VALOUR REWARDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25203, 16 May 1945, Page 6

VALOUR REWARDED

FIVE POLICE OFFICERS NAPIER SHOOTING AFFRAY (0.C.) . NAPIER, Tuesday Departmental recognition of the parts played by fire police officers during the shooting affray in Napier on December 29 last is recorded in the Police Gazette.For his valour in arresting Martin James Evles, an armed murderer, Senior-Sergeant F. Forsythe has been awarded an increase in pay as from the beginning of this year and awarded a mark of merit. Constables E. Rippin and B. Nathan, who assisted with the arrest, are each to receive a reward of £5, with a mark of merit. DetectiveSergeant D. McKenzie and Detective A. Reid, who also were commended for their work in connection with the arrest, have received a record of merit. It is recalled that E.vles, after fatally shooting two people and wounding three others, ran down the street armed with a pistol and ammunition. Senior-Ser-geant Forsythe pursued the murderer and, although unarmed, calling to him to drop his pistol and "not to be a fool." Detective-Sergeant McKenzie and Detective Reid followed in a car when their quarry fired A number of shots, two of which entered the car. The constables, who were closely following Senior-Sergeant Forsythe, seized the man, who was holding out his hands with the pistol and ammunition. "Mention of the case was made in the Supreme Court at Napier, when, on behalf of the Crown, Mr Willis applied for the withdrawal of three further charges of attempted murder preferred against Eyles, which were adjourned following his conviction and sentence on the charge of murder. The withdrawal was approved by Mr Justice Cornish.

BOND OF FRIENDSHIP AIRMEN AND CRIPPLED GIRL INTEREST IN WILSON HOME While on service in the Pacific toward the end of last year members of a Royal New Zealand Air Force fighter squadron agreed to take a personal interest in and help some young New Zealander who would be likely to receive benefit from such an association. A letter was written to the Auckland Hospital Board and, as a result, a crippled girl at the Wilson Home, Paulette Leaning, aged 18, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. G. Leaning, of Takapuna, was selected as being representative of the children at the home. Since then, during every tour of duty of the squadron in the Pacific, eacli member has written to Paulette, who hai; in return, sent "squadron letters.' 1 and a strong bond of friendship has been formed. When in the Dominion members of the squadron have visited Paulette and have given her a fresh interest and outlook in life, with consequent benefit to her health. Another result has been the keen interest in the Air Force in general and the squadron in particular aroused among the other inmates of the Wilson Home, and this is being reciprocated by the airmen. They have expressed, the intention of visiting the home, as circumstances permit, during their leave periods in the Dominion. The airmen in the squadron come from various parts of New Zealand, several being South Islanders. TWO BROTHERS KILLED CAR RUNS OFF ROAD < P -A.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday When the motor-car in which thev were travelling ran off the road into *a culvert at Evans Flat- yesterdav afternoon the two occupants, brothers, were killed. They were Mr Frederick Hogg, married, with three children, of Lawrence. Mr Samuel Hogg, single, of Lawrence. FALL FROM A FERRY RESCUE IN THE HARBOUR A returned soldier who fell from a ferry steamer coming in from Chelsea near Prince's Wharf at 7.15 last night was picked up by a ship's boat which put out from a vessel berthed at the wharf. He was Private Charles Walford aged 38, of 78 Moana Avenue, Onehunga, and he was taken by a St. John ambulance to the casualty department of the Auckland Hospital where he was treated for shock and admitted for the night. Some workmen and two American sailors dived into the harbour from Prince's Wharf to rescue Private Walford and he was brought to the boat in an exhausted condition. BUILDING COSTS t AN INCREASE PREDICTED A substantial increase in building costs in the near future was predicted in a report presented by the building inspector, Mr F. J. Pearce. to a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last night. He said that 115 jobs were in various stages of progress in the borough, 21 had been completed, and 30 new permits had been issued during the month. A considerable rise in the price of timber was anticipated and it was expected that it would be retrospective, adding to the cost of the buildings under erection. Referring to so-called "hit-and-run" builders to whom he attributed a lot of shoddy workmanship done in the borough, Mr Pearce said ratepayers should in some way be warned against any contractor who hid his identity and his business address. On the recommendation, of the buildings committee, it was decided that the attention of the Master Builders' Association be drawn to the position and that it be asked to tak« ateps to protect the public.