FOR COURAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8750, 4 June 1914, Page 2

FOR COURAGE

BOY SCOUTS HONOURED PRESENTATION OF SILVER CROSSES. Every Boy Scout is. credited with carrying in his heart the desire to perform some bravo and chivalrous act, and to two members of the Kelbuvn corps has fallen the honour of demonstrating their British mettle in a conspicuous manner. The lads referred to are Corporal Jasper Baldwin and Scout-E. W. Platts-Mills, who rescued their comrade Scout Donaldson from drowning at Wainui at Easter. . Their action received substantial recognition last evening, when they were presented with medals and certificates at a gathering of scouts and friends, presided over by His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke), in theT.M.O.A. assembly hall. Among those present were Mr Baldwin, Scout Commissioner for the Wellington provinoe and father of one of the lads, Mr Hector McLeod, Deputy-Commis-sioner, Mr Lawson,' District Commander, and Mr R. M. Grant, tor aha • Scoutmaster of the Kolburn corps. An apology for absence was received from Colonel Cossgrove, Chief Commissioner. Mr Baldwin,- in addressing the gathering, expressed the hope that the act of the two scouts who were about to bo decorated would bo an Incentive to all the other hoys _to follow their example. He urged tho members to endeavour to becqmo scoutmasters. . Mr Lawson explained th© circum stances under which the medals had been won. These awards : could only be given by the Chief Scout in Great Britain or the Dominion. They were very much coveted trophies, said tho speaker, who went on to point out th* duty of every scout to be always pro* pared bo act readily in an emergency He stated that there was also, another prise, known as tho “award of merit.’ 1 which could be won for general aliroifhd fitness, ability, and attention to duty. To gain this award a scout had to be specially recommended by Che Committee for the district, but every .boy could strive for it. Describing tbo circumstances of the rescue, Mr Lawson said that the boy Donaldson, together with a number ot otnei; scouts, were bathing in tho river, and Donaldson got into difficulties. The other boys thought he was skylarking, but his plight was realised by Mrs Willoughby, who was on tho hank, and she gave-the alarm. Mills was in the water, and' he immediately swam to Donaldson. Tho latter clutched him, but Mills managed to keep him afloat for a moment, and Baldwin,, who was on the hank, dived in, and tho two lads held Donaldson up, and Wore carried to the bank of the river, where Mrs Willoughby and the scouts succeeded in getting them out* Mr Lawson sdded that Baldwin was also to receive the Tatum medal, awarded to the soout doing the best scout deeds, This was being given to Baldwin because on a previous occasion, in the boat harbour, he saved the life of a child who had fallen into the water; ■ he got into a dinghy, pulled out, and brought the child to shore, where he gave it rough but effective treaument, enabling it to go home.. The Mayor advised ".the scouts to i carry out the throe rules,' “Heady In thought; ready in resolve; and ready in action.’’ Ho felt sure that the word* “Be ready” were very neccseAry, and absolutely essential if they were to beoome proper units in the community. In rodent years there had boon disasters calling fot quickness of thought. If they thought right ana tpiickiy they could disc Cargo a function that was absolutely necessary, the function rwoifr©, which mutt be , backed up with action. He was convinced that in those respects the scout movement was agroat. benefit, t°. tho, community. He paid a tribute to tho good work performed by the scout* at Clio recent Gitiaea*’ Carnival. ; “You’ro a chip of the old block, remarked Hie Worship, genially, as ho pinned on the breast of Corporal Jasper Baldwin tho silver cross, inscribed •‘For Saving Life," and the Tatum medal. He also handed Master Baldwin a framed certificate, and expressed the appreciation felt by the community for his brave deed. In conferring the silver cross and the certificate upon Scout E. W, I’lntts-Mihe, the Mayor complimented him on his plucky taction. Mr Luke made interesting reference to the re oipient’a family, mentioning tnat when ha oame to New Zealand in 18/4 he went to work for the lod’e grandfather, Mr E. W. Mills, founder of the well-known hardware business uearing his name. ■ , ' Response was made on behalf ol tiie recipients by Mr Baldwin and Di Elisabeth Platts-Mills. Mr Grant on behalf of Mrs Donaldson, metheFof the boy who was rescued, and an address to the scout* wus delivered by Mr. McLeod, who st«tod that there were some 15,000 scouts in N»w Zealand. 'i Commissions of appointment as scoutmasters were promoted by tho Mayor to J. A. McFarlsne and 0. E. Sherwood. . After cheers had been given for toe Mayor, the Chief Commissioner, and the District Oamnftnder, the meeting concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.