Native News.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1583, 16 December 1885, Page 2

Native News.

AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

(UNITKD PRISSS ASSOCIATION.) Nuw Plymouth, Tuesday. The ceremony of presenting Te Wetere and two other Natives with the medals awarded by the Koyal Humane Society of Australasia took place at the Waitara Town Hall on Saturday aftoruoon. Mr Lewis, Under-Secretary of the Native Department, on behalf of Mr Ballance, made the presentations. The medals were awarded to Te Wetero for having, on the 22nd of March last, saved Mr T. Perhiiin and Mr Hurthouse, surveyors, from drowning on the Mokaa bar. Colonel Trimble, M.H.U. for Taranaki, presided. There was a large gathering of both Natives and Europeans, and great interest was manifested m the proceedings. Mrs Paul, Mayoress of New Plymouth, pinned the medal on Te Wetere and presented him with the cer- ! tificate. The other two Natives were not presented, but Te Wetere was re-' quested to presont the medals to them at the meeting of their tribe. Te Wetere, m acknowledging the medals, Baid :— - Salutations to yon all ! — All we thought was to save life — (Cheers) — as we saw them (the surveyors) m the water m a perilous position. Those who could swim, did so and were able to save themselves, but those who could not swim, I thought to save them. I feel very thankful to those who sent thfiie medals as a token for the thing that we did ; but so far as we ourselves are concerned we did not expect anything. AH that has been presented to-day we nevor thought of. All we thought for the surveyors was to save them." Three cheers were given for the Mayoress and Te Wetere.