TUATARA SHIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 293, 23 September 1949, Page 2

TUATARA SHIELD

High School Wins TALENTED YOUTHFUL SPEAKERS The Tuatara Shield debating contest was held last Evening in the High School assembly hall, and attracted an entry of six teams—five from the High School, and a team representing the Catholic Club. A tribute to the strength of the debating at the Pligh School is shown in the final results, all the school teams finishing ahead of the Catholic Club. Nevertheless, all teams gained a placing in the individual contests, and the Catholic Club produced the best speaker of the evening, Miss P. Smith.

The adjudicator for the debate (Mr A. O. Edwards) expressed pleasure at the standard of speaking attained. Mr Edwards gave helpful criticism and remarked on the even competition. At the conclusion of the function the patron of the Debating Union, the Mayor (Mr E. C. Bathurst) presented the shield to the High School B team (leader, B. Cameron). “To face an audience is one thing, and then to open your mouth is a ' lot harder,’’ said Mr Bathurst, in expressing pleasure at seeing such youthful speakers on the stage during the evening. Several df these were in their first year at secondary school, so contests in future should attain a high standard. Results were as follow:

Impromptu Speech (adjudicator, Mr R. Cocks) —R. Service (High School A team), S4pts, 1; J. Ng (High School E team) 76pts, 2; N. Cairns (High School B team), 75pts 3. Address (adjudicator, Mr H. J. Kennedy)—R. Pethig (High School D), 75pts, 1; R. Hyland (High School A), 70pts, 2; R. Gilchrist (High School B) 69pts, 3. Debate (adjudicator, Mr Edwards) —High School B (B. Cameron and K. Bryant) lSlpts, 1; High-School C (L. and R. Tarbotton) 179pts, 2: Catholic Club (Misses P. Smith and N. Sullivan), 175pts, 3. Best Speakers—Miss P. Smith (Catholic Club) 83pts, 1; L. Tarbotton (High School C) 79pts, 2; R. Lowry (High School D) 71pts, 3. Final Shield Placings—High School B, 7pts, 1; High School A, opts, 2; High School C and E (equal), 3pts, 3; High School E, 5; Catholic Club, 6. The winning team was: B. Cameron leader), K. Bryant (second), R. Gilchrist (address), and N. Cairns (impromptu).