SCHOOL
INSTJTU T!Ol\S
-1-9 'l'lte above met in a prelimin ary contest and Dent, Snelling, Duff and Harrison were left to contest the final. 'rhe winner of this was Snelling. He spoke on "Richthofen- '' German Air Ace' '-in a quiet emphatic man·· ner, both the subject matter, and delivery being exceptionally good. His win was very popular. Dent who spoke on the subject "Eyre, the Australi an Explore r," was also very good, but he perhaps delayed too much in approach ing the subject matter, and his speech was thus rather vague. Harrison , who spoke on the "Comma nd of the Seas,'' is still a very young speaker and showed distinct promise. Duff's speech on "Abraha m Lincoln " was very good, but was inclined to be over emphatic . No fewer than 12 competit ors entered for the Senior Debating : G. N. Caldwell and W . McLeay ; W. H. Gould and D. X Caldwel l; J. L. Mason and H. P. Webster ; D. L. Wilks and P. Henry; J. J. Barnicoa t and J. R. Grant, and J. E. Church and C. W. W eston. The subject chosen was: ' ' 'l'hat the Englism an of 1700 was happier than is the Englishm an of to-day.'' After a series of prelimin ary debates, J. J. Barnicoa t and J. R. Grant, and W. H. Goulcl and D. N. Caldwell were left in the final. Barnicoa t opened the debate for the affirmati ve and although he spoke in a quiet voice he made up for this by the excellenc e of the subject matter. 'l'hen followed Gould for the negative . He, too, possesse d good subject matter, but his speech was rather spoilt by a jerky delivery. Grant then spoke for the affirmati ve. This was perhaps the best debating speech of the day, the subject matter being good and delivery excellen t. Calclwell spoke very well, and endeavo ured to counter the arguments of his opponen ts. Of the summing -up of the two leaders, Barnicoa t was definitel y superior. The central theme of his closing speech was a definitio n of happines s.
Mr. L. M. Moss, who was judge of both the Senior and Junior contests, decided in favour of Grant and Barnicoa t. The debates and speeches were held in the Gymnasi um in the presence of the whole School, the • standard being well up to that shown in the past. At the conclusio n Mr. Moyes, who presided , expresse d the thanks of the School to Mr. Moss for again acting as judge, and for the practica l interest he had always taken in public speaking at the School over a period of many years.