THE GRAPHIC

New Zealand Graphic, 20 December 1894, Page 5

THE GRAPHIC

Prize Competition. Stories.

Naipes of This Year’s Winners. PRIZES FOR NEXT YEAR. IT is satisfactory to be able to report that the manuscripts sent in for our Christmas Short Story Competition this year were of considerably higher literary merit than those received in 1893. The story which has been awarded first prize, gained that place by unanimous vote of the judges and by a very large majority of marks. ‘ Neha, a Tale of Green Lizards,’ by Mr E. H. Aubin, is, as our readers will admit, a clever and striking piece of work, the style being particularly graceful, and the interest well-sustained. Mr St. Aubyn is quite a young man, and has already distinguished himself in scholastic work. The second prize fell, also by unanimous vote of the judges, to Mrs Bullock, of Wanganui, in her story, ‘The Beachcomer’s Daughter.’ This story is also of a higher class than any of last year’s prize stories. It will be published in the weekly Graphic about Christmas week.

Concerning the third prize, there was considerable difference of opinion amongst the judges, but ‘The Ghost of Blind Gully,’ by Mrs B. J. Maclean, Taupiri, had a majority, though it was but a narrow majority, over the half dozen stories which ran it closely. This story will also appear in the weekly Graphic at an early date. Some of last year’s prize-winners were again competitors this time. We trust that unsuccess on this occasion will not discourage these, or other successful competitors from ‘ trying again ’ for the COMPETITION 1895. FIRST PRIZE ... ... .. Z 5 SECOND PRIZE ... Z 3 THIRD PRIZE ... ... - /2 The stories must not be less than 4,000, or more than 5,000 words in length, and free from anything unsuitable for all classes of readers. It will be seen by Rule 7 that the broadest scope is allowed. So that the scene of the story is laid in New Zealand, the choice of subject is unlimited.