OTAKI SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 11

OTAKI SHIELD

THIRD WINNER

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

'Illr. Alexander W. Thomson, this year's winner of the Otaki Shield, an ' annual competition among, the pupils of Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, one of Scotland's leading schools, will arrive in New Zealand this, month to make a, tour of.the Dominion. The. Minister, of Internal Affairs (the Hon! W. E. Parry), by whom advice of Mr, Thomson's visit was. received, stated, today tl.at New .Zealand ... had nioi-g* tijan a sentiniental interest-in tlie Otaki. Shield in that it recalled the bravery and gallant stand of. Captain Archibald Bisset Smith, V.C-, a former pupil of Robert Gordon's College and I well known in New Zealand waters, [who. was in command of the stealer Jot^ki when, she was sunk by the Ger* I man raider Moewe on March 10, 1»17. ' The relatives of theylate Captain Smith . had endowed the college' with th© Shield which carried with, tt a voyage to New:Zealand,. X X-X "It was a noble gift; to make to a college to.mark a gallant man's work," Mr. Parry remarked, "The people of New Zealand. will • view it like: that and treat well the winner of the shield. The record I have shows that Captain j Smith went down with his ship, but not before he and his men, aided by a 4,7 in gun of old design on the. Otaki, had -nearly scuttled . the Moewe, a heavily armoured German raider." Mr. Thomson is the third successful pupil of Robert Gordon's College to make .the trip to Nev/ Zealand. The names of tlie previous pupils are- Mr. W. J. D. Anderson (4937) arid Mr, D,| P. Fox (1938). "To enable Mr. Thomson to see • our country, its life, and beauties*" Mr, Parry added, "the Government is granting: to him free railway, and servlee^car transport and free accommodation at State hostels."