Dec. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2425

32.—Constable LEONARD J. COCKREY, aged twenty-seven, of Wellington, at great personal risk rescued Arthur O’Keefe and Robert Gilpin from drowning at the Queen’s Wharf, Wellington, at 11 p.m. on the 11th August, 1900. The s.s. “Mapourika” was casting off sail, when O’Keefe, who was under the influence of drink, tried to board the boat, which was under way. Gilpin, who was also under the influence of liquor, assisting him, both men fell into the harbour. Noticing the accident, Constable Cockrey divested himself of his great coat, slid down to the stringer, took hold of O’Keefe, and, after some struggling with the drowning men, swimming on his back, held Gilpin on his chest and O’Keefe by one hand; assistance arrived, and all three men were hauled on to the wharf. There was a strong current running from the vessel’s propeller, which was going astern, greatly adding to the risk taken by Cockrey. Certificate on vellum.

33.—CECIL DIXON, aged fifteen, who rescued Herbert Reardon, aged six, from drowning at Masterton on the 19th October, 1900.—Dixon was fishing in the Waipoua River, when a girl called out that a boy was drowning. Dixon threw off his coat, jumped into the river, ran down stream about 20 yards, water being up to his waist; came to a rapid; in passing over it got into a deep hole right over head; came to the top, and swam down stream about 30 yards; getting on the bank, he ran down about 10 yards, got into the river again, depth up to waist, crossed to opposite bank, ran down about 25 yards, jumped into river again, and ran to where the boy was standing up to his neck in the water, and carried the boy to bank. Depth of water from 2ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. Letter of commendation.

34/35.—MAMAE RANGITAHUA, aged sixteen, and ITA POKIHA, aged fifteen (Maori girls), rescued from drowning Rikiranga Osborn, a Maori girl, aged twelve, at Koriniti, Wanganui, on the 26th November, 1900. The facts are that the three girls were bathing together in a deep and broad still-water bend in the Wanganui River. Fifty yards below is a swift-running rapid (Otawa), at the foot of which is a big eddy or backwash. After the two elder girls had been in the water for some time, they swam down to the rapid, and when in the middle of it they heard a wild cry for assistance, and on looking round they saw their little schoolmate in the act of sinking in the still water above the rapid. Without hesitation the two girls swam back up the rapid and reached the drowning girl as she came to the surface for the second time. They took her by the elbows and attempted to swim ashore with her, but the three were swept down the river and over the rapid. Here Mamae took hold of the child herself to effect the rescue, but the current was too strong, and they were both swept down by the undercurrent, and Mamae lost hold of the child. As she again came to the surface Ita at once went to her assistance, and held her above water until Mamae came up again. They then both held the child up, when all three were swept into the backwash, out of which they were unable to escape unaided without sacrificing the life of their companion. They, however, nobly continued their endeavours, and in the meantime canoes went to their assistance, but not until they had all sunk once more. Mamae rose in an exhausted state with the child clinging to her neck, and Ita was still under water. Ultimately they were all three taken on board one of the canoes in a very exhausted condition. Bronze medal in each case.

36/37.—GEORGE DUNN, aged fifty-six, and PATRICK McCAFFERTY, who rescued Richard Robertson, aged sixty-four, from imminent death at Waiowaka on the 21st December, 1899.—The facts are that Dunn, McCafferty, and Robertson were working together on Government co-operative road job at Waiowaka. Robertson was blasting rock, and had put in a hole 6 ft. deep with a jumper, and charged it with blasting-powder. When lighting the fuse, by some means or other not known a bag containing 8 lb. of powder, which was lying near, exploded, knocking Robertson down, and setting his clothes on fire. Dunn and McCafferty were then working about 2 chains away. Robertson shouted to them, but does not remember what he said. Dunn and McCafferty ran up to Robertson’s assistance. Robertson remembers telling them to get away from the shot “quick.” Dunn and McCafferty at once took in the situation, and got Robertson away. The three—Robertson, Dunn, and McCafferty—were not more than 1½ chains from the charged hole when the shot went off. Robertson was lying only some 4 ft. or 5 ft. from the unexploded blast when Dunn and McCafferty ran up to his assistance. Although both Dunn and McCafferty knew perfectly well the great danger they were in, yet they would not run off and leave Robertson to his fate, but, at the imminent risk of their own lives, carried him to a place of safety. Framed certificate on vellum in each case.

