MR COLIN GILRAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22211, 14 March 1934, Page 8

MR COLIN GILRAY

HEADMASTER OF SCOTCH COLLEGE AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT. V' • \ The appointment of Mr Colin Gilray, principal of the John M’Glashan College, to the position of headmaster 'of Scotch College, Melbourne, has been reported in Dunedin. Mr Gilray, however, has received no intimation of the appointment, which is not to be made until March 21,

when the general assembly of the church meets. There is every reason, however, to believe that the information is genuine. Scotch College is a famous Australian school with a roll of over 1000 pupils. Mr Gilray, who is 49 years of age, has had a distinguished career. Educated at the Otago Boys’ High School, which he entered in 1898, lie became a junior university scholar in 1902 and 1903, and entered the university in 1904, graduating B.A. three years later, when he was. president of the Students’ Association. In 1907 he went to Oxford as a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, and in 1910 he took his B.A. (Oxon.) with honours in litene humuniores —that is, the final classics school. From 1910 to 1912 Mr Gilray was master at Mill Hill School, one of the great public schools of England, near London. AVhile there he was also studying law and was called to the bar in 1913, after which he returned to New Zealand and practised law until 1915, when he left for England and took a commission in the famous Rifle Brigade. He was on active service in France from August, 1910, to September, 1917, and was in command of a company when he was invalided to England and was •awarded the Military Cross. From December, 1917, until the Armistice, he was engaged in training cadets for commissions at Cookham, near Aldershot.

In athletics, algo, Mr Gilray has had a distinguished career, which began with his membership and captaincy of the 0.8.H.5. first fiftteen. At the High School he also held the athletic challenge cup for two years. He was a Rugby and athletics representative of the university, and a member of the South Island and New Zealand fifteens. While in England he gained his blue at Oxford and his international cap for Scotland. Mr Gilray ranks among the best wing three-quarters that Otago has produced. He returned to New Zealand in 1910 and became a partner in the legal firm of Reid, Rutherford and Gilray, at Milton, and in 1923 was appointed principal of John M'Glnshan College. He has for a number of years been a member of the Otago University Council and of the Senate, of the University of New Zealand.