GRIEVE ORATORY CUR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 6

GRIEVE ORATORY CUR

Ten Scholars from Mahora School Compete tie for first place The first annual competition for tlie Grieve Oratory Cup, open for senior scholars attending the Mahora School, was lield during the week, ten scholars competing and speaking on their fav,ourite characters, living or dead. The contest created great interest, the judge, the Rev. R.B. Gosnell, having considerable difficulty in arriving at a decision." Those entering the competition were Joy Arcliibald, Maire Hyde, Norma Joues, Patricia Tapley, Bruce Baird, John Ensor, Gordon Knox, ^ieith Taylor, Gordon Yogtlierr and Derek Wedd. Such characters as Florence Nightingale, Ua-ptain Robert Scott, Robert Louis Pasteur, Marco Ppl0 and others were selected. by the competitors who spoke l'rom three to six minutes thereon.

.After some serious. consider ation and thought the judge found that he could not separate two of the competitors, Patricia Tapley and Dereck Wedd, both of whom received 80 marks, and it was decided that each should hold the cup for six months during the year. Coming a close third was Bruce Baird, 73 marks, who made a fine contribution. In commeniing upon tlie performances of the competitors, the Rev. R. B. Gosnell complimented all of them upon their fine endeavours, pointing out that he had awarded marks for clioice of subject, knowledge of character selected, grammar, pronunciation, eunciation and general deportment. Other points considered "were the ages and standaras of.the entrants." In giving general advice to the competitors, the judge intimated that he had made every ailowance for the nervous strain imposed upon the contributors, out warned them against looking at the ceiling instead of straight into tli© faces of the audience, and of the habit of rushing ahead instead of making a pause between sentences.. Other mannerisms calcidated tq lose marks were pointed out to the youthful essayists, and at the close of the comments by the judge, a hearty expression of appreciation was accorded him on the motion of tlie headmaster, Mr. E.- Bissell, supported by the chairman of the school committee, Mr. C. Lassen. The cup is to be presented to .the successful competitors at the Parents' Day celebrations this afternoon, and will be held for the first six months by Pat Tapley, the clever essayist from standard five, who is but twelve years of age. After that it will be held by Dereck AVedd until the first terin of 1939. — . 1