SOLDIERS RETURN.

A BIG DRAFT ARRIVES. TOTAL OF 1175 ALL RANKS. NO SEBIOUS CASES. 'llic returned soldiers, numbering 1175 of all rank*, who arrived hero by the Oxfordshire on .Snturday, were landed at the Queen's Wharf yesterday afternoon. The vessel came into the harbour from the ■quarantine anchorage at about 0.30 a.m., and shortly afterwards was boarded by the Defence Oilice officials and clerical staff, the work of boarding the men being stat ted immediately. During the morning, the transport watt visited by the Mayor. Mr. L 11. <Illusion. and the oflicer commanding the Auckland district. Col. 11. R. Potter, who extended a welcome to the men on .behalf of the citizens. Unlike former transports arriving at Auckland, the Oxfordshire displayed all her llags, and presented a striking appearance as she steamed into the harbour, with her decks crowded with the khaki dad pn.-scngers. and long lines of Muttering colour streaming from masthead to masthead. An unusual amount of interest was also manifested by the citizens, who crowded to the waterfront in thousands.

The draft made the voyage under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel 1). P. Blair. D.5.0., M.C.. „f Marton. Lieutenant ]~ 11. Denniston was ship's quartermaster and adjutant, with Lieutenant 11. S. Cook as assistant. Lieutenant W. E. Anderson wan assistant quartermaster. The medical stall' comprised Captain D. S. Milne. Captain T. T. Thompson, and Lieutenant L. (J. Bell, with Captain 11. P. K. I'ostcr an denial officer.

The contingent, which was made up of 17 officers, !l nurses, S warrant officers, and I KM! other ranks, included no c.t eiirtw. and there are only live who will require further hospital treatment. The small number of eases to be medically treated is due to the fact that most of the draft were convalescent in England before embarkation.

The journey wan made via the Suez Canal and Colombo. At Colombo, the soldiers were entertained by the citizens special arranirements being made by the V.M.C.A. at this port. An excurr-ion to Kandy in a special train placed nt the disposal of the troops by the Uoveminent, wan anions the best of the attractions. The transport left this port again on January 12, and did not call at another port until arrival at Auckland. Fine weather was experienced throughout the voyage, and in the tropic most of tbe' men were able to sleep mi deck. The usual games and concerts were held, and the journey was made as pleasant as possible. .Inst before the vewsol left England. 4(1 eases or cigarettes, jams, sweets, etc., were placed on board by the New Zealand lied Cross organisation. Tbe money with which the gift* were purchased was sub scribed by tbe St. John Ambulance Brigade, of Watvjntiui.

\ cry successful educational classes were held during the voyage. Three -ergeants were placed on the ship in England to act as lecturers during the voyage, but it was found necessary to appoint additional lecturers on account of the popularity with which the classes w.re r iverl. l-'nr Cn,.s<. of the men w!io bad already attended classes in England, an attempt was made to con tiniie the particular branch of studies they had commenced. The work was carried out with the greatest enthusiasm, the agricultural .la-sos being particularly keen. Following is a list of the classes end instructors: Agrienltu-o. Major .!. It. Mbyte. D.5.0.; f r „j t r nrrn . in:.', i -,:■* ii,, C. 1.. Tacon: economies, Lieutenant R. O. Buchanan; hvgicno, Lieutenant L. 0. Hell. N.Z.M.C.; English. Rev. R. <. Watson. C.F.: law. Lieutenant C. F. \tmore; French. Lieutenant

i. C. Mnrxnck; electricity anl mathematics. Second Lieutenant .1. W. Iliuton; lii-torv. Sergeant A. W. Diprose; book keeping. Sergeant F. Si?iisebka: enmmer eial arithmetic. Sergeant 11. S. Movie; bee-Weeping, Sergeant 1. Fbbett : goo grnpliy. Sergeant .1. Graham; drawing. Sergeant R. ('. Hooper: motor mechanics. Private IT. Palmer. The medical board and o(!:er work incidental t.. the arrival ~f the soldiers wn~ '•eriiel out with great promptness by the members ot" the bnnrdin : stnlT. and :it :t p.m., whet, the yes-el came along side, the men were able to commence lulling al once. The vol'intarv motor ~,rps was in attendance. with li.'t no-tor ciiv. under the organisation of Mr. \. \. Martin. It was found that even this large number of cars was barely enough for the transport of the soldiers, and it would have been easy to make use of a much greater number of motors. c"ot if the men were driven to homes at Papakura. Otnruilm, and other distant siiburlw, and it was calculated that in all some 2000 soldiers and next of kin were carried by the motors. KFTI-RNTI) OFFICERS. l.ient-I'obmel I). H. lU.iir. D.5.0., M.i -. N.Z.s.i ,of Martini, in command of the draft, left in Hie Main Force a> iid|iil.iiit to the Canterbury Mounted i'lllc- Iv'eginieiil He was twice wounded nt Gallipnli. and was awarded the Militan l'ri«n, In France he commanded siicees-ively ih ( , |.'|, >t Canterbury, Third Auckland, and New Zenlaiul Machine gun lint tali m-. He wiis wounded on the Somme in MHll. and received the D.S.i I. f,„- services at P.-is-cbendaele. He is v velernn of the -outh African War. Major James Wbyle. D.5.0.. of ll.imil- '"". enlisted ni ||,c outbreak of war. and left with tbe Second Iteitiforccmenfh as n lieiitei.-itiit. lie was twice mentioned in ilis.pate'ies for services in France, mi,l receive I the D.S.O. after ihe Untie of Ihe Soeime. He bold, the pn ltd record of never having been away from In- unit in four years' service. Major Whyte also fought in the South African Mar.

Key. R. S. A. Watson, M.C., of Feilcl-' iu.g. Chaplain to the Forces, went awny! wiih the Main Fore,-, anil received tb'el Military Cross for services rendered at Oallipoli. | Ollicers 'lith llie draft u1.,, left in the Main F.„-c, and a ftci-wi,,,.',, „,.,-,- f-ivell-I'liiiiiiiiissinii, aro . Capuin F. C. Soar lOpon.uii). Lieutenants i.. (,'. |(~|! (K|i.-"in), G. 1.. Popple iSpiingfielili, 1..! ''■ Deiiiiision I Dunedin). Secoiiil-Lieut. I S. G. Thompson. M.M. (Nelson). j Second-Lieut. ,1. 11. McKenzic (Ma-tor-' ton) servetl at Gallipoli, and was wounded at Ales>ines and Bapaume. He receive,l ihe Meritorious Service Medal after I'ussoliomliicle, and subsequently! was given a conimi.-iiimi. Captain 11. L. tie V. Garland, N.Z.S.C.. of Devouport, was assistant quarter-master-General at Auckland before pro-' feeding to the front. j Captain I). GlanlieTd. of GnehungaJ served at Samoa as a private, and |~ft I for Kiirope with, the Thirteenth Rein-' loreements as a second-lieut. He was' woniuleil at the Rattle of the Somme. ' Captain W. R. Gulden, of Devonport.! held a commission in the Auckland 1 Garrison Artillery Division. He left as a lieut. in the Seventh Reinforcements |