RESCUING A CHILD FROM DROWNING AT HENUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10330, 11 June 1895, Page 2

RESCUING A CHILD FROM DROWNING AT HENUI.

DISCUSSION At BOROUGH COUNCIL. The late rescue of a child from being drowned at Henui was brought up again at the Borough Council on Monday night, whan Mr Corkill's notice of motion in effect that the resolution of the Council recommending W. Mclndoe to the notice of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia be rescinded. Before moving it he asked His Worship if he had any information | to give the Council as requested by the Council, His "Worship said the statutory declarations of Mrs Hamblyn (mother of the child rescued by W. Mclndoe), and Mis 3 McGuinness (an eye-witness), snly came in on Monday afternoon, and he had not yet had time to look through them carefully: He had glanced through them, however, and they ' appeared all right. In order that he could havo time to look into the declarations, he suggested that the matter should be deferred till next meeting. ■Mr Corkill said that the^stand he took was that the Council" had been grossly misled in the matter. Be did not take exception to the presentations made to the boy (Mclndoe), but as a Councillor he objected to the Council being misled in the matter, and being induced to recommend the boy to the notice of the Royal Humane • Society of Australasia. . He certainly understood at last ineeting that His Worship promised to investigate, the case, and report at the next meeting. In order to have the matter thoroughly investigated he was willing to agree to postpone his motion till next meeting, _ Mr Dockrill thought that the declarations put in should be read now. The declarations were here read by the clerk. Mr Dockrill said that he saw no reason, after hearing the declarations, to postpone the matter. The declarations clearly showed that Mclndoe saved the child's life, and that the act was a bravo one. Brave boys were the makings of brave men, and brave men had made our Empire respected all over the world. He could not compliment the writer of the letter under the high sounding title of " No Toady,'" in which the writer tried to rob the boy of th« merit due to him for his brave action. If " No Toady " had a spark of manhood in him he would make a humble and abject apology for the injustice that he had done young Mclndoe. Mr Walton said he saw no reason to dejfer the matter, as the declarations spoke for themselves. Mr Coreill said that under the circumstances he was willing to move his resolution, now. His Worship said he hoped Mr Corkill did not impute that he delayed the matter. Mr Corkill : Oh, no. His Worship said that ho could not move in the mhtter till the declarations were put in. He thought that the matter bad been unnecessarily dragged forth, and pointed out that the name of the father of the boy alad the names of others were being bandied about. Mr Corkill then moved, "That the resolution, of the Council recommending W. Mclndo'e for recognition by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia be rescinded." He moved on tho ground tljat the Council had been grosßly and disgracefully misled in the matter. He went through the circumstances, and pointed out that Messrs W\ Rassell and H. Rusden, who were' present, gate a different account of the affair. He contended that the matter demanded investigation. Mr Dockrill seconded the motion pro forma- He added that this was eh» most outrageous thing he ever heard of. Hers they had statutory declarations on oath, yet they were asked to prefer what talk Mr Corkill had collected from the gutters. Mr Corkill: I'm no gutter snipe, Mr Dockrill. Mr Dockrill : Well, the second-hand hearsay evidence you have collected from Tom, Dick, or Harry. His Worship: Please address the chair, Mr Dockrill. Mr Dockkill continued that the matter in face of the declarations should be settled to-night. In answer to Mr Brash, His Worship said if Mr Corkill's motion was rejected he would not forward the declarations on without again referring the matter to the Council. Mr Ward suggested that tho matter should be adjourned. Mr A very favored an adjournment. Mr Dingle said he had seen Miss McGuinness, who informed him that young Mclndoe had certainly saved the child's life. Mr Teed said that MrW. Russell, who was present, would make a declaration that the child taken from the river by Mclndoe was not in danger. Was it likely that Messrs Russell and -H. Rusden would have stood by and allowed the boy Mclndoo to endanger his life if the child Hamblyn had been in danger. From what he had heard from Mr Russell there was no jict of bravery performed by Mclndoe. The Council had simply been fooled over tho matter. Mr Dockiull : I take it that you impugn Miss McGuiuness' statement, Mr Teed? Mr Teed : Not at all. Mr Dockrill : Well, Miss McGuinness had doclared that Russell and Rusden came up after the child was taken from the water. Mr Corkill said he was agreeable to let the matter stand over for a month. This course was adopted. Mr Corkill moved, That His Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Teed, Dingle, and Furlong be a Committee to investigate the circumstances of tho rescue and report at next uioeting of the Council.— Carried. The disoussion then ceased.