THE hORORATA'S MEN.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16473, 17 March 1919, Page 6

THE hORORATA'S MEN.

ARRIVAL IN CIIRISTCHDRCH,

The big crowd, the smiling faces, tho cheers, and last, but not least, the howling nor'-westor and the clouds of dust, must have mado the Canterbury men from tho Horon*a's contingent, who arrived yesterday morning, feel at homo indeed.

Tile Mararoa, with the returned soldiers on board, passed through the Lyttelton Heads at about 9.30 a.m. As she entered tho harbour, it A\*as scon that she was b?deckod with bunting, in honour of tho occasion. A large crowd gathered on the i'crry-wharf aAvaiting the stumer's arrival, and throe ringing cheers Averc given at tho request- of the .Mayor of Lyttelton, for tho soldiers Avho Avero congregated on tho ship's deck. Before the gangway Avas lowered, tho troops began to disembark by jumping over the vessel's sido to the Avhart, j Avherc their relatives and friends Avere i Avaiting to receive them. ' Not since the first low drafts of sick and wounded men from Gallipoli arri\"cd was there such a crowd of people assembled at the Christchureh raihvay station to Aveleomo tho soldiers home. The open spaco in front of the station Avas crowded, and the banner Avith '• Welcome Homo" inscribed on it, the bunting, and the stirring tunes played by tho Ist Mounted Rifles (C.Y.C.), tho St. Michael's Boys' Scouts, and the Cliristchurch So:iior Cadets, gave a very festive and joyful touch to the scene. Tho station was closed to the publjc, and only some members of tho Welcoming Committee, including the Mayor, were on the platform Avhon tho long train arrived from port at 11 a.m. sharp. The men for south of Christchurch stayed in the train and, Avent on when the Cliristchurch and "West Coast mon had alighted. They Avero all looking extremoiy lit, and many Avore the rod, white, and blue watered ribbon of the 191 l-lo star on their breasts. There was no opportunity for any speeches on arrival, but the mon formed up and slowly Avorkod their way out through tho croAvd to Avhero the 270 odd automobiles of the Canterbury Automobilo Association Avore linod up to take them homo. The few policemen who Avero about Avere inadequate to properly control tho crush in front of the station, and the men were held up by kindly, but rather unthinking people for longer than they should have been. The croAvd also to tho number of somo hundreds, used tho automobiles a a grandstands, and it wns a Avonder that some springs were not broken, for as many as sixteen peoplo Avero ensconcod on some cars. Gradually, however, tho men and their rolatiA'os were accommodated, and the cars movod off to the accompanimont of loud cheers. The members of tho Canterbury Automobile Association who had tho transportation in hand were Messrs J. S. Hawkes, A. S. Clarkson, W. H. Tisdall, P. S. Nicholls, and C. W. Hervev.

All told, thero wero 620"m0n in the draft, 350 for Otago, !*} for South Canterbury, 137 for Christchurch and North Canterbury, and 48 for the Coast.

I Tho Canterbury Automobile Association has arranged various outings for to-day. Tho West Coast men, who are staying here until to-morrow, will bo taken out to Colonel tho Hon. R.. H. Rhodes's homo, at Otahuna, the cars leaving tho Wellington Hotel at 2 p.m. A scoro of soldiers from tho Christchurch Hospital will bo taken out to Lincoln College, whero tho l>irector, Mr It. E. Alexander, will give a lecture on stock, with a practical demonstration on tho College stock. A picnic will also be hold in Mr A. W. K. Jamioson's grounds, at Kaituna, this party starting from the R.S.A. club rooms. To-morrow afternoon it is intended to give a special reception to tho Canterbury men in tho Colosseum, and Mam Body men already returned aro invited to join with tiie Hororata's men " the_ official welcome at 2 p.m., the men will be entertained with tea, and each man is allowod to bring three relatives, if he wishes to. WELLINGTON RECEPTION. (PBES<I AKSOCTATTOV TELEOHAM ) WELLINGTON, March' 15. Tho f troopship Hororata berthed at two o c.oek this afternoon, and disembarkation proceeded without delay. The returning soldiers were greeted by a largo crowd, who accorded them a most enthusiastic welcome. There was a plentiful display of bunting on tho ships and in the city. Seven baids tcok part m the reception. Tho Hororata sailed for Auckland this evening.