CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21576, 12 September 1935, Page 10

CANTERBURY

NOMINEES New Zealand Rhodes Scholarships MESSRS "A.' D. BENHAM • AND M. Y. BLAKE The Canterbury University College candidates for the New Zealand Rhodes Scholarships were nominated by the professorial board of the college at its meeting yesterday afternoon. They are:— Mr Alan Dudley Benham. Mr Minden Vauglian Blake. The final selection of the Rhodes scholars from the candidates from the four university colleges will be made early in December in Wellington. The selection committee, as fixed by the university calendar, consists of: the Governor-General (in his private capacity), the Chancellor, or, in his absence, the Pro-chancellor of the University of New Zealand, the chairman of the Academic Board, two former Rhodes scholars, and a representative of the business world. -This year the usual number of two scholarships will be available, as far

as is known at present. Last year three were available, since one had been held over from the previous year. The candidates selected leave for Oxford late in the following year. Mr A. D. Benham Mr A. D. Benham was born on May 24, 1913, and received his primary education at Ocean Bay, where he represented his school in football and also took part in boxing and athletics. His secondary education began at Wellesley College, where he was runner-up for the dux award and took part in football, cricket, and boxing. He gained first place in the junior grade of the inter-collegiate sports, and was boxing champion of the school in the under 751b class. At Wellington College, where he passed the public service and university examinations, he was first in the intermediate high jump in the intercollegiate sports on two occasions, setting a record on the second. He equalled the record in the school 120 yards hurdles, and was first in the senior championship and handicap hurdles. He also gained third place in the senior long jump, and won the Finch and Lord Ranfurly Cups He also played cricket and football, and was captain of one of the lower grade football teams. In the cadet corps he was an N.C.O. and became sergeant-major commanding the engineers. 1 His university, education began at Victoria University College, Wellington, where he completed the B.E. intermediate and the second section of the B.Sc. degree. He was a member of the athletic club and represented the college at the Easter tournament. He was first in the provincial junior high jump championship. He was a member of the Mathematical and Physical Society.

He entered Canterbury University College in 1932 and completed the degree of B.Sc. in 1934, and also that of B.E. He is now taking the course for M.Sc. with honours in mathematics. He is student instructor in surveying in the school of engineering. He became chairman of the Engineering Society, and has delivered papers to the society. A member of the athletic club, he has represented the college at the Easter tournament. While at Canterbury College he has been first in the 120 hurdles at meetings at Rotorua, Te Awamutu, and Auckland, and in the Auckland provincial championships. He was fourth in the New Zealand championships. At Christchurch he was j first in the 220 yards hurdles (A grade). He is also a member of the gymnastic club and has been awarded college blues for athletics. Mr M. V. Blake Mr M. V. Blake was born on February 10, 1913. He entered Wellington College in 1926, and later the Southland Boys' High .Schorl, where he remained till 1929. He was then at the Christchurch Boys' High School and the Southbridge "District High School. He passed the university entrance examination in 1930 and the training college entrance in 1931. At Southbridge he was head prefect, captain of both cricket and football clubs, and captain of the first eleven and first fifteen. At Southland Boys' High School he was a leading'gymnast, and in the cricket second eleven, and was runner-up in the senior swimming championship. He was also senior diving champion. On leaving school he played senior football and was in the Ellesmere senior representative team.

He entered Canterbury University College in 1932 and completed the B.Sc. degree in 1934. He is now taking the M.Sc. course with honours in mathematics. He has won the Canterbury College hop-step-and-jump championship, and has attained New Zealand championship standard in pole-vaulting. He has won the gymnastic championship and represented the college at the Easter tournament. In the 1933-34 season he represented the college in a team competing with Otago at Oamaru. He was captain of the gymnastic club and takes a keen interest in life saving. Mr Blake has invented an egggrader and a device for the automatic gearing of any mechanical power. He has also assisted in : other inventions.