For Gallantry: Fiji Resident Awarded R.H.S. Silver Medal

lack of initiative, characteristics of the New Zealand regime in Samoa.

For Gallantry

Fiji Resident Awarded R.H.S.

Silver Medal From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Jan. 2.

THERE was an echo of the wreck of the M.V. Derek, in a hurricane at Komo Island in February last year, when the Governor (Sir Arthur Richards) at a ceremony in December at the Public Works Department yards, presented Mr.

Henry Cross, who was engineer on the Derek, with the silver medal and certificate of the Royal Humane Society, in recognition of his saving the life of Captain E. W. G. Twentyman, retired Harbourmaster of Suva.

Congratulating Mr. Cross on his brave deed, His Excellency briefly outlined the circumstances that led up to the award.

When the Derek was being abandoned, it was a case of every man for himself.

Captain Twentyman, who is an old man, was lowering himself over the side by means of hand ropes when his grip was broken and he was thrown into the boiling surf. Sucked under the vessel, which was rolling badly at the time, he was in imminent danger of being crushed to death when she rolled back again.

Mr. Cross, with no thought to his own danger and at considerable risk to his life, jumped overboard and succeeded in dragging Captain Twentyman clear of the ship and into shallow water, from which he was assisted ashore. Captain Twenty-