A PRESENTATION BY THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 5

A PRESENTATION BY THE PREMIER.

T» 1J The next to arrive was the premier, s who holds the portfolio of Minister of t Defence, and a very pleasant duty he g had to perform. The contingent was t drawn up in hollow square on t.ie P a - t ade ground, and Private D. F. London r of Tauranga, was called out of the jranks. ■ Addressing him, Mr Seddon j said he had deemed this to be fitting ? opportunity to present him with the , bronze medal and certificate of the f Royal Humane Society of Aiistralasia r for saving Greg Norris from drowning x in the Tauranga Harbour on December £ 26th 1897. Five persons were in the c yacht Eliza, which capsized and sank. c Lundon took charge of Norris, who z could not swim, and after great difii- £ culty swam with him two hundred yards ■ to the shore, both greatly exhausted, i Two of the others swam ashore, but s the fifth was drowned. He felt sure, £ when performing that act of bravery, < to a comrade in distress, ’he little i thought of anything _ more than saving , his life. He could have had no cou- , ception that ■ the presentation of the reward granted by the Royal Humane , Society would bei presented to him on , such an occasion as this. It was- toj Private Lundon’s credit, and it was; pleasing to him (the Premier), that this testimony to his bravery had been granted by the Royal Humane Society. >. His (Private Lundon’s) mission now was j entirely different, but it would be some; satisfaction to his comrades to know | I that they had; one with them who, ; when the occasion arose, thought not; s’ of himself blit of a suffering comrade. ‘ r| (Hear, hear.)- If such an occasion:

arose on the errand on which he was now going, he hoped a comrade- would come to ms assistance, and he felt sure that he would cheerfully help any suffering comrade under the other trying circumstances which would encompass them in the Transvaal. It gave him very great pleasure to make that presentation. He hoped Private Lunoon would long be spared to wear the medal and to enjoy the commendation and good wishes of his fellow-men, who were at all times and under all circumstances pleased to reward bravery. He (Private London) had sprung from a proud race, and when the emergency arose he was equal to it. Should future emergencies arise, he felt sure he would again exhibit his bravery, and thus once more earn the commendation of his fellow-men. “On your breast I pin this medal,” concluded Mr Seddon, “and I hope some day you may earn further rewards of bravery.” Colonel Penton: “Fall in, Trooper London, and good luck to you.” _ At the invitation of the Premier, the men of the contingent gave three hearty cheers for their bravo comrade, and the pleasant ceremony concluded with three cheers for the Premier.