GALLANT GIRLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1919, Page 4

GALLANT GIRLS.

HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS HONOKED. RESCUE FROM DROWNING. Two girls belonging to the New Plymouth Girls' High School—Peggy Brown and Dinah Brown—were pnbliclv honored at the prize-giving last night fop-*' their bravery in rescuing two fellowstudents from drowning on the Fitzroy beach in March last. On the Oth of that month two girls got into difficulties while bathing, and were being carried away in the current, when the two girls mentioned went into the surf and resetted their school fellows from their perilous position. Mr. R. W. D. Robertson, chairman of the Board of Governors, in referring to the flatter last night, said the board desired to «xpress its appreciation of the % brave action of these two girls. (Applause.) Fortunately, though they were on the beach witl- ut any guide, they had learned life-saving drill, and for that they and the class at the school were indebted to Mr. Christiansen, whose coaching had developed the girls' courage and given them confidence in themselves. Application had also been made to the Royal Humane Society, and it was hoped they also would recognise the act in the near future. To mark the board's appreciation of the girls' conduot a framed letter had been prepared for presentation to each of them, and he asked them to come forward and receive them from the Mayoress. The appearance of the girls on the platform was the signal for tumultuous applause. There was another girl—Alma Leslie—> on the beach at the time, continued the chairman, with a life-saving team, and these girls got out the reel and went into the Burf and assisted in the rescue. It was the first time Alma Leslie had been in the belt, but she went out fearlessly, and there was no doubt that these girls greatly assisted in the successful bringing to shore of the two girls who had got out of their depth. (Applause.) He regretted the Royal Humane Society's constitution did not permit of the act of Alma Leslie being recognised. The letter addressed to the girli was as follows: "The Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High Schools wish to place on record their very high appreciation of your gallant #onduofcs in rescuing a schoolmate from drowningAn the Fitzroy beach on March 9, IMB. Please accept the best thanks cl the Board of Governors, not only for youf splendid action, but also for the high ideal of personal bravery and self-reli-ance which you have furnished for the school to emulate." The letter is signed by the chairman and secretary of the board, and chastely framed in a narrow silver frame of plain design, and will prove a permanent record of a noble deed.