ORATORY AT VICTORIA COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 67, 17 September 1917, Page 5

ORATORY AT VICTORIA COLLEGE

AN INTERESTING- CONTEST.

The big gymnasium hall at Victoria College was filled to overflowing on Saturday eveningj the event being the eleventh annual contest for'the Plunket Medal for oratory. Among those present were the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.), Hon.' J. A. Hanan. (Minister for Education), and Sir Robert Stout. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F Maesey), Sir James Allen, and the Hon. A. L. Herdman.

In the course of his opening remarks, Mr. 6. A. Cooper said that since the war there had been a considerable diversity of opinion as to the advisability of holding the usual contests for the Plunket Medal. When the matter came up this year it was suggested. that there would be insufficient interest in the contests. This was hardly borne out by the audience in the. building that evening. Another reason advanced was that with

so many men students at the front, the standard of debating would necessarily be lowered. However, he felt convinced that there was not one man at the front j who had gone from the University who , would not approve of the action of I keeping the contests going on in their j absence. (Applause.) ■

Mr. W L.' Leicester, the first speaker, took as his subject that romantic but unhappy hero of Spanish exploration—the "stout Cortes," the intrepid conqueror of one of the greatest peoples of the Old World—the Aztecs. Mr Leicester traced in a most fascinating and well-chosen manner the life of his hero, and his remarks were listened to with the greatest ■interest 'by those present.

The next speaker, Mr. H G. Miller, took as his hero the very antithesis of Cortee—John Bright, the gentle, scholarly man who did so much for the oppressed of England.

Mr. F. Robertson's subject was the Grand Old. Man of Russia—Leo Tolstoi, the champion of democrtcy. The. noble character of John Wesley received an excellent handling by Mr. I. Sutherland, who spoke with intensity of the life of the founder of the Wesleyan Church

Juliu* Caesar was the character chosen by Mr. G. H. Winder. Mr. Winder delivered a really' excellent oration, and was greeted with enthusiastic . applause at the conclusion.

Mr. C. G. Kirk, who spoke on General Gordon—"Gordon of Khartoum"—dealt with the tragedy of one of England's greatest military heroes in a most skilful manner. . ' ,

Miss Neumann, the only, woman speaked ruring the evening, was greeted withapplause. The subject chosen by Mis* Neumann was Florence Nightingale. The intervention in the great war of the United States rendered particularly interesting the oration by Mr. G. S. Troup on Abraham Lincoln, the great President of America. ' •

The verdict of the judges (Messrs. C. B. Morisori, K.C., C. E. Statham, M.P., and Edward Tregear, I.S.o.)was awaited with great interest. In announcing the result of the contest, they said that the various speeches were of so high a standard that it was a very hard matter to decide who was the best speaker. However, after due consideration, Miss Neumann was awarded the medal, with Mr. H. G. Miller and Mr. G. H. Winder following in the order named. The presentation was made. by. Sir .Robert. Stout.' " ■ '■ .. •■ .... .«,

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