HOME AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 8

HOME AGAIN

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

A vessel arrived in Wellington last evening conveying Returning Draft No. 167, which comprises a total of 341—officers 18, chaplains 2, nurse 1, and 320 n.c.o's and men.

The vessel remained in tha stream all night, and it was announced that she would berth at the King's' Wharf, at 12.15 p.m. ' It,was considerably over an hour after this, however, when the vessel came ' alongside, and in' the meantime a large waiting crowd of relatives and friends stood patiently enduring a biting, cold .wind. •

There were no cot cases aboard the vessel, and only four of the number have lost limbs. 1. The majority of the mci looked well, having, no doubt, benