DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 85

DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motio: "Union is Strength" Tho usual weekly meeting of the above club was held on Tuesday •evening, August 3. There was a fair attendance of members, and greater enthusiasm was manifested than

at the last meeting. Owing to tie president being away on holiday, Larkspur (vice-presi-dent) took the chair. A cordial welcome w^s extended to Lady E«ler. The subject fcr debate was: "Which is the Most Preferable Mode ior Touring: Cycling or Horse Biding?" Gipsy Queen led for the cycling side, supported by Thora, Bobbie Dear, Vidocq, and Texas J ack , and Indiaoi Chief led for horse r.ding. supported by Firefly, Billie, Lady La Touche, and Areta. The decision was left in the hands of three judges — Ernestine, Nora, and Ned Divine. Horse-riding side won. Gipsy Queen m?de a very good stand for her side, and she is to bs congratulated, as this is hear first attempt at leadership of a debate. '•The very first thing when you are gomg a journ-ey on a horse ie to catch, the horse, and perhaps you Will have to chase the animal all round the field before you catch it. Then wait until the animal has had a feed, groom it, f addle and bridle it, and by the time you are doing all this you. could be two or three miles along the road on youx cycle. When you are cycling you have only to feed yourself, whereas if you are riding a horse you ha-ve to feed it as well as yourself, so that rceans double the expense. In cycling every muscle is kept on the move all the time, whereas on a horse you are almost in the same position when you arrive at your journey's end as when you started. More exercise, therefore more healthier." — Gipsy Queen. "You can do a far longer journey on a bike than on a horse, for by the time a hoase has been going a good, steady pace all day it is done for. On a bike ypu can. g» for days at a time, and the bike is noce the worse for it."— Thora. "You can do a long journej day after day on a bicycle with litt'e or no fatigue, but try to average 50 miles a day with a horse, and see how you would, fare. The horse will not stand it. This I know from personal txuevience. When you have a fall off your bicycle you haven't so far to fall as from a ho-Fe." — Vidocq. "It js but a few minuses' work io put on the sadd-e and get started. A touch of the snur is given, and both hcrse and rider enter into the pleasure of a gallon along the fine reads. It comes on to rain, and I &haJ] assume I have a ca<po strapped on to my saddle, and in ndm© cases out of ten you will find riders keen capes strapped to their swddles. Though it be raining heavily, the hill dees not worry me, because my trusty steed oairries rue onward without any trouble. It is no joke ptifhing a bike up a hill in the ra : n." — Indian Chief. "The only advs.*rtage a bicycle has is in going down a hill, but when you have to dismount and push the bicvele up the hill | a<sain things aren't so enjoyab'e. There is ' nrf.hin<r so pleasant as a good gallop' on a hor=-» " — Alien and Lady La Touche. "Beirg only a new chum out from Home, ; and not having had »ny experience in riding ! either a horce or a bicycle, I am not very competent to saj which is more preferable, Tnit far>m what I have peen and hea.rd of the i New Zealand country «-nd roads I should 1 pr»W borpp-ridin?."— Billip. Firreflv thought hior<=e-Tidin,sr wa» much to be preferred, est>eciaJlv in the Cold L«,kes di'tric* where the re-ad? are s-"> inaccessible; where bicycles could not po«*? : b'y go. A^-eto thought a horse beine "human." wou'd ba m~re companionab'e : also a horse cmid oarrv far more than a bike. Tex?s Jack spoke in favour of the bike. T^ere w-«m't the pame Axoen=e attached to a liiV-n sic there was to a horse. "Bobbie Dear also spoke in favour of a bike — of the exercise to be derived from rid-ir-o- one HAi-ry'=( rep.i^nat.'V.n was accepted, but o>i , the motion cf Areta Css an PTieTidTnent) it •wt>o a-'lewpd if> stond ove>r tH hjq return. , Irjrl'cr) <~h-!of. T<"-a-s .T^fk. and Ued T>evi*re . sv>-ka briefly and +•« tie point on Harry's repignation. "While he is awa* the member*, inav "-?ke up t« a pen^e of their duty, and give birp a '•eal j> 1 «a c v"nt surorire 'vh.en ha rolum= by '.heir working and good attendance. Thanks very much, country chums, for your suppcr-i. ! ARETA, Secretary. i