DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1914, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

o AN ACT OF BRAVERY. [Per Press Association.] Christchurch, February 16. Application for recognition of an act of bravery performed by Robt. Merrett, an employee of the Sisbome Borough Council, has been received by the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand. On January 26 Merrett heard the cries of children who were on the Waikanae beach, and he was told that Florence Emily Maiden, seven and a-half years old, had been swept out to sea. He went into the water fully clothed, and, after swimming 200 yards through the surf, he caught sight of her, and ultimately, with the assistance of another man, managed to get her ashore. BAND CONTEST. Auckland, February 16. In consequence of the Auckland Garrison Band scoring 90 points for music in the A grade quickstep at the recent contest, the bandmaster 'Mr .0. F. Cater) has been awarded a gold medal for music in the quickstep. In the B grade, the gold medal goes to Bandmaster R. Wills, of the Hibernian Band, Invercargill, which scored 97 points for music out of 100 in the quickstep. NEW RAILWAYS. Auckland, February 16. After hearing a large and influential deputation at Tauranga to-day on the claims of the Fast Coast railway, the Prime Minister said that lie had in the last few days seen for .limself the isolation under which the Bay of Plenty was suffering. The patience and hope of the. people would be rewarded in the near future. The district was worthy of a railway, and should have one. The Government was quite satisfied that the Fast Coast railway must be speedily constructed, and that it would pay, and the Government was going to construct it at the earliest possible moment.