THE RHODES SCOLAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 33

THE RHODES SCOLAR.

FAREWELL TO MB COLIN GILRAY. PUBLIC PRESENTATION BY THE CITIZENS. The farewell by the citizens of Dunedin to Mr Colin M&cdonald Gil ray, the fourth I Rhodes scholar to proceed to Oxford from New Zealand, and the third from Otago, took place at the Town Hall on July 21. The Mayor (Mr J. Loudon) occupied the chair, and the Council Chamber, which waa used for the occasion, was filled to overflowing with prominent citizens and ladies. Many persons, who were desirous of obtaining 1 admission were unable to do > so. Apologies fox absence were received from hie Honor Mr Justice Williams, his Lordship Bishop Nevil, Dr Closs, Professor Black, Rev. W. Saunders, Messrs John Roberts, C.M.G., J. M. Ritchie, R. Glendining', J. .Rose, J. M. Gallaway, and the Otago Hockey team, which cent a. message from Palmerston North, expressing warm appreciation for Mr Gilray. His Worship the Mayor said that they had met to do honour to their young citizen, Mr Colin Gilray, and he was exceedingly pleased to see so many present. He felt that the people of Dunedin .had every reason to feel gratified in the fact that out of four Rhodes scholars selected in New Zealand no lees than three belonged to themselves — Mr J. Allan Thomson, Mr Farquharson, and now Mr Colin Macdonald Gilray. It was a record to be proud of, and, without wishing to apr>ear selfish at the expense of the other parts of the colony, he hoped Otago would continue to keep in the van. As to their esteemed guest that day, he felt that no more worthy representative could have been selected, or one who more completely filled all the qualifications and requirements of the great Imperialist who had endowed the scholarship. The fact of Mr Gilray having been selected was ample evidence that he was the possessor of all the attributes which went to make a man and a gentleman, and he felt quite certain that -the qualities which had endeared Mr Gilray to his teachers and comrades in Dunedin would also endear him to his teachers ajid comrades in the larger sphere in which he would shortly find himself. They, as citizens, were proud of Mr Gilrav. and felt that both morally and physically he would worthily uphold the honour and oredit of the colony. They would watch his oareer with interest, and would be delighted to hear of his success. He (the Mayor) was quite certain he was voicing the opinions of those present in I expressing the hop© that when Mr Gilray 'e studies ait Oxford were completed he would retusrn to their city and take up his position as a leading citizen. Addressing Mr Gilray, his Worship said .— " And now, Mr Gilray, it is my pleasure and privilege, ! on behalf of the city, to ask your acceptance of these tokens of their esteem. We feel that you will in all thing strive to reflect the greatest credit on your I esteemed parents, and if you do that you will be doing honour to us, honour to our city, and honour to the country you claim as your own. We wish you every good fortune and success, and, in parting, desire not to say ' Good-bye.' but only ' Adieu ' j until we meet again." j The presents to which the Mayor referred consisted of a gold watch and albert, » handsome dressing-case, and a commendatory letter under the common seal of the council. Professor Sale would like to say a word or two in regard to Mr Gilray 'e future. Their views hitherto had largely been that a Rhodes scholar should advance rapidly \n % the study he had made his aim, and that he should make himself eminent, successful, rich, and prosperous ; but he did not think that was the kind of success they need wish for Mr Gilrav ; nor was it what Mr Rhodes had in view. They wanted Mr Gilray rather to go and help to promote in England that excellent understanding between prominent citizens at Home and prominent citizens in the colony which was so desirable from an Imperialistic point of view — (Applause.) There should be no misunderstanding, and he was afraid at present there were misunderstandings. The prominent persons in the Old Country were a little apt to magnify the roughness of the colonial ; and, on the other hand, the colonial was. perhaps, apt to sneer at, or at anvrate think very little of, the polish and social characteristics of the prominent man in the. Old Country- Mr Rhodes's main object had been to get this misunderstanding removed, and to promote harmony, good fellowship, and good feeling between prominent men in both countries. Professor Sale then went on to point out that from the Universities both at Home and in the colonies oame the most distinguished statesmen, judges, the greatest lawyers, and other professional men. He cautioned Mr Gilrav against overwork, and said no man could work his brain to th« full for more than six hour* a day and not suffer for it. In fact, he doubted very much whether there were six men in that room who had any joncepfcion of what it meant to do hard work with the brain for «ix hours at a 6tretch. A little frivolity and amusement were highly desirable in the case of the constant worker with his brain. Mr Morrell, Rector of the Boys' High School, said the University College at Oxford, to which Mr Gilray was going, claimed to have been founded by King Alfred about 1100 years ago. and was certainly one of the most difitinguiehed colleges _ in that great centre of learning. The social life at Oxford was made eoecial importance* of as an education in a narrower sense. In his own college At Oxford he had met, in addition of Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Irishmen, Americans, colonials, men from the West Indies, Germags, French, Hindoos, Parsees, Persians, and a Siamese prince. To be brought into contact with so many men of different nationalities and creeds was of the utmost

' value to a young man, especially to a young man with a chance of entering public life. JNo student ..who,, had earned a scholarship was lette^-q.uaii&«r flian Mr Gilray to live up to the ideals Mr Rhodes had had in his mind. Though Mr Gilray might not be able to introduce anything entirely new in the way of knowledge in the ordinary sense to Oxford, he (Mr Morrell) confidently expected him to do so in the way of football. He expected to find it reported at no distant date that Oxford had beaten Cambridge in a football match and had put up a record, and that the hero of the day was Mr f Colin- Gilray of New Zealand. — (Applause.)" He hoped Mr Gilray would return to the Colony in a few years and give New Zealand the benefit of his acquirements. Not but that he felt strongly that the best interests of the colony were served by letting the young men take their course and go whereever they liked. Dr Salmond endorsed what had been said about Mr Gilray, but it had occurred to him that they were perhaps doing their best to spoil him with to much praise and to much pudding. He »dvised Mr Gilray not to believe one-half of what was said — (laughter), — but rather to understand that : much of the praise accorded hhn was given j owing to what they expected of him, rather | than for what he had accomplished. He thought it would be a good tiling if some of the wealthier of our citizens were -to assist the University to a few more chairs, and considered that some of our smart young men might very properly be trained to fill them. Mr F. H. Campbell, who was Mr Gilray's 1 master afc the 'Boys' High School, attributed Mr Gilray's success to three things— First, the good grounding he ,got at the Kaikorai School before he went to the Boys' High School; second, the home influence he had received; and third, the very strong friendships he had formed. They had never turned out of the Boys' High School two better boys than Colin Gilray and Tom Adams. These two had been chums at school together, and were still chums, and had an influence for good upon each other and upon all with whom they came in contact. Those present had been repeatedly reminded that three out of the, four Bhodes scholars from New Zealand had been Otago boys, and he fully believed that had Mr Tom Adams seen his way to be nominated that Otago would have provided the fourth Bhodes scholar. — (Loud applause.) Mr Gilray was a model footballer, and had he not believed in the maxim work first and play afterwards he might have travelled abroad ! to uphold the honour of Otago football. The Rev. Mr Hewitson and Mr G. L. Denniston al&o spoke briefly. Mr Colin Gilray, who was enthusiastically greeted, said he had been amazed during the past month at all the kind treatment he had received from his fellow citizens. What he had done to merit it he could not say. He could not but feel that such a farewell gathering would have been more appropriate in the case of % man who had spent much time in the service of the city than it could possibly be in the case of a plain student, such as he was. It was overwhelming, and not a little disconcerting. For the citizens' gifts he did not know how adequately to thank them. It was almost superfluous to say that he should take the greatest care of them and value them highly, and even revel in the associations they would inevitably call up. To the various gentlemen who had spoken he was deeply indebted for all the kind things they had said, although, from a closer knowledge of the subject than any of them could possibly have, he could not agree with them at all points of their remarks. They appeared to have altered an old proverb to make it read that one must say nothing but good about a Rhodes scholar. He thanked them for the goodwill that was expressed in all the speeches, and he assured them that he should never forget what they had said. Any expression of gratitude he could offer would be incomplete indeed if he did not refer to the two teachers under whom he had studied longest and to whom he owe 3so much. He had the good fortune to spend six years under Mr Campbell in tbe Boys' High School, both in the class room and in the playground. He was deeply grateful to him for his guidance during those years. The High School was singularly fortunate in possessing such an able master. No man whom he had ever met had such a grip over boys or understood them as Mr Campbell did. And none of that gentleman's colleagues would disagree with him when he said that in the highly successful career of the Boys' High School during the past 10 years Mr Campbell could justly claim a large share of the honour. The second master to whom he wished to make 1 special reference was 4iis favourite professor —Professor Sale. It had been his inestimable privilege to sit under Professor Sale for three years. To be under such a distinguished scholar and gentleman for so long was in itself a liberal education. He trusted that Professor Sale would long be spared after the present, which was his last, session to enjoy what ail Dunedin oitizens knew to be a very exceptionally well-earned and honourable retirement. In conclusion, he thanked the Mayor for his kindness in arranging the farewell gathering and for al) the trouble he had taken in connection with it. He felt deeply indebted to all present for the honour they bad done him by attending that gathering. There had oertainly been much ado about his departure, and his only fear was lest it should turn out to be about nothing. — (Applause.) The students who thronged the public i enclosure behind the rails and swarmed I around the open doom gave a deafening Maori haka, and the proceedings concluded with hearty cheers for Mr Gilray, Professor and Mrs Gilray, and his Worship the Major, the latter being called by Dr Benham. (