BRAVERY RECOGNISED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8481, 8 July 1907, Page 5

BRAVERY RECOGNISED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. NELSON. July 7. At a parade of the Nelson volunteers, this afternoon, advantage was taken of the occasion to present Staff Sergeant-Major Redmond with the Stead gold medal and diploma of the Humane Society awarded in recognition of his bravery in rescuing passengers from the Nelson-Blenheim coach, when it was struck by a flood in the Collins River and washed down and wrecked directly after. The passengers were rescued. The presentation was made by the Mayor, who spoke of the bravery displayed by Staff - Sergeant - Major Redmond, whom he eulogised, and he also gave credit to Mr Newman, who was driving the coach, and who held the horses till the passengers got ashore. Directly they moved they and the coach were washed down the stream. Mr O'Brien, who was a coach passenger, said that directly he jumped into the river he was washed down. He spoke highly of the bravery of Staff-Sergeant-Major Redmond, and also that of Mr Newman in keeping the horses in hand till the passengers were saved, and he thought Mr Newman should also be recognised. Colonel Davies, spoke of Staff-Ser-geant-Major Redmond having by his bravery displayed a soldierly quality, and he also spoke of Mr Newman's bravery.

One of Southland's delegates at the Farmers' Union Conference, yesterday, moved that the Railway Department should be requested to reduce the present prohibitive charge for carrying stock. He pointed out, in support of his motion, that he wanted to send a number of cattle away by rail, and found the cost would be £25 6s. He sent them by road, at a cost of £5 IBs. Several speakers said the motion should be confined to store stock, as they did not think the rates for fat stock were excessive. A Canterbury delegate said a great number of sheep would be required from Southland this year. It was ultimately decided to make the motion apply to store stock, and to ask the department to reduce the price to the lowest possible payable rate.