GISBORNE DEBATING SOCIETY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 831, 10 July 1879, Page 2

GISBORNE DEBATING SOCIETY.

A pair sprinkling of the fair sex graced the Society's meeting last night, and no doubt were pleased with the abilities displayed by the various speakers, and the theme chosen for the exercise of their powers of eloquence, common sense, and perhaps, some day m the future, statesmanship. . The subject for debate was : " Would It be expedient and beneficial to the future of the Colony to go to war to settle the present Native difficulty 1 " Mr. Ferris led off m the affirmative, and showed that he had studied his subject from its many-sided approaches. He laid ancient and modern authorities and practices under contribution, and handler! his theme with taste and art. Mr. Cuff, m the negative, took the constitutional vi«w of the matter citing our earliest and our latest dealings with the Maori, and interspersed his speech with racy anecdotes, and giving evidence of his own warm and sincere conviction that the word war was applied most mischievously m this instance — the present native disturbance being, properly speaking, but a mere riot. Mr. Brnssey, m support of Mr. Ferris, | spoke well, and certainly to the point. Mr. Tncker, m support of Mi*. Cuff, spoke eloquently, and with keen indight into the rival claims of native and of settler. Mr. Upham spoke somewhat diajointedly. It would have perhaps been better had he not spoken at all. Mr. McLean spoke m favor of peace, m a few well-chosen sentences. Mr. Arthur, m favor of war, spoke m evident mastery of the subject, showing his wide acquaintance with the entire question. We regret that his speech was so short. Mr. Chambers spoke m favor of war. He also with the last speaker, showed a very clear and comprehensive grasp of the present phase of this native squabble. Mr. Brassey replied m a brief and witty speech. On a show of hands, fourteen were for the affirmative, and eight against. Mr. Ferris proposed that on next meeting night, July 23rd, the subject for debate will be, " Are animals endowed with reason, or not?" Mr. Tucker will argue m the affirmative, and Mr. F; Arthur will contend m the negative. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the evening.