A TARATA HEROINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 25 August 1914, Page 2

A TARATA HEROINE.

PLUCKY (URL'S PRESENCE OF MIND A wonderful act of heroism was performed at Tarata last week which should be made, known to the propel' authorities for due recognition by the Royal Humane Society. A canoe was attached by a rope to the bank of the Waitara River, opposite Mr 11. Waite's house at Tarata, when, as kiddies will, three youngsters, one of Mr Waite's and two of Mr 1 bell's, aged from ten years downwards, got into the canoe to have sails of the length the painter would allow. After sonic lit Lie lime, how long, of course, no one c.\act.l - knows, the painter became, loose, and the kiddies were adrift, on the Waitara River, and going down stream with the How of the river. Only a very short distance below Mr Waite's bouse tliele is a rapid towards which the canoe was fast tloatiug. .Suddenly iliss Phoebe \Yaite, aged 17 years, saw the canoe with its occupants going down the stream, and knowing of the rapids and that there was no time to spare, instantly threw oil' her loose garments, plunged into the river, ami swam nut to the canoe. The painter had come loose at the canoe end, and consequently on reaching it she had no means of stopping or steering it. The position was terrible, but Miss H'aite scrambled over the end into the canoe, and taking a small piece of wood, used it as a paddle to drive the canoe out of the current into the slack water, and thereafter to gradually get it to the bank, when she landed and drew the canoe along so that the kiddies could land in safety, and help coming from home, the canoe was again made fasi, and all was well, and it is safe to say three young lives were saved by the prompt action of a brave, young girl whose fearless courage and ability to swim enabled her thus to res"ue her little friends from practically certain death.- Inglcwood Record.