THE SILVER MEDAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 5

THE SILVER MEDAL

MISS KITTY DOUGHTY HONOURED. At very short notice a litllo function was arranged yesterday morning by Mr. Tims. Shields (local representative for the?ltoyal Humane Society), _ at which honour was done to Miss Kitty Doughty, of Karaka Bay, for saving lifo at the risk of her own. For that act sho was awarded tho silver medal and certificate of the Boyal Humane Society, a very high award indeed, and yesterday's gathering was arranged in order that Miss Doughty i might receive tiro medal before leaving for England. Tho function took place in the Mayor's room, and Mr. T. Shields, in asking the Mayor to malco t£o prescnta'tion, said that the silver medal of tho Royal Humane Society had been awarded to Miss Doughty for conspicu- - ous gallantry in saving life at Karaka Bay on August 10. Ho apologised for the poor attendance of representative swimmers an tho ground that tho presentation had been very hurriedly arranged. He explained that tho award | was a very high one, and added that at no time in. the history of tho world was swimming playing so important a part as at present. Tho Mayor said he was glad to have the opportunity of personally commending 'Mrs. Doughty for _ tho ' splendid bravery slie had shown in offering her life to save that of another. It was tho very highest sacrifice anyono could make, and revealed Miss Doughty as ,the highest typo of British womanhood. Now sho was going abroad to take her share of the work in a field of activity where they would all liko to be, and sho could rest assured that not only did sho take with her the best wishes of the people of Wellington, but those of the whole of New Zealand, and te Commonwealth, for the news of her gallantry had travelled far afield. He was sorry sho was leaving Wellington, bccauso her social qualities had endeared lier to many, but she was only doing her duty, and sho had tho best wishes of everyone. Ho was pleased to invest Tier with the honour conferred by the ltoyal Humane_ Society, which never gave an award lightly. With that, the Mayor pinned tho medal on Miss Doughty's breast, amidst applauso. Mr. W. R. Doughty thanked the Mayor 7or his courtesy, and said that' ho was sure his daughter would bo proud of the honour until her dying day. (Applause.) , lliss Doughty went straight fiam tho Town Hall to tho steamer on which she travels abroad.