THE SEDDON MEMORIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SEDDON MEMORIAL.

AUCKLAND, April 16. At a meeting of the Auckland Scddon Memorial Technical College Committee it was reported that £1508 had been collected and further £750 had been promised, whilst £50 was paid direct to the Education Board,—making a total. of £2308. A number of subscribers j?ave £100 each, their i donations totalling; nearly ' £2000, leaving' only £308 subscribed by the general public. It.wps stated that the Auckland Branch of the Liberal and La.bottr Federation had collected £65 towards tho fund. It' was also ropoi'ted that two canvassers appointed by the committee had collected £86 and £35 respectively. The canvasser who collected tho latter amount, said he had never had n itjorc difficult task than in collecting for this fund. The Mayor (Mr A. M. Myers), who was'in the chair, said this was extraordinary. He was disappointed at the amount, subscribed, but in view of the fact that other cities had not boon more successful, they must accept the position with equanimity. The Auckland public had always been very c;oocl in supporting movements of this kind, and lie could not understand why the matter had not been taken up more seriously., On his motion it was resolved to call in all tho lists at once. ...

110YAL HUMANE SOCIETY,

CHRISTCIIURCH, April 26. Tho court _ of directors of tlio Royal Humane Society of New Zealand dccided to-night to award tho Stead gold medal to Statl'-sergeant-ma-jor Henry Redmond, aged 32, of Nslsoli, who rescued A. O'Brien, Walter Hill, Mrs A. Colt and her daughter (Miss Colt) from drowning in tho Collins River on November 5, 1906. The secretary's, report showed that tho Nelson-Blen-heim coach capsized while fording tho river. '.I'lie passengers—Mrs Colt and infant, Mr A. O'Brien, Mr W. P. Hill, iind Staff-sergeant-major Redmond—and tho driver (.Mr George Newman) were saved, hut two horses were drowned, and tho passengers' baggage and all mails except a parcel hamper were lost. The written statements of tho passengers clearly showed that they owed their lives to the promptitude, enemy, resource, and saraeit" of Stalf-serge,mt-hiajor Ikdmond, who seemed equal to every emergency, surmounting every obstacle, and .landed tho passengers, one by one in safety ashore. The report coneluded: "There cannot be the shadow of a doubt about the merits of the case, and about the prcsenco of mind, skill, and bravery brought to bear upon the rescue work hy Staff-sergeant-major Redmond; nor can there be a doubt that Mrs Cult and her child) Mr O'Brien, and Mr Hill owe their iivc.s to tho pnllanfc sergeant-major's efforts; and if tho award which tho directors ■ may see fit to make to him for his praiseworthy conduct is to be measured by tho estimate which tho rcecued nasscngors themselves place upon such conduct, it will take tho form of the highest award which it is in the power of the directors to givo." The chairman and all the directors agreed that this was a. case for the Stead gold medal, which, according to the terms of the gift, is only, (o 1)0 awarded for very conspicuous acts of bravery. A resolution wus-carried pccordimdv. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Frostiek, seconded by Superintendent Smith—"That, this being tho first Stead medal lo bo awarded, the Acting Prime Minister or his nominee bo. supplied with the facts of the, case, and n-sked I n make Ihe presentation publicly in Nelson." It was.resolved to award a certificate to Albert Raymond Biack (aged 15) for rescuing Alfred Edward Smith from drowning while bathing at New Brighton on March 4. ISO 6. Tho secretary's report'stated that the rescue was attended with special risk, owing to tho heavy sea iind the danger of being dashed against the. piles of tho pier. In tho ease of Angus M'Lennan, for rescuing David Lainc, whose lifo was in peril from a. mad .bull at Waipti, on November 7, 1905, 110 award was made. The council resolved to award a silver modal to TIIO9. Frank Tester, assistant, traffic manager of tho Auckland Harbour Board, for rescuing Mary Driscoll, aged 63, from burning at her homo in.Yelverton terrace, Auckland, on October 24, 1005. The report showed that Mrs Driscoll fell on tho firo and was severely _ kirncd, and that Mr Tester, at great risk and sovero injury to himself, extinguished hoi - clothes and put out tho fire -in tho house. . James Patrick M'Oarrigle, aged 24, was awarded a bronze modal for rescuing Harold C. Houghton, aged 26, from drowning while bathing in tho Woihato River, at Hamilton, on December 12, 19G6. The directors 1 agreed to, give a silver mcdnl to Charles IT. Boweii, aged 21, for Raving William A. Ncalo from drowning in Lake Waikaremoana on January 31, 1007.' Tho report showed (hat both the parties were dragged overboard from a latmch owing to tho folding of a rope, and Neale would certainly have been drowned but for Bo wen's presence of mind. Adam .Tackson, aged 16, who rescued A.rthur Sergeson, aged 17, from drowning whilst bathing together a.t Akaroa on February 20, 1907, was awarded a framed certificate.

A bronze medal was warded to Thomas .Tclin Leighton, aped 47, for saving Kate Rose Ellison from drowning at Hapyty Valley, Island Bay, Wellington, on February 13, 1907. Tho rescued jirl was bathing in the 6ea with two other jrirls, when she got out of lior depth and sank. The rescuer, lioarinpr their cries, ran for some distance, rushed intb the water >vith all his clothes on, and strtigi'lccl to shore with her. being himself crre&tly exhausted. Ho could only swim a little.

All in inomoriam certificate was. awarded to tho next of kin of William Ernest Mullany (aged i 4), who lost his life in attempting to rescue Thomas Curran (aged 14) from drowning at. Lake W'ailiola, Otago. on February 10. 1907. Curran arid other bovs had been thrown into the water by the capsi'.ing of a boat, and Itlnllany' had swum out from the shore 70 yards or more to rescue Curraii the others being just nblo to swim enouqh to lake rare of themselves.