TELEGRAMS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 December 1916, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[I'ER PRESS ASSO.IATION.j -LAN© 'FOR; DISIOHAKGrHD .SOLDIERS. Wellington, This Day. In the course of an inter/iew, with the Hon. Jameis Allen, Defence Minister, stated that the arei allotied undor the Discharged Sollnrs Settlement Act, 1915, to dischi'ged sold Jers, now amounted to 70,490 acres, held by 198 men. Up to tne present time 193,067 acres had bten formally proclaimed under the Act, which provides tor 500,000 acres being made available. In addition to these areas, 732,000 acres of Crown Lands may be applied' for at any time, either by discharged soldiers or by the general public, for the purpose ;.f assisting soldier settlers. 'Financially, the Act authorised the Miniter of Finance to raise a sum not exceeding £'100,000, and to date advances amounting, to £'21,333 Ifad been authorised and ±111,996 actually advanced. DROWNING FATILITY. Gisborne, This Day, A drowning fatality occurred at Te Arai yesterday afternoon, when three Maori girls lost their lives. The children were pupils at Te Arai school the names were Rera Johnston aged 12 years; Horiana Turange, aged 9 .years; and 'Pairua, aged 8i years. They went to the river to bathe, and /were accompanied iby three other girls. No definite story is told by the three surviving girls as to liow th© tragedy occurred, but it is surmised that the children got into difficulties in deep water. Upon an alarm being given several adults went to their assistance, but unfortunate the girls had disappeared. They were all used to swimming. . A search was immediately instituted, butt so far only one body has been recovered.