RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 21825, 14 September 1934, Page 6

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS

TWO OTAGO NOMINEES MESSRS D. M. DAIRN AND L. F. MOLLER Messrs Daniel .Marcus Dairu. an arts student, and Lester Francis .Moller, a law student, are the nominees of the University of Otago for Rhodes Scholarships this year. ,six applications came before the Professorial Board last night, when the selection was made. The nominees will later visit Wellington to appear before the Selection Committee, in company with the candidates from the other three university colleges. If chosen as a Rhodes scholar, Mr Dairu proposes to take the Greats course at Oxford for his B.A. degree, and to return to the dominion to enter the teaching profession, tie was horn

on September 1, 1913, and was educated at the Aiarist Brothers’ primary and high schools at Invercargill, in 1926 lie was dux of the primary school, and two years later he gained first place for Southland in the Public Service entrance examination. He was dux of the secondary school in 1929, and the following year went to the Sacred Heart College at Auckland with a scholarship. He came to the Otago University in 1931. Debating and dramatic work attracted his attention while at the Aiarist Brothers' High School, and at the University lie occupied the office of secretary to the Literary and Dramatic Society, was part organiser and first president of the Arts Faculty Debating Society, was connected with the two University publications, the ‘Critic’ and th’e ‘Review,’ vice-presi-dent of the Arts Faculty executive, secretary of the Literary and Debating Society, and vice-president of the newlyformed Literary Society. Fie also took a keen interest in all forms of sport both, at the Aiarist Brothers’ School and the University, playing football, cricket, lawn tennis, and taking a prominent part in amateur athletics. In 1929 lie won the boxing championship of the Aiarist Brothers’ High School, and, during vacations, he goes in for shooting and swimming. Air Aloller is a son of Air and A|r« E. T. Aloller, of “ Merivale.” Pitt street. The second of - throe sons, all of whom have been students at Otago University, lie was born in 1913, and was dux of the Normal School when twelve years old. He entered the Otago Boys’- High School in 1926 with a junior national scholarship. He gaihed a senior national scholarship in 1927, and matriculated In 1928. In 1930 he was head prefect and dux of the school, winning a University entrance scholarship, and also the General Harry Fulton memorial scholarship for sport and class work. He was a member of the school first fifteen, feather-weight boxing champion, regimental sergeant-major, runner-up for the gymnastic championship, and a member of the school athletic team. He eiitered Otago University in 1931, and is now sitting lor the final section of his LL.B degree, having first class terms in general subjects and being the winner of the Law Society’s prizes in contracts, crimes, torts, and trusts. He has taken a keen interest in University dramatic affairs, and was for two years organiser of the capping concerts. He has also been very prominent in University debating, and in 1933 was a member of the successful .loynt Scroll debating team, being placed second best speaker for New Zealand, and as recently as Wednesday last he successfully led the Otago team in the wireless debate with Canterbury College, and was given the award as the best speaker. Mr Aloller lias also held many administrative positions, being for four years a member of the Law Faculty Committee, and is now vice-president, Ho is president of the Law Debating Society, secretary of the’Dramatic Society, and, as representative of intellectual affairs on the students’ executive, was for the past year censor of the ‘ Critic ’ and editor of the ‘ University Review,’ in which periodical he has had original prose and poetry published. He has also been prominent, in University sporting circles, playing second grade cricket and' football, a-lid was for jwo years feather-weight boxing champion, winning his boxing bine on each occasion as a member of tbe tournament team. If he is awarded a scholarship Air Aloller proposes to study law and to seek admission to the English bar. He also desires to study economies and political science, and to return to legal work in New Zealand.