RHODES SCHOLAR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 10, 7 October 1919, Page 8

RHODES SCHOLAR

MR. N. M. RICHMOND SELECTED A DISTINGUISHED CAREER Mr. Norman Maedonald Richmond, of Canterbury College, hag been selected as tho Now Zealand Rhodes Scholar for 1919. Tho Board of Selection met at Government, House yesterday morning, and consisted of His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General (the Earl of Liverpool), Sir l?obert Stout (Chancellor of the New Zealand University), Hi; Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, Professors C. W. Egor-, ton (Auckland), D. M. Y. Sommerville (Wellington), J. P. Gabbatt (Canterbury), and G. E. Thompson (Otago). There were only two candidates nominated, these being Messrs. N. M. Richmond (Canterbury University College) and .S. A. Wii'en (Victoria University College); Tho task of making a choico was not an easy ono for tho board because both nominees possessed exceedingly high intellectual and scholarly attainments, and complied generally witJi all the other conditions attaching to tho scholarship. Twenty-two years of ago on tho 23rd of tho present month, the selected candidate is a son of tho lato Professor M. W. Richmond, somo time Professor of Law at Victoria University College, and was born in Wellington. He has had a distinguished scholastio and athletic career' and also saw service at the front in tho closing stages of the war. When attending tho Terrace School, Wellington, in 1008, he gained a Junior Education Board Scholarship, and in 1909-10 he was at Wellington Oolite, where ho won a Senior Free Place in 1910. Proceeding to Nelson College in 1911, he remained thero until 1914, his career, both in and out of tho schoolroom, being exceptional. When only 13 years of ag9 he was first in upper V, and took the "Newcome" Scholarship. In swimming lie was first in tho 25 yards for boys under. M, and ha was third in the gymnastics junjor cup competition. The following year ne won a Junior University Scholarship, annexed the gymnastics junior cup, and was first in the "All Schools*" swimming championship. In 1913 and 1911 ho was first in the 6th, gained high places iu the examinations for tho . University Scholarship, and got the "Andrew" Memorial Prize for classics. He also took a leading part in tho social and athletic sido of school lifo; in 1911 he captained the third cricket eloven, and won the senior gvmnastics cup. Ho was also a n.c.o. in the Artillery Corps, and was leader of tho squad, winning all departments of physical exercises. .He was also awarded the Goodfellowship Medal. Entering Canterbury University College at the age of 17 years, lie did exceedingly well, and when 19 /ears of age ho took his B.A. degree, together with a Senior University Scholarship and prizes in allied mathematics. Enlisting, in tho N.Z.E.F. in October, 1917,'h0 sailed with the Thirtr-seventh Reinforcements iin May, 1918." In order to go to the front he enlisted in the infantry, but on reaching the United Kingdom he was able to transfer to tho Artillery, witli the work of which Tie was acquainted, .and he served as a.driver and'gunner with'the N.Z.E.F. in France and. Ger.-uany from September, 1918,'.t0 March, 1919. While in cam]) at Trentham ho won tho heavyweight boxing championship, .-.of the Thirty-seventh Reinforcements, and in "France and Germany ho played in the Ist Buttery football team. Returning to New Zealand in June last, h" took 'up a temporary position on the stnff of Christ's College, whero he played with the first football fifteen, was vice-president of the Students' Association, and editor. of the "Review." But for hi?, military duties it is considered probable 'that Mr. Richmond would have taken his M.A. degree ■ with honours last year^