ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 2

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

GRANJS FOR BRAVERY. The local branch of the Koyal Humane Society met in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, Col. Slater in the chair. A silver medal was awarded to Arthur Herbert Nield, who rescued William M'Dowell and Harry Mitehelson from drowning near Dargaville. The facts were that on October 27, 1913, three men who were fishing on the coast and working nets in the surf were suddenly carried out by a,strong back-" wash into the swirling current, and were soon in difficulties, Mitchelson becoming entangled in a net'. Brown, after a desperate struggle, got ashore exhausted. Albert Nield, seeing the plight of the drowning men, at the risk of his own life dashed in to the rescue, and with great difficulty brought M'Dowell in through the surf, apparently dead. He dased in a second time and rescued Mitchelson, who was unconscious.

A letter of commendation was sent to Cecil Gordon Ross for the attempted rescue of Harry Michelson from drowning also on the beach near Dargaville. The ease of Nurse Bassett, for rendering assistance to William M 'Dowell and Harry Mitchelson, Dargaville, on October 27, 1913, was considered. It was decided that no award should be made.

Robin Waldimore Reuben, aged 14 years, rescued Ronald Matthews, aged 12, from drowning at Masterton. The current ran heavily in the Waipawa at the time, and Matthews' danger was grave. Unanimously those present agreed that a letter of commendation should be sent. '

Robert Merritt, of Gisborue, who swam 200 yds fully dressed and brought back a child which had been swept out to sea, was awarded a bronze medal. A certificate was granted to Andrew Cowan, who on December 26, 1913, rescued Mr Palmer and his two nieces from drowning at Evans Bay, Wellington.

No award was made t; ih the case of Hugh Kenneth Stevenson, the rescuer of J. E. Packman from drowning at Napier. On .November 16, 1913, a heavy sea was running at Napier, when Alan M''lver Stevenson rescued. J. E. Packman from drowning. A bronze medal was granted. A certificate was awarded to Albert Howard, aged 33 years, for. rescuing J. Prescott, aged 33, from drowning in Auckland on February. 10, 1914. James Weir, for having rescued Alfred Swatters from drowning in the Grey river, Blackball, was awarded a certificate. Ernest W. Durbridge, who was concerned in the same rescue, was awarded a framed certificate. No recommendation was made in the case of Alfred W. Smith, who saved his son, Alfred E. Smith, from drowning at Oamaru.

A similar decision was reached in the ; case of James A. Ritchie, aged 15, who • rescued Robert Smith 'at Oamaru on: February 28. The chairman declared that lan Gal'-; loway died in a very gallant attempt' to save the life of Cyril Soar, who was! drowning at Greenhills Back Beach on; February 20, 1914. It was decided that, a framed in memoriam 'certificate, should be given. The Rev. Elliott Chambers suggested' that the rules should be so altered as I to allow of the same award ;being made; to a man's relatives, if lie lost his life 1 in an attempted rescue, as would have! been made to the man himself if he; had lived. This procedure, he said, was; followed in the Imperial service, and, he gave notice of motion that it should; be adopted by the Society here. ! Other members spoke to the same* effect. Kendrick Geo. Archer, who took; grave risk in attempting to rescue lan' Galloway, was awarded a bronze medal. Accounts amounting to £l2 8/- were passed for payment.