HOSPITAL SHIP IN WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 82, 31 December 1917, Page 6

HOSPITAL SHIP IN WELLINGTON.

CORDIAL WELCOME TO RETURNED, HEROES. The hospital ship bringing the returning soldiers to the Wellington and South Island districts arrived at Wellington at about 11 a.m. yesterday. As the ship was berthing, the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister in charge of Sick rand Wounded Soldiers, extended, on "b'ehalf of the people of New Zealand and the Government, a welcome to the men. Immediately after the ship had berthed the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Mayoress, accompanied by Mesdames Moorhouse and Blundoll find Miss L. Clarlc, went on board and distributed fruit and cigarettes to the whole of the draft on behalf of the Mayor's Patriotic Committee. Mr. Russell briefly welcomed the men on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion,' and extended to them the season's greetings. Ho also assured them that no effort would be wanting to prove the gratitude of New Zeala riders for the sacrifices they had made. Mr. Russell then paid a visit to Colonel Cook ar.l to the various wards. Subsequently the Minister said: 'the trip of this ship is a record ono as a hospital ship, slio having left New Zealand on the outward trip only on September 22. She is thus now fully carrying on her real mission of returning rapidly our sick, and wounded to their homes. The beneficial effects of the sea voyage are manifest, and the small number of cot cases remaining t>n arrival is a tribute to the medical staff, the nurses, and the orderlies. The matron (Miss Bagley) and her staff of eight nursing sisters, together with the ship orderlies, deserve every credit for the fine work' done on the voyage. One could not help being- struck with their cheerfulness and buoyancy, and it was ovident they have returned ready to take up again the full responsibilities of civilian life. In the afternoon the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) and Mrs. Massev visited the ship, and with Mr. and Mrs. Luke tallied with the men they had not seen in the morning. Later in tho afternoon the vessel sail'ed for Lyttelton and Dunedhi.