HOME AGAIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 6

HOME AGAIN.

AYRSHIRE AT AUCKLAND.

(press association telegram.) AUCKLAND December 24. ' The Ayrshire, which arrived last night, brought 8&3 members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and the men -were landed during the day. There ivns practically no sickness, and only one oot case, "who is convalescent. There- is no influenza aboard. • The whole complement was inoculated against the disease during the voyage. There are men for Auckland, 52 for Wellington, 125 for Christchurch, and 120 for Dnnedin. The trOops were allowed to land for six hours at Colon. Passing through , the Panama Canal, great enthusiasm •was shown by peoplo on tho banks as well as by the American troops. As the ship was dyawn slowly through tho locks, magazines, fruit, and sweets were thrown on board with great liberality, , .5 and the New Zealariders responded <with badges, buttons, and even hatbands, some going to tho length of exchanging addresses with members of tho fair Bex* who took thoir fancy._ In accordance with instructions from ( Headquarters, Londoij, educational , / classes were .conducted for, those willing ■ to take advantage of them, the original idea of making them compulsory being abandoned owing' to the large number of men engaged on fatigue dut'es—over 300—and the number of old and unfiti hien. . The classes had to be. held between decks, where light and ventila-, tion conditions in the hot won the r wero anything but favourable. The presenco on board of one of the New Zealand) , Press delegates to the Old Country—Mr 1 - Fred taken advantage of, and he was given char go of the educational classes, and acted as instructor in shorthand and economics. Some 250 pupils attended the, classes, and an. examination conducted last week showed that wonderful progress hod been mode, ■ especially when it is remembered that little more than three weeks' instruction could be given altogether. The lectures on agriculture, history, and fruit cul- v ture were well attended, while nenjrly all the ship's company were present at tho lectures and debates on economics, which mostly took the shape of practical _ legislation, and were held in the evenings. . , Tho southern portion of the oontln- ,Y gent will be despatched south by snecittl train, leaving at five o'clcck to-night. Prior to tho berthing of the vessel, a presentation in the form of an illuminntod address was made by the troops to Mr Pirani. RECEPTION TO LIEtJTENANT BASSETT, V.C. A civic reception tendered to Lieut. Cyril Bassett, V.C., at the Town Hall <-" to-night was one of tho most onthusias- > % tic gatherings ever held in Auckland. Tlie Hon. A. M. Myors was among speakers, and \in behalf of the, ment ho extended to Lieut. Baesett wcloomo homo. •Ml. In replying, Lieut. Bassett said he'V, considered himself luckv to have gp'nod V that which so many had earned. TTiou- v sands of men had performed great deeds which/had never been seen. v Lieut. Bassett was presented with on .address from old boys of ilie Auck- j land Grammar School. ' The secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, h's been nd"iscd that . a large number of invalided s ldiers will ■! arrive by the ferry steamer this morn- .. ing, and will reacn Christchurch «sta- , j tion about 8.16 a.m. Members are asked to assist, as on former occasions, by placing theft cars at tho disposal of the committee to convey tho returned men to their homos. -'Ji