THE WRECK OF THE PATRICIAN.

PRESENTATIONS -TO THE CAPTAIN, j OFFICERS, AND BOAT'S CREW OF j . THE FIFESHIRE. " > '

.-.. L . ... ■ ■ . i .../' Captain Wilson, on the eve of the departure i, of.thevs.s. Fifesbire for London, gave a very j. enjoyable luncheon yesterday in hononr of j Captain Sterling, of the late Patcician. Among ■ those present were Mr W. G. Neill (Amerioan Consul), Captain Cimeroa (U.S S. CompaQy), Captain. Grey (of the customs), Captain M'C»llum (harbourmaster),' paptttin Lloyd (of the railway*), and a few personal friends. . i Mr Neill, on behalf of-Captain Sterling, ' .took this favourable <jpportani,ty of pressnting to Captain Wilsoii and Mr Rb^s, chief offiwr, j a gold locket bearing the inscription: "To Capt*in Wilson, s'.s, Fifeshire. from Captain ■ Sterling, oflicers, and crew, Pitriniau For ' gallant re;cue"at ,<>ea, Außiist 28, 1896;. lat. 39.8. S., long. 153" N.E." The boatswain Mouatt and the quartermaster Martin were also presented with a gold medal in recognition of ; their bruve services. . . ■ ■ . : > Captain Wilsou also handed to Mr Ross the ' '. «uni:of £5 eub3crib9d by the members of the j j,Dunedin Amateur Boating Club for the crew of j . the.Fifefihire's.boat. ;. .'■'■'■.: -. ... j > Captain WIMON, ; in thanking Captain' Sterling for his gift, said.that he wji,s only too, i. pleased to have been the meaus of ref cumg '!. Captain Sterling ; and his crew from a watery ; grave. He and his men only did their duty ; j but he. thought great credit was due to his j ' officers and_ crew, .and especially to his chief | I officer for his skilful management of the boat. \ He highly commended SJoustfc, the bositswaia. ; • and the quartermaster, Martiii, for their gallaafe ; j courage v . Ha (Captain Wilsou) felt certain ■ that if ihe posifciona had beeu reversed Captiin ! Sterling and his, men wpuld have done the same f«r them. . . Captain Steriing then, in a few well-chosen wordif,-, again shanked Captain Wilson, his] officers, and crew: for their bravery. He said ! he and all his crew would always remember i them, and their names would be handed down j from generation to generation in memory of their heroic deed. , j ■■ Mr Ross then thanked. Captain Sterling far 1 his gifjt, .and, the boatswain and quartermaster | also suitably-replied. ~ . J. Captain Cameron, in an exoeilent speech, referred, to the bravery diaulaycd.and the great risks rnn in the rescue. H« thought tfee present Britons were, as brave to-day as thoie of old. Notwithstanding thatjthe Patrician was a veßee! bearing a foreign .flag, the men were ] equally as willing to hslp them as though it were a vessel of, their, own nationality., V After toists were honoured, the gathering ; separated, having spent a very enjoyable time. •.'•■,,.. , , ' i i

A DONATION FROM THB GERMAN , CONSUL.

Blr B. Hallenateiu, Gorman Consul, writes :— "I have read- with'■ gcest gratification-and sympathy Captain Sterling's description of the heroic rescue of himself am! crew of the P&triciain effected by the captain and crew of the s.b. Fifeshire. Oil behalf of the German Consulate, 1 bi'g.to-enclos? a i.-heqiie for £2 2s toward the testimonial which ie to be tendered to-morrow evening to the captain-am] crew of thess. Fifeshire for their brave and unselfish conduci:. ' '

SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED,

We hayo k received the following subscriptions :— For the Patrician's crew : Employees Sargood, Son, and Ewen, in nhillint! subscriptions, £2 2«; Dr Rolquhouu. 20s; Blue Spur, 20s; Ann Wright (Waipori), 10s. : . For the err.w of tbo Eifeahire's boat: D. Benjamin and Co., £1 I 3; German Consul, £2 2>.\ ■ . . ,

; A SUGGESTION.

■■'■•■■• ' TO ME EDITOR, Siii,—l trust thai the citizens will not lose sight of the euggfstions which hays appeared in yourcnlumhs that some public recognition should be maili: of tha humanity and heroism of Captain Wilson, of the? Fifechire, and tliH boat's crew who so nobly risked their lives to save those of the pi-ri-hing susroen of the Patrician. • Virtus is its own reward, and doubtless these bravo men are not huDgsring for public praise ; but it will argue poorly for the people of Dunedin if Ihey tnka no 'opportunity of at least saying " WbII done " to those men whos« daiiugdeed has surely made all our hearts tingle. The Fifeshire leives Port Chalmers to-morrow,' and it will bs Bevecal months before shs' returns on her next voyage. But bertar !^te than ■' never. May I suggest,'that Dr Coughtrey, who, I observe, intends to" noti 1 y the Royal Humane Society of this hfrojc rescue, should call* meeting of the citizsns and place the matter before them. At the very'least an address shoald be prepared for prtsfbtation to Captain Wilson and his first officer, and the two mariners who accompanied the latter to th« sinking ship' The third officer's gallant offsr ought also to bo recognised. The funds necessary for these addresses, and for any other presentation' which might-be deenied suitable, would, I am persuaned," be readily forthcoming. I sincerely hope that this, or somefcbing like this, will be taken in hand, and that Captain Wilson on his next visit to our' shores will find that we are not destitute of the power to appreciate a deed where heroism sheds »' r*re'ln»tre on tbe m*n who performed it and the profession to which they belong.—l anv'&c'Y ''■■■ Uunediu, Septrmber 11. James Gibb.