ORATORY HONOURS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 6

ORATORY HONOURS.

— fr-*' ■

THE PLUNKET MEDAL,

FALLS TO MR. F. G. HALL-JONES,

Oratory—students' oratory—and some little distortion of history formed tho piccc-dc-rosistanco at tho Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall on Saturday evening. It was the seventh annual struggle for tho Plunket Medal, open to members of the Victoria College Debating Society. In this competition tho subject chosen must l)c sorno famous name from history, and the usual array of warriors and statesmen wero marshalled for the purposes of tho competition. This year they wore all British, with tho exception of that inevitable outsider—Napoleon. As it happened, the speaker who handled the story of this rather dazzling personage was tho speaker who won. Mr. M. H. Oram, president of tho Victoria Collage Debating Society, was in the chair, and tho speeches were judged by a board of five. These were: Messrs. H. D. Bell, Iv.C., J. P. Firth, A. L. Herdman, M.P., R. M'Nab, and Dr. A. 11. Newman.

On Wellington and Cobden,

Mr. E. M. Mackersey, the first speaker, took up tho Duke of 'Wellington. He sketched tho career of the great general, from his dull boyhood, his entry into the Army, as a young man of only mediocro talents, and his rapid rise to positions of command by his persevering thoroughness; his first distinguished service in India, then in the Peninsular \Var, and the crowning victory at Waterloo, by which tho meteoric splendour of Napoleon's career was ended forever. Jlr. Mackersey's appreciation of the Iron Duke was interesting, if a tritle bookish—suggestive of midnight oil rather than of battlefields, of which it professed to treat.

Jlr. W. J. MEldowney had less opportunity for eloquence in giving a character sketch of Richard Cobden, but ho had apparently made a very careful study of tho story of the great Cobden's life, and the principles for which he had fought in and out of Parliament. Ho concluded an interesting recital with an exceptionally fine passage on Imperialism, showing an intelligent man's conception of it, and of how its ideals could bo achieved. Throughout his specch his terms were chosen in excellent tasfce, and his syntax was a great deal better than ono is accustomed to hear in public speeches,

Lord Lawrence and Sir Thomas More,

Mr. J. M'L. Hogben, tho next speaker, was at once confident and at liis ease; he had the personality and voico for oratory. Ho had to tell of Lord Lawrence, soldier and administrator, who did so much to save the wealthy North-West Provinces of India for England. Mr, Hogben had not, however, marshalled his facts strikingly enough, and lie did not bring Lawrence's biggest achievements into high relief. His speech suffered by comparison in this respect with those of his two predecessors. Mr. G. G. G. Watson paid an eloquent tribute to Sir Thomas More, churchman and scholar, who suffered death in tho time of Henry VIII, when tho change nowadays called "The Reformation" was going on. The speaker's eulogy of More was a very warm one, but in tho best, of literary taste. Ho showed some knowledge of rhetorical device in tho framing of his speech, but he was nervous, and his voico was on tho whole too even in tone.

Napoleon and Gordon,

_Mr. P. G. Hall-.Tonos realised that in Napoleon lie had chosen the most picturesque figure in all European historv, and lie made the contrasts in the little Corsican's life stand out boldly. Ho did not draw a Frenchman's Napoleon, the Emperor for whom it was glory to die, but rather ho showed him as tho adventurer that ho appeared in the perspective that was only possiblo after ho was safely out of tho way at St. Helena. Then ho appeared as Mi. Hall-Jqnes said, "the most trasic figure in the drama of all time." The sketch was of tho impressionist sort, and thero was colour and life in it—also some real merit.

Jlr. G. C. Jackson spoko of General Gordon. Ho appreciated, no doubt, how groat was Gordon, the man and how great was his genius iji dealing with certain races of men, but ho showed all the faults of inexperience in telling the audience about it.

Other Speeches,

.Mr. C. A L. Tradwell took far too long to tell who his hero, Sir Henry Lawrence, was, and why ho was accounted a hero. His speech was over-wrought—-rich in dictionary words and poor in Anglo-Saxon. Iu one particular ho excelled all other competitors—ho pronounced his words well. ITis manner generally was good. Mr. G. H. Robertson recited somewhat too dispassionately the doings of another of tho lioroos of the Indian Mutiny, John Nicholson. There was also in his recital too much detail—too much dotting of i's and crossing of t's.

The Award,

Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C., president of the Board of Judges, announced tho award as follows:—Mr. l r . G. Hall-Jones, 1; Mr. W. J. M'Eldowney, 2; Mr. C. A. L. Trca'dwell, 3.

Sir Joseph Ward was then invited to present the medal to the winner. lie also delivered a short speech, congratulating the competitors on their efforts and giving them a little advice. .

Tho undergraduates of tho collogo packed tho gallery of tho hall, and in the intervals between tho speeches they indulged in tho pleasantries which are the special privilego of students in bulk. Sir Joseph Ward was tlio butt of much of their good-humoured banter, somo of it shouted in chorus, and somo of it sung in three or four topical songs. Votes of (hanks were accorded to tho judges and to Sir Joseph Ward.