ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8650, 27 November 1893, Page 6

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

At the meetiug of ratepayers, held at the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, on Friday night, his Worship the Mayor took the opportunity of presenting to Mr Peter Ealam, of Lyttelton, the bronze medal and the certificate of the Royal Humane Society' of Australasia, which had been awarded to him by the Society for his distinguished bravery at Lyttelton Harbour. Ib will be remember how in the darkness of the night of April 2nd, 1892, a person accidentally walked over the wharf at Lyttelton, and mistaking his direction swam out into the harbour until exhausted. He would have been drowned but for the promptness and courage of Mr Ealam. Mr Ealam, on hearing the cry raised, rushed up from the hold of a vessel where he was working and swam to the assistance of the drowningman, whom he succeeded in getting ashore after great) exertion and risk. -

The Mayor in presenting the medal referred to the courage Mr Ealam had shown, and congratulated him upon receiving such a coveted distinction. He trusted he might long live to wear the trophy, and might always look upon it with pride and pleasure. (Loud and continued applause.) Mr Ealam, in reply, said it afforded him very great pleasure to receive the medal. He had only done what was a simple act of humanity in saving the life of a fellow creature. He thanked his Worship for the good wishes he had expressed for his welfare, and trusted they might be fulfilled. He might state that all his life it had been his ambition to win one of the Society's medals, and as a boy at school, he had said he would one day secure itj' He was glad that when his opportunity had come he had been able to take advantage of it.- (Loud applause.) He could assure them that should a chance to save a life ever come to him again he would not fail to do his best. Mr Ealam sab down amid continued applause.

The medal bore the following inscription :—"Awarded to Peter Ealam, 2nd April, 1892. Royal Humane Society of Australasia." It was accompanied by a certificate which stated the circumstances under which the award had been made.