Rhodes Scholars Chosen

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1043, 6 August 1930, Page 10

Rhodes Scholars Chosen

AUCKLAND’S CANDIDATES Messrs. G. E. and J. S. Watt THE Auckland University College lias nominated its two candidates for the Rhodes Scholarship next year. They are Messrs. J. S. Watt, B.Se., and G. E. Watt, both of whom have noted scholastic careers and are prominent on the, field of sport. The former is the present Auckland half-mile champion, while the latter is a member of the New Zealand Territorial Air Force and a member of the Varsity Rugby fifteen which leaves for Suva next Saturday.

The two candidates for the scholarship, although of the same name, are not related. Mr. John Stephen Watt, who has attained the degree of Bachelor of Science, is only 22 years of age, and was horn at Boulder, in West Australia. He came to Auckland when only a few years old. His primary education commenced when he attended the Remuert school, and at the age of 12 years he entered the Auckland Grammar School, where he gained his senior national scholarship and matriculation in 1923. In 1926 Mr. Watt was awarded the Tibbs Memorial Prize for mathematics. and also the Eric Ashley Memorial Prize for first in mathematics and science. He also gained his university entrance scholarship, and in this was second in New Zealand in "heat” and third in chemistry. For a time he was a probationer at the Remuera School, and completed his B.Sc. degree last year. Over the past three years at varsity he has been lecturer’s demonstrator in the chemistry department, and this year was successful in gaining the Sir George Grey Scholarship. AIR FORCE PILOT Mr. Watt’s career in sport is quite well known to Aucklanders after his great list of victories over the halfmile and mile in open company. He first made his debut as an athlete while at the Grammar School and for three years won the senior championship in both events, at the same I reestablishing records. His record lor the half-mile still stands. For the 1927-28, and ’29-30 seasons he won the Auckland provincial championship half-mile event. He has also won the T. Iv. Sidey Cup, a points prize competed for by members of the Auckland Centre, lie represented Auckland at the Dominion championships in 1928, and at that meeting was a member of the winning relay team. For two years, Mr. Watt was a pre feet at the‘Grammar School and now at the University he is chairman of the Scientific Society and also the Athletic Club.

With more than 100 hours’ flying to his credit in the New Zealand Territorial Air Force, and many other interesting attainments, Mr. George Ernest Watt is also exceptionally versatile and has a promising and varied career ahead. His school career started at Frankton and later he attended the Matamata and Hamilton High Schools. He was dux at the first-mentioned school and would have also had this distinction at Hamilton had he been a Latin scholar. In 1920 he gained his junior national scholarship, and two j-ears later his senior national scholarship. Mr. Watt entered the Auckland University in 1926 to study engineering, and is completing his B.E. this

year. He has been four years on the timber-testing staff, and for two years he has been in charge of the timber-testing station at the Varsity. In 1927 he obtained the Timber Research Scholarship, which he still holds. Throughout his school and college career, Mr. Watt has been a prominent Rugby player, and has been chosen for the Varsity team which leaves for Suva on Saturday next. He has more particularly shone, however, as a rifle shot. He represented the college in the Haslem Shield team, and gained his "blue.” On occasions he has competed at the Army rifle meeting at Trentham, and this year in that shoot only missed the King's Medal by three points in the final shoot. Rowing also comes under his long list of attainments, and this year at the Easter tournament he was a member of the college eight. He is secretary to the Students’ Association Executive, and is also connected with numerous other associations and clubs connected with the college. As an airman, Mr. Watt is sitting for his commission of flying officer. He obtained his “wings” at the Wigrant airdrome, and during the various refresher courses he has had experience in bombing, navigation and aerial fighting, and he was first in the aerial gunnery tests.