PATRIOTIC ACTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3024, 10 March 1917, Page 10

PATRIOTIC ACTION

BY A HBTUENED SOLDIEE. A etriking eiample of patriotism has recently been furnished b.v Mr. Leonard Aeliwortli, at present a soidier-settler in Hawke's Bay. Mr. Ashv.-orfh. -was ia. member of the Second Hoinforcements, beintr attached to the Wellington Mounted' Rifles, and served for nearly two years. After having been severely ivounded in the head at Suvla Bay, in August, 1915, he was invalided to England, and finally conveyed back.to Kew Zealand n;id discharged from service with _ the Expeditionary Force. Having eufficiently recovere<l from his wounds, he applied for liuid.under tho Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act of 1915, and was allotted a section of 116 acres at Tnkapau, Ha-wke's Bay, in June, 191GHe was granted advances ( under the Act to enable him to furnish'and stock the land, whilst a mercantile firm also gave him furthor advances. Since going on to the land Mr. Ashworth has worked ■well, fenced and subdivided tho , land, and. having had a good lnmbing, his profits from the section have enabled him to discharge outside liabilities and the Crown's interest and rent, and further stock the section, whilst he is also building a four-Toomed cottage on tho As. however, Mr. Ashworth's short stay on tho land has bo restored his health, he has ie-enlisted in the Expeditionary Force, been accepted, and is about to proceed to camp. . Tins is a case where a man might justly consider he had done his share of service for the Empire, but although he is now. in a very good financial position through taking advantage of recent legislation, ho has voluntarily relinquished to a large extent his future prospects, and is once more prepared to face the enemy and risk his life for the sake of the country. It is/needless to say that the Land Board will endeavour to do what it Can to see that his land is Kept in working order during his abseixe from New Zealand, and to insure that when Mr. Ashworth ,finallv returns to New Zealand he ; will find .a comfortable, home and farm awaiting his return. . '