ORATORY AND DEBATING

Evening Post, Issue 47, 23 August 1935, Page 5

ORATORY AND DEBATING

INTER-COLLEGE CONTEST

The annual oratory and debating contest between St. Bede's College, Christchurch, and St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, was held on Wednesday evening in the Assembly Hall of the college at Silverstream. •

The judge, Mr.'J. N; Millard, headmaster of Hutt - Valley High School, commended the representatives of both colleges on the high standard attained both in oratory and debate. In placing J. Doolan, St. Patrick's College, first in the oratory contest-for the O'Connell Shield, he bestowed special praise on his effortless, clear enunciation and his fine dramatic talent, which' carried both audience and judge away on the adventurous sorties of the hero,- "Lawrence of Arabia.".The other speakers were placed in the following order:— M: Durning (St. Bede's), "Persecutions in Mexico"; P. Minto (St. Patrick's), "Hannibal"; K. Purcell (St. Bede's), "A Tribute to St.:Bede." '.

The decision of the debating contest for the Kennedy -Cup was more difficult, said the. judge. He, had-seldom heard such vigorous and sustained attack and counter-attack as that which -had delighted the large and- appreciative audience during the discussion- of the subject, "The General Introduction of Machinery Has Been Chiefly for the Benefit of Mankind." St. Patrick's took the affirmative. Both. leaders, J. Espagne (St. Patrick's) and W: ;Spillane (St. Bede's), made very, impressive opening speeches, Espagne gaining the advantage;. but. Spillane made up lost ground in his clever and convincing re-ply.-The supporting speakers, I; Dick (St. Patrick's) and P. Wall (St. Bede's) were both commended for their point-to-point replies, Dick, being particularly.happy in some of his humorous,sallies. St. Patrick's were- declared ; the winners by a narrow margin of points. The trophies were presented'by his Grace Archbishop O'Shea,. who ; exprSssed his pleasure' at seeing such talent in the young speakers. He stressed the ii^jortance of training youth not only to acquire knowledge, but also to develop the ability to communicate1 it to others both in conversation and public speaking. He congratulated both colleges on the evident success which; had attended their efforts in this important branch of education. .- ■-./'-.

The Rev. Father L. Smith, S.M., on behalf of St. Bede's College, thanked ■all those s who had contributed to the yeity sincere welcome accorded to the boys of St. Bede's. and offered his congraf illations to .-the.winners on '.their well-merited victory. The Very Rev: Father .J. Dowling, S.M., Rector ot St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, thanked his Grace.the Archbishop, the judge," Mr. J..N.'Millard, and the chairman, Dr. F. Kemp for their much appreciated assistance. At the conclusion of the function, the audience were entertained at supper.