DEBATING AND ORATORY

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 288, 22 August 1923, Page 8

DEBATING AND ORATORY

INTER-COLLEGE COMPETITIONS.

The annual debating and oratory competitions between representatives of St. Patrick's College and St. Bede’s College took place in the study hall of St. Patrick’s College last evening. In spite of the bad weather the hall -was packed with the boys, the bld boys, and parents of the boys of the two colleges. The programme was opened with musical selections by the college orchestra, under the baton of P. Cullen. L. Evatt contributed flute solos. The Rector of St. Patrick’s, the Vary Rev. T. A. Gilbert. S.M.M.A., welcomed the representatives from the southern college, and introduced the chairman, Air. M. J. Reardon, and the judges, Rev. Father J. A. Eccleton (of the Afarist Alission staff), Dr. Marsden (Assistant Director of Education), and G. Craig (Controller of Customs). The decision was announced by Dr. Marsden. He pointed out the general defects noticed during the debate, and remarked that the whole debate was of a very high standard and' better than he had heard for some time from debaters of a similar standing. In the opinion of the judges, W. Ainsworth (St. Patrick’s) was the finest speaker, and W. Daly (St. Bede’s) a close second. The team points were allotted as follows: —St. Patrick’s, 230: St. Bede’s, 224. Thus St. Patrick’s secured the Kennedy Cup, which had been held since 1921 by St. Bede’s College,,, The competition in oratory took place after the debate. In this section the following were the speakers, with the subjects chosen: —T. Taylor (St. Patrick’s), Damien of Molokai; C. Afclntosh (St. Bede’s), Napoleon; F. Crowle (St. Bede’s), Joan of Arc: J. Ccnnor (St. Patrick’s). Kosciusko. The judge, Rev. J. A. Eccleton, awarded the shield for oratory to C. Afclntosh. Air. Reardon presented the Kennedy Cup and the O’Connell Shield to the winners, and congratulated the speakers on their excellent conduct of the debate. After the competitions Rev. Father Gilbert thanked the chairman and judges, and' a vote of thanks vras carried by acclamation. Cheers were then called by the rival collegians and the evening terminated with the singing of St. Patrick’s School song, “The Blue and White ”