DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17693, 2 August 1919, Page 13

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

This morning the Dunedin Choral Society announces that its " Elijah" concert will be given in His Majesty's Theatre on Satui day, tho 16th inst. Under the conductorship of Mr Sidney Wolf, the chorus and orchestra are going through a course of thorough preparation. The principals may be relied upon to do full justice to the parts allotted to th?m. _ Mr ' John Prouse is coming from Wellington specially to sing the part of the Prophet Elijah. The honorary membership has been considerably augmented sino? the April concert, and new names are being added almost daily.

N.Z.E.F. SCHOLARSHIPS. TO THK KDXTOE. Sin, —Will you kindly insert tho following- extract from a lottor just reoeived from an old Waitaki boy, how sergeant 011 tho •Staff in Sling? " You will probably wonder why I have elected to stay in England so long 1 when I .could have returned The only reason is this : Tho Dominion of New Zealand, out of tho gratitude of its heart, offered various educational facilities to tho troops. Most of these wero useless to me, as they involved the soldier in 111010 expense than the Government, and I could not afford it. But I did not let any opportunity go, and when the Expeditionary Force Scholarship was inaugurated, I pounced on it. Its object was to give to 50 matriculated soldiers of no independent means, whose studies had been interrupted by the war, a three years' course at a Home University, with a bonus of £250 a year, and a return passage. I applied and obtained recommendations from a oaptain, a major, a colonel, and professor Adams. 1 went through all the necessary forms, and was led to believe that I stood a favourable chance. The tiling was postponed from month to month, and, in the end, proved a gigantic farce. Men with independent means and positions in New Zealand which they had just left (some being 43rd Reinforcements with never a glimpse of France) were granted scholarships. Over 40 out of 50 were officers, there being no brains in tho ranks, and many of these ,and 'the remainder of n.c.o.'s were the education stall. I take the failure in a sportsmanlike manner, and I mention the result because it is only too true, and no redress. I attended a few educational tours during one of which I called 011 Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who treated me verv handsomely, and nominated mo for a Kitchener Scholarship, should I fail to get a N.Z.E.F. scholarship. These are the scholarships on which New Zealand based hers—a veritable counterpart in fact. Money was left by Lord Kitchener for the purpose of benefiting the overseas troops on condition thai the particular colonial Government subsidised to half the amount. However, our patriotic Government, having made a great show with the 50 scholarships, withdrew from Lord Kitchener's scheme, which would "hot reflect the credit on it, and, to quote the High Commissioner's words, my scholarship will not be available 'owing to lack of funds.' Of the remainder of the N.Z.E.F. scheme the less said tho better. I have to return to New Zealand now, having lost this year, to start once more —where?" —l am, etc., • Scholarship.