The competition for the Plunket Medal was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on the evening of Saturday, 16th September.

We are indebted to the "Dominion" for the following report of the meeting:—

Mr. M. H. Oram, president of the Victoria College Debating Society, was in the chair, and the speeches were judged by a board of five. These were: Messrs. H. D. Bell, K.C., J. P. Firth, A. L. Herdman, M.P., R. McNah, and Dr. A. K. Newman.

Mr. E. M. Mackersey, the first speaker, took up the Duke of Wellington. He sketched the career of the great general, from his dull boyhood, his entry into the Army, as a young man of only mediocre talents, and his rapid rise to positions of command by his persevering thorough-ness; his first distinguished service in India, then in the Peninsula War, and the crowning victory at Waterloo, by which the meteoric splendour of Napoleon's career was ended forever. Mr. Mackersey's appreciation of the Iron Duke was interesting, if a trifle bookish—suggestive of midnight oil rather than of battlefields, of which it professed to treat.

Mr. W. McEldowney had less Opportunity for eloquence in giving a character sketch of Richard Cobden, but he had apparently made a very careful study of the story of the great Cobden's life, and the principles for which he had fought in and out of Parliament. He concluded an interesting recital with an exceptionally fine passage on Imperialism, showing an intelligent men's conception of it, and of how its ideals could be achieved. Throughout his speech his terms were chosen in excellent taste, and his syntax was a great deal better than one is accustomed to hear in public speeches.

Mr. J. McL. Hogben, the next speaker, was at once confident and at his ease; he had the personality and voice for oratory. He had, to tell of Lord Lawrence, soldier and administrator, who did so much to save the wealthy North-West Provinces of India for England. Mr. Hogben had not, however, marshalled his facts strikingly enough, and he did not bring Lawrence's page 52 biggest achievements into high relief. His speech suffered by comparison in this respect with those of his two predecessors.

Mr. G. G. G. Watson paid an eloquent tribute to Sir Thomas More, churchman and scholar, who suffered death in the time of Henry VIII., when the change nowadays called "The Reformation" was going on. The speaker's eulogy of More was a very warm one, but in the best of literary taste. He showed some knowledge of rhetorical device in the framing of his speech, but he was nervous, and his voice was, on the whole, too even in tone.

Mr. F. G. Hall-Jones realised that in Napoleon he had chosen the most picturesque figure in all European history, and he made the contrasts in the little Corsican's life stand out boldly. He did not draw a Frenchman's Napoleon, the Emperor for whom it was glory to die, but rather he showed him as the adventurer that he appeared in the perspective that was only possible after he was safely out of the way at St. Helena. Then he appeared, as Mr. Hall-Jones said, the most tragic figure in the drama of all time." The sketch was of the impressionist sort, and there was colour and life in it—also some real merit.

Mr. G. C. Jackson spoke of General Gordon. He appreciated no doubt, how great was Gordon, the man, and how great was his genius in dealing with certain races of men, but he showed all the faults of inexperience in telling the audience about it.

Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell took far too long to tell who his hem. Sir Henry Lawrence was, and why he was accounted a hero. His speech was over-wrought—rich in dictionary words and poor in Anglo-Saxon. In one particular he excelled all other competitors—he pronounced his words well. His manner generally was good.

Mr. G. H. Robertson recited somewhat too dispassionately the doings of another of the heroes of the Indian Mutiny, John Nicholson. There was also in his recital too much detail—too much dotting of i's and crossing of t's.