BOY WINS £5 PRIZE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1940, Page 9

BOY WINS £5 PRIZE

ONE OF A PARTY OF 600 CHILDREN. PRESENTATION AT EXHIBITION. Robbie Marchant from Mangonui, North Auckland, won the special attendance prize at the New Zealand' Centennial Exhibition for being the 1,100.000 th visitor. He was one of a party of more than 600 school children who visited the Exhibition during the day. Robbie was presented with the prize by the chairman of directors, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, and was later the guest of honour at an afternoon tea party given by the Exhibition authorities. He had little to say but a broad grin that lasted all day was sufficient evidence to the authorities that they had picked on an appreciative prize-winner.

At the presentation ceremony, when there were several hundred people present as well as the school party of 600, Robbie stood on tiptoe to reach the microphone and yelled "Thank you very much” as he clutched a five-pound note in his hand. He ate a hearty afternoon tea but was reticent about his plans for spending the money. Asked what was the best part of his day at the Exhibition he said that the most exciting moment was when he found himself on the roof of one of the buildings by mistake. The party have caused enthusiastic comment from all sides for their excellent behaviour in the Exhibition grounds. A donation of £lO was made for an essay competition by Mr and Mrs Chas. Todd. Mr Todd, deputy chairman of directors, said he hoped Robbie would save his prize money and that it would be the nucleus of his savings so that he will, later on, be able to pay a deposit on his own farm. Robbie made no comment but he had a gleam in his eye when he said he was going to spend Thursday night in the amusement park.