STUDENT ORATORS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1932, Page 8

STUDENT ORATORS

BLEDISLOE MEDAL CONTEST. WON ,BY AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON, October 15. Eight university' students—two from each of the four university colleges in New Zealand—took part rat the Wellington Town Hall in the first oratorical contest for the Bledisoe medal. The competition was won by Mr K. H. Melvin, of Auckland University College, to whom the medal was presented at the end of the evening by hi? Excellency Lord Bledisloe, who attended with Lady Bledisloe. The contest was held under the auspices of the New Zealand Union of students, and it attracted a large •audience.to the big Town Hall. Mr H. Atmore, M.P., was chairman, and the fudges were Mr Justice MacGregor, Mr H. H. Oram, and Mr H. D. Bennett.

SAMUEL MARSDEN. “The memory of Samuel Mar..?den," said the first speaker, Mr E. S. TuckWell, of Otago University, “will be for ever revered and loved by the p e °pl e of New Zealand, be they white or t Miaori. His loving toil 'and we rk was the means of bringing the blessing} of Christianity and civilisation to this country at an early date. Confronted us he was by the greatest of difficulties, not for one moment did be fhndhHe said: ‘I am content to do His .will,, resigned to spend arid be spent, whate’er the cost may be, to seek for Him those Islanders beyond the sea.’ ’’ Mr Tuckwell described Marsden’s early life, his noble work in New South Wales,' and his resolve to win the people of New Zealand to the Kingdom of God. On the small brig Active he ? et sail for N«w Zealand,' knding at Whaugaj’oa. Gradually Mrarsden’s courage and faith wort over tjre Maoris, gome days later they reached their real destination, Keri Keri, where they were at once welcomed. “The first Christian service in New* Zealand, ,< said,Ti’ck'WeTl “was a remarkable event. It fell on Christmas Day, which .fortunately coincided with a Sunday. ’

FIRST ANGLICAN BISHOP. Mr M. G. Sullivan, of Auckland University College, spoke on Bishop Seb wyn,. the first Anglican Bishop of the Church of the Province. During the tenure of his episcopacy, said Mr Sullivan, there were three large difficulties against which gel wyn had failed and at the 'same' time succeeded. These were, firstly, the burning question of a policy of colonisation- secondly, the difficult situation created by the- Maori Aval’s' ;' and finally, when Selwyn„ seemed, to have 'achieved a little,- there had been the call to 'l. e W. New Zealand and accept preferment at Home. Mr Sulliyan described in some detail how Selwyn had met the difficulties and the treatment he .had- met iwifch from his rinernies.. But in ■ the ■ d'ght r .of what history now showed it could be seen that'even in the midst oT failure he had been successful.

The third speaker, Mr E. K. Cook, of Canterbury University College; spoke on Sir George Grey, - who “had welded ’and forged our nation with the force of Iris own purposiveness.” In a quiet ronversritional way Mr Cook painted a . vivd human ' picture of Grey? “He had * a magnanimous heart, a restless vigour,” said- Mr Cook. ‘ “He still remains an inspiration to all generous minds;” •

MOI'HER MARY AUBERT. Mr R. J. Reardon, of Victoria University 'College, spoke on the late Mother Mary- Aubert, the muah-loved Mother Superior of -the Home of -Compassion, whom he described' Us “daughter of Francej i'e'.igieuse, of . the Catk - lie Church, and benefactress of hew Zealand.’! From her burial place in the city of Wellin ;ton to the. place of iher birth, the city of Lyons, was • a ■ far ci'y, said Mr Reardon, and .the span of years, 1926-to 1835,- embraced nearly. .four 1 generations.' As a-young girl, she jhad gone 'from a home filled with the j'love and example of distinguished .parents to the University of Sorbonn«, : where, as the only representative of iher sex at the faculty of medicine, she had been • debarred from ■ receiving her egree. Later she worked with F.’ov ence nightingale,, caring for the wounded in the Peninsular Wrr.

Mr'. Real don described her early work in New Zealand, and how..she was soon loved universally from one end of the country to the other. Then came the early struggles and sacrifices connected with the establishment of a -house of her Order, and finally the beginning of the Home of Compassion, with a ciipital .of half a crown,. “To. the everlasting credit of our city,” said Mr Reardon, “she never lacked assistance. From the Governor, Lord Phinket, down to the humblest members of the community, all had helped • the saintly Mother Aubert.

A MAORI HERO. Miss C. S. Forde, of Victoria College, spoke on Tamati VVaka ' Nene, whom New Zealand claimed as one of its shirting points, • and whose name was one of the brightest stars on its opening pages.” Politically, said M ' SR Forde, he had had one settled con- ; viofion —loyalty to- the- British Cfown. 1 Unlike certain - other Maori? .lie bud 1 been true both in 'fiction' find ; in spirit. | His noble mind had pierced the future; I and perceived that the power of Britain was the staff Upon which bis bt'lve , though foiling rase must; lean. Hu b' averted many dangers which might have been fatal fa the claim of Britain in thosg days - and H hiH -Mr,on

.nd ’pakeha alike realised the loss ot n 'great mail and a good friend. Mr J. 0. Murphy, of Otago University, ’gave a stirring account of the Dominion's elarly history in the course of his speech on “The Annexation of New Zealand.” Much of it was taken up with i a survey of the position which bbtained .shortly after the first Europeans settled in the country, and at the end he spoke of the Treaty of Waitangi. , LITTLE-KNOWN FIGURE.

Mr K. H. Melvin, of' Auckland Un : - ' ersity College, spok e on the first British resident, James Busby, “without whom,” he said, “we should possets to-day no Treaty of Waitangi.” About Busby, said Mr Melvin, no book had ever been written, no speech had ever been made. His story, could onTy be discovered by. means o'f laborious, lengthy searches through d*'y and dusty Governmental records. Yet when history came to be dispassionately written, Busby would be shown in his true colours as a loyal, splendid subect whose only crime was that .he trod been expected to do the impossible. Miss D„ 'Mag in ness, of Canterbury* College, who was the last speaker, dealt, in a fascinating way with the nersonality and career of Richard James Reddon, whom she- described early in her speech with la string of effective adjectives, and a finai] remark that l'i <e most great men, he had sometimes been rather a humbug. “He was a man with many faults,” Miss Maginness said, “and yet in spite of them ♦ill. one of the greatest men New Zealanders have known.” AUCKLANDERS LEAD. The 'judges’ decision, plading Mr Melvin first, 'Mr Sullivan se-ond. aild Mr Reardon third, was announced by 'Mr Justice MacGregor.