PUBLIC MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 270, 12 June 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A large public meeting assembled in the Casino on Tuesday evening, to witness the presentation of the Boyal Humane Society's medal to Captain Beveridge. Mr. Warden Lightband occupied the chair. After a few introductory remarks from the chairman,

Mr Charles Broad, E.M. rose and said it afforded him much pleasure to be the medium of presenting such a gratifying token to Captain Beveridge. It was an old saying that people had to go abroad to hear home news, but its truth was evinced on the present occasion, for there were probably few amongst them who were aware of the many daring rescues of life which had been achieved by the gentleman he had just named. He held in his hand a detailed account of the events alluded to, which he had with great difficulty drawn from Captain Beveridge, who was rather modest about it. It began by stating the captain's age, this, however, he would not make public, for fear of too many ladies setting their caps at him, but merely remark that quiet and sedate-looking though he seemed, sitting in that chair, he was very much younger than he looked—indeed quite a young man. (Cheers.) After reading the narrative, which we give elsewhere, Mr Broad concluded by observing that he looked upon the medal, which he was about to present, on behalf of the Eoyal .Humane Society, to Captain Beveridge, as one of the most honorable prizes which the world could offer. Its intrinsic value was nothing, but as a

signal mark of the extraordinary respect and esteem of ones' fellowcreatures and countrymen it was an object of ambition, which the noblest man might well covet. He doubted not tbat Captain • Beveridge would continue to act in the same praiseworthy manner, not from any hope of reward, but actuated by the same disinterested motives which had prompted him on so many occasions to risk his life to save others. (Cheers.) The medal, enclosed in a neat morocco case, was then presented by Mr Broad to Captain Beveridge, who spoke as follows:—"Mr Broad, Mr chairman and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I receive this token of honor from that noble institution, the Eoyal Humane Society of England, and I should wish conveyed to that society my sincere thanks for the honor they have conferred upon me. lam proud to think that an institution distant some 16.000 miles from thi* has appreciated my acts ; and I am prouder still as I look back within my own mind to think that I have been of some service to my fellow-men. With regard to this medal, I had no idea of looking tor such a thing until the idea was suggested by the Commissioner, Mr. Kynnersley, and Mr Fitzgerald, who interested themselves so far as to represent the facts in the proper quarter."

At the conclusion of this speech, three cheers were called by the chairman for Captain Beveridge, which were most heartily given. Cheers were also given for Mr Broad and Mr Lightband, after which the meeting immediately dispersed.

The following is Captain Beveridge's narrative in a condensed form:—

I was born in the town of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, on the 18th November, 1840, and give a list of the human lives I have saved from drowning.

1. In 1853, wben a boy, 13 years of age, I saved a lad from being drifted to sea in a small boat, by swimming after him and getting into the boat, by which means we managed to get to safety.

2. Next year, when on board the ship Amelia Mitchell, from Glasgow, bound to Otago, New Zealand, off the Cape of G-ood Hope, a boat was lowered to pick up some clothes which fell overboard. It was after a gale of wittd, and there was a heavy roll of sea, and when the boat returned alongside she got stove by the boat hook staff being driven through the bottom. Those that were in the boat, amongst whom was the doctor of the ship, seized hold of the davit tackles and' hung on till dragged on board. After getting all up except the doctor, I went to assist him, but he was fagged by this time and dropped his hold. I then jumped overboard after him and got a hold of him as he was sinking under the quarter, and passing a line round him succeeded in getting him on board. His first words after reaching the deck were, "Beveridge, I owe you my life." 3. AtDunedin wharf about midnight in the month of October, 1861, a man fell into the water. I went over and made a line fast to him by which means he was saved.

4. At Hokitika,aboat laden with passengers from the s.s. Lady Darling, was swamped on the surf. I saved the life of a man named Ogilvy, he was at his last gasp when I swam out and got him ashore. I also assisted in saving two others. There were twelve in the boat, seven of whom were drowned and five saved.

5. The next day the pilot boat at Hokitika got swamped. Being near the scene I made for the water and swam to the boat, seized four of the crew one after the other and swam them on shore; the coxswain managed to reach the beach without my assistance; afterwards swam out to the boat which was drifting to sea, and made a line fast by which it was towed in safe. 6. At Bruce Bay in January, 1866, my only companion being a lunatic, all the rest of the inhabitants having cleared out and left us two to our fate, I had no provisions for over tvvo' months but what fish I could catch, and mussels, fern tops and dandelions,' bu*- my companion was rank starving mad and I had no easy job with him. I used to make him fast to a tree! One day I thought him rather betterj so let him adrift. He ran into the surf to try and drown himself; I followed. It was rolling in heavy at the time, but after being rolled over a few times, I managed to get him to the beach again, and we were afterwards relieved by the cutter Jane of Nelson. 7. The next, Bruce Bay rush, a great many boats were upset, and I was the means of saving many people. I recollect one instance well when a boat was swamped and I swam out to one

poor fellow who seemed to be nearly ■drowning. I had no line, yet succeeded in getting him on to the land. His first words to his mates were " I am ■drowned, Pat, Pm drowned;" but he scon got all right. 8. At "Constant Bay in October, 18G6, a boat 'entering from Fox's was struck by a heavy sea and swamped. A heavy sea was rolling in at the time. I got a line made fast round my chest and jumped into the boiling surf and •swimming to the boat, got hold of the man in the bow. The strain of the rope round my chest and the pulling from those on shore, caused the boat to swing alongside the rocks. I told them -to jump, and two managed to get -on to the rocks. Just then I saw a tremendous sea rolling in. " Let go | .your hold" I said to the man next me,; (he could not swim) be obeyed, and: lucky for Mm, the sea submerged us both, but still I stuck to him till the bystanders pulled us both up like sharks; the same sea smashed the boat to atoms, and just as I got ashore I saw one poor fellow throw up his arms and go down. 9. About 18th October, 1866, a boat was swamped in Constant Bay, and the crew got safe on the rocks, but afterwards one man swam to the boat, then -other two, and there they were sitting astride while the drawback was carrying the boat to sea. Another boat went to the rescue, but the crew got afraid and stopped halfway, and would not go on though I called to them from the rocks. I then jumped in and swam to them and induced them to back out which they did, and saved the men and boat.

10. Next month I was appointed Harbor-master, and in February, 1867, a boat was swamped ; she did not turn -over, however, and the crew managed to back her into the harbor, but there was one man—Peter Shields, who was in imminent danger. He could not swim, and was holding on to the kelp, the sea rolling over him. I got over the rocks, and seizing him by the collar rescued him from his perilous -situation.

11. On the 9th of March a boat went out to the steamer Southland against my warning. Fearing an accident I got everything in readiness, and believe that but for these precautions most of those in the boat would have been drowned. On returning from Ihe steamer the boat was swamped. There were in her two women, two children, and four men, besides the crew of seven men. They got on shore with the assistance of myself and life lines. I saw one woman nearly fagged out and swam to her, and catching her by the throat succeeded in getting her ashore, though we both were much tossed about, and bruised against the rocks. On this occasion I lost my watch and chain, and £6 in money; some unprincipled vagabond having rifled my clothes when I stripped to save the unfortunates.

12. The next occasion was on the ; 6th July. One of the large surf-boats got swamped, and in assisting me to recover her a man named John Legget got nearly drowned by a sea throwing the boat on the top of him. After a good deal of exertion I managed to rescue him from his dangerous position, but the man was unable to work for months after.

13. On the 23rd May an accident happened to a boat returning from the steamer John Penn. One man, named €. Craddock, got a blow from the steer oar, and was wallowing amongst the kelp when I went to his assistance, and hauled him on to the rocks.