Shanghai, 18th March, 1904.
Dean Smx,—When the Foremon of Companies and myself submitted our ideas on the subject of service medals we suggested that the medal should be instituted to date from Ist January, 1903, so as to allow of one being. given. to the family of the Into Chief Engineer who was at that date on.tho Roll, and another to Mr. Berthet, since resigned, but then Foreman of The Torrent Company.
The Council replied that they could not grant medals to the, families of deceased firemen. I fancy this decision was the result.ef a misunderstanding, as Mr. Moore was not decoaiod at the date we proposed the medal should be instituted.
If the Council are still of the same opinion, then, should any of the other twenty-two firemen whose names I sent in ast week die before the medals arrive, their relatives will be debarred receiving them, Tdonot think this is the intention of the Council, for when a government grants person a medal or decoration it in given to his family should he die before it can reach If you will place the matter before the Council in this light I do not anticipate there will be any difficulty in settling the point as we look at Lam, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, W. R. Kanter, A. E. Joyes, Esq., Acting Secretary, Fra Commission.
Chief Engineer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.