BRAVERY RECOGNISED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18586, 21 December 1934, Page 9

BRAVERY RECOGNISED

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

LAST NIGHT’S- CEREMONY

WAINL! BEACH INCIDENT

lira, very 1,1 rescuing surf bathers from drowiling was .officially recognised last night when, during an interval in the rjycrbans entcrtainnicnv, the Mayor, Mr. .John Jackson, presented a bronze medalfrom the Royal Humane Society .to Mr. it. Sloane and a certificate from the same source to Mr. John Beckett.

The Mayor, who was accompanied ou the platform by the town clerk, Mr vV. M. Jenkins, also made a presentation to Scoutmaster Thomas D. Baker for meritorious service to the Boy Scout movement.

In presenting the* medal and certificate from the Royal Humane "Society, die Mayor recalled the incident on f/ainui Boatdi on Boxing’Day a year ago, and said that but for the prompt iction of those concerned a serious uagody might have occurred. Several ;atJiers got into trouble, and Mr. Beckett went to their assistance. In the meantime, someone else rushed to tiie road to stop passing motorists for help. This wf|s how Mr. a powerful. swimmer, was. aer|uaiti:tC.d r |(JTf the position, and lie rusftPcl itiimedinMlv to the scene, discarding' his clothing as he went. Mr. .Sloane’s ability as a swimmer and knowledge .of hamiling bathers in distress were successful in getting all safely ashore,” For this service, .the Royal Humane Society had awarded a bronze medal, which the Mayor pinned on Mr. Sloane’s breast. ' ■

This action was the signal l’or an outburst of cheering' anJ’ : the singing of ‘ ‘ For He ’a. a Jolly Good Fellow. ’ ’ B Follows

In presenting Mr. Beckett with the certificate, the Mayor said that Mr. Beckett, too, had performed a worthy service at the risk of his" life, keeping the distressed bathers together while help was arriving, thus helping materially in saving their lives. - ' Mr. Beckett, too, was accorded musical honors and cheers. *

The Scout’s gold medal for good services to the Scout movement’ was next handed to District Scoutmaster Baker. Mr. Baker, the Mayor said, joined the Scout movement as scoutmaster of St. Oswald’s troop in 1913, and in 1926 was appointed district commissioner at Gisborne, having filled that post ever singe. Mr. Baker had done, muen valuable work, organising camps and generally for the Scout movement, and. was in command of. the Gisborne contingent which attended the Dunedin jamboree in 1926. Cheers were given for Mr. Baker as the medal was pinned on his chest. •

FOUR AWARDS MADE

SOCIETY’S DECISION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON,' this day. Four awards for bravery were made yesterday by the court of directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand as follows. .. Bronze medal.—Leonard Moyle,, attempting to rescue Joseph Roy Blake from drowning in the Rangitikei River on February .8,.,1934. . Bronze medal. —Marjory Buehanan Hunn, '26, school mistress, for rescuing Noel Jeffcott, 6, from drowning at Te Kuiti on October 8, 1934. Framed certificate. —William.. Dick, 52, rescuing David Royden, 5, from drowning at Day's Wellington, on August 3, 1934. G, Letter of commendation. —William George Reynolds, 13, for rescuing a child aged two from drowning at Masterton in October, 1933.