who is the first pupil from the college to win a Rhodes scholarship. A photograph of the college building was presented to him. The headmaster, Mr J. B. Mawson, reminded the boys that they were assembled to pay tribute' to an old boy who had gained the highest distinction that could befall any student in New Zealand. This opportunity of meeting Mr Monk had been taken so that when they heard again of him — and it was certain that they would—they would not be informed about someone who was a stranger to them. Mr Mawson then outlined Mr Monk's scholastic and athletic career at the college. It would be seen from that, he continued, that success had come to Mr Monk, not by any special effort, but just in the course of his ordinary work. The school was grateful to Mr Monk for the service he had rendered it, and there was no doubting that his work abroad would be continued in the same modest way in which he had always worked. Mr Mawson also congratulated Mr Monk's parents, Mr and Mrs F. J. Monk, who were present at the gathering. In honour to a Rhodes scholar, he said, there was no less honour for his parents. Mr M. Leadbetter complimented Mr Monk on behalf of the staff, and assured him of their continued interest.

The presentation was made by the head prefect, O. G. R. Edwards. The entire school, he said, held Mr Monk's achievement in great esteem, and they too would watch his career with interest.

It was with mixed feelings, replied Mr Monk, that he had attended the function. There was real delight, however, in being at the school where many of the pelasantest days of his life had been spent. Such examples of friendship placed additional responsibility upon him; but their memory, he knew, would hearten him in trying times. As for his scholarship, he hoped that it would be ogly the first of a great many more to come from the college. He thanked the school for the presentation, and for the consideration shown in associating his parents with,himself on such an occasion. Because of his own success and of the success last year of Lloyd Barry, who was the first St, Andrew's boy to gain first place in the junior university scholarship examinations, Mr Monk asked the headmaster to grant the school a holiday. Mr Mawson acceded to the request. The singing of the school song and "Auld Lang Syne" concluded the afternoon.

PRESENTATIONS AND GOOD WISHES AX EVENING CEREMONY A gathering of members of the Board of Governors and the staff, parents and senior pupils, met at St. Andrew's College last evening to bid farewell to Mr W. F. Monk, an old boy of the college, who is leaving New Zealand soon to take up a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxfora.

The headmaster (Mr J. B. Mawson), after traversing Mr Monk's record at school, went on to say that it was one of the compensations of a schoolmaster's life to hear of .such success as Mr Monk's. It was a happy coincidence that fTie selection of the scholars had been made on St. Andrew's Day.

Mr Monk's record at school revealed wide interests, said Mr M. Leadbetter. first assistant master. In 1930 he had been one of the best forwards in the school XV V Throughout his: school life he had adopted as his motto, "service to others." In making a presentation to Mr Monk, Mr A. L. Cropp (president of the parents' association) said that as Mr Monk was temporarily severing his connexion with the college, the parents had come to the conclusion that his association with St. Andrew's could best be maintained by his receiving a bound sec of the school magazines covering the period when he was at school. The parents joined with the board and staff in wishing him every success abroad.

The Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, chairman of the Board of Governors, who presented Mr Monk with a camera, said that St Andrew's was a young college, and as many older and larger schools had not had the honour of producing a Rhodes Scholar, the greater glory was reflected on the school. When Mr Monst returned, he would take his place in the community realising that his gifts and ability were a trust.

In his reply, Mr Monk acknowledged his debt to his parents and his school. He considered that the critical year in a student's life was the first year after he had left secondary school, when restraining influences were removed. St. Andrew's College offered a training in the building of character which enabled a boy to, carry on through this difficult year in spite of disturbing outside influences.

Musical items were contributed and supper was served by the ladies' committee of the parents' association.