38/39.—GEORGE KELLY WESTWATER WATTS, aged thirty-eight, and JAMES MILLER, aged forty-one, for rescuing Bessie Scott, aged twenty-four, from drowning at Wanganui on the 3rd October, 1900, is one of more than ordinary merit. The facts are that the young woman, Bessie Scott, jumped off the Wanganui Bridge into the river. As she was being carried down the river, which was in flood at the time, the alarm was raised, and Watts and Miller simultaneously swam out to the rescue. After swimming about 100 yards Watts returned, and when within about 30 yards of the wharf he was seen to throw up his hands and sink. It is supposed that he was seized with cramp, as the water was extremely cold at the time. His lifeless body was recovered about twenty-five minutes later. Miller, after swimming about 150 yards, reached the woman, and got hold of her dress. She seized him by the leg; he caught hold of her hair and twisted her round; she then let go her hold. Miller kept her afloat until a boat came to their rescue and took them both ashore. The water was very cold, and Miller was very much exhausted when brought ashore. He was suffering from a sprained thumb at the time, and his risk was greatly increased by the struggling woman seizing him by the leg at a critical moment, which might easily have led to fatal results. Silver medal to Miller, and “In memoriam” certificate on vellum to next-of-kin of Watts.

40.—PATRICK NOLAN, aged twenty-five, who rescued William Ritchie, aged twenty-two, John Condon, aged twenty-nine, and Peter Kelly, aged twenty-two, from drowning at Bruce Bay on the 14th March, 1900, is a highly meritorious case. The facts are that Ritchie, Condon, and Kelly (a Maori) were out together in a small boat, and when about 5 chains from the shore the boat capsized in the surf. They called for help, and Nolan, who was on the beach, jumped on a pony only 14 hands high, and urged it through the breakers with great difficulty. He reached Ritchie first and brought him ashore. Nolan then went out to the other two men, who were clinging to the boat. One of them, Kelly, the Maori, sprang on to Nolan from behind, and clutched him hard and fast round the neck with both hands, pulling Nolan off the pony. By a great effort Nolan held on to the pony’s mane with his teeth, and with one arm round its neck, the Maori clinging to him as already mentioned. In this predicament Nolan swam in through the surf alongside the pony, and all three reached the shore in safety. Nolan immediately went out again for the third man, Condon, and succeeded in bringing him also safely ashore. On the last trip the pony was so exhausted that Nolan had to get off its back and swim alongside, holding up Condon, who could not swim. Ritchie was the only one of the three who could swim a little, and Nolan himself was only a poor swimmer. Silver medal.

41.—A. FREDERICK FIELD, aged thirty-five, who rescued William Jacob, aged fourteen, from drowning at Wellington on the 30th December, 1899.—Jacob was fishing from the edge of the wharf on Jervois Quay, when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Jacob was sinking, when Field, who is a wharf hand, and was working close by, jumped in with his clothes on and succeeded in rescuing the lad. The water at this place is 20 ft. deep, and Field, although a poor swimmer, succeeded, with the assistance of some other men, in bringing the lad safely to shore. Letter of commendation.

42.—WILLIAM HAMMOND, aged seventeen, who rescued Lilian Burnes, aged six, from drowning at Otara Ford, Rangitikei River, on the 1st October, 1900, is a conspicuous example of bravery. The facts are that the child Burnes fell into the Rangitikei River. Hammond jumped in after her. The river was in high flood at the time, and the child was being carried down stream. The depth of the water was about 10 ft., and both Hammond and the child were carried down the river about 3 chains before being able to reach the bank. The river at this particular place is very treacherous, and, as one eye-witness said, “can count its victims by the dozen.” There was also great danger of Hammond being washed into a whirlpool, which would inevitably have proved fatal. Silver medal.

43/44.—WILLIAM OLIVIER, aged twenty-five, and JOHN EDWARD LUND, aged twenty, who rescued Thomas Barrow, aged thirty, from drowning at Devonport, Auckland, on the 8th November, 1900.—Barrow, a carter, fell from the top of a dray he was loading, into the sea at the Devonport Wharf. Olivier and Lund were working together at the time between 300 and 400 yards from the scene of the accident. They immediately ran to the spot, and, without divesting themselves of their clothing, they both plunged into the water to the rescue. There was a strong flowing tide running at the time, and the water was deep. Barrow, who is a full-sized heavy man, had by this time drifted from 20 ft. to 30 ft. from the wharf. He was eventually brought to land. This appears to be an ordinary case of rescue from drowning without any special element of risk. It is, however, claimed for both Olivier and Lund that each has risked his life on a previous occasion for a similar purpose. They both dived from the top of the wharf, a considerable height, and there was about 11 ft. of water. Letter of commendation in each case.

45.—HENRY GEORGE CARLYLE, aged twenty-six, who rescued Frank Haydon, aged two, from almost certain death at Christchurch on the 15th November, 1900.—Carlyle, who is