PRESENTATION OF MEDALS FOR SAVING LIFE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5379, 24 June 1878, Page 3

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS FOR SAVING LIFE.

(From the Sydney Morning Herald, June 6.) Yesterday afternoon Mr. I. E. Ives, chairman of the board of directors of the North Shore Steam Ferry Company (Limited), on behalf of the company, presented Mr. Henry Billett and Mr. John Butler each with a gold medal, in acknowledgment of the services rendered by them in saving a large number of lives while they had beeu connected with ferry steamers. The present was made at a meeting of the directors. Mr. Ives stated that Mr. Henry Billett had saved no fewer than twenty-four persons from death by drowning, notably a man named Keene on the 9th May, 1878—a fireman in the company’s service—under very difficult and dangerous circumstances, and the directors thought, in the interests of the company, and having in view the lives of thousands of people who u-ed their boats, whether employes or passengers, a token of the company's appreciation of these noble efforts might be very appropriately presented. Mr. John Butler, master of the steamer Coimbra, had, during the past nine years, saved thirteen persons from death by drowning. Noble actions such as these should not be let pass by unregarded, nor ought they to go unrewarded. He felt the utmost gratification in handing medals to these two employes of the company. He might add that it was the intention of the board to bring their cases under the notice of the Royal Humane Society of England, with the view of obtaining for them that society's medal. He believed this simple recognition of the services of Henry Billett and John Butler would be productive of good ; and he felt sure the recipients would regard these medals with no small degree of pride, and hand them down to thrir children as souvenirs of events that would always be pleasurable to remember. And, doubtless, they would prove incentives to them and all others who looked upon them to go and do likewise.—Mr. Henry Billett, on behalf of himself and Mr. Butler, returned thanks, and said they would always regard these medals with pride, and he trusted they would always be louud unflinching in their duty to save life when in peril.