OTAKI SHIELD WINNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23413, 1 August 1939, Page 10

OTAKI SHIELD WINNER

SCOTTISH YOUTH'S VISIT CHAMPION SCHOOL SPRINTER [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON", Monday To -risit Auckland in tl.e near future », is 18-year-old Alexander W. Thomson, winner of tlie Otnki Shield, who ar-;• rived- at Wellington last week from London by the Rangitatu. The shield, of which Thomson is the third winner, was presented for annual competition, among pupils of the Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen, by relatives of the late Captain Archibald Bisset-Smith, V.C., who was in command of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Otaki when she was sunk by the. German raider Moewe in March, 1917. While in Wellington Thomson was the guest of Sir,? George Troup. He is at present in the .South Island, where he will be the guest of various headmasters of schools.

At the week-end Thomson was invited by the Mayor and councillors of Otaki to be their guest at an afternoon reception and at a welcome arranged by the Maoris. This was the lirst occasion on which the winner of the shield has visited the town from which it derives its name, and after- which the illfated steamer was named. Accompanying Thomson to Otaki was the member for the district, Mr. E. G. Lowry. Thomson, who is a Rugby player and was' champion schoolboy {.-printer for Scotland, will arrive at Auckland on August 20 arid will i>ail on Augast 24 by the Rangitata on his veto, home.