BATHING FATALITY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15768, 8 December 1916, Page 5

BATHING FATALITY.

THREE MAORI GIRLS DROWNED. (rxxas amociatiow hlmbjui.} GISBORNE, December 7. A drowning fatality occurred at To Arai yesterday afternoon, when three Maori girls lost their lives. Threo pupils of To Arai school, Rera Johnston (12), Horiana Turangi (9), and Pairua (8£) went to the river to bathe, accompanied by threo other girls. No definite story is told by the survivors as to how the tragedy occurred, but it is surmised that the children got into difficulties in deep water. Upon the alarm being given several adults went to their assistance, but the girls had disappeared. The girls were all -used to swimming. A search was immediately instituted, but so far only one body has been recovered. (SMECIA*. TO "THS FEESS.") GISBORNE, December 7. '■ The bodies of the three little girls who were drowned in the To Arai river yesterday have been recovered. All were found within a few yards of the 6pot where they wero last seen in the water. A fourth little girl, Te Aira, daughter of the Rev. Ahipeni Rangi, would have met the same fate as the other three but for the gallant and timely action of a ten-year-old lad named Jack Hatea. The boy was on the bank, and he observed four girls in difficulties in the water. He immediately ran down and plunged into the river with all his clothes on, and Te Aira being nearest to him. he grabbed hold of her and brought her safely to shore, but was unable to render assistance to the other three, who disappeared very quickly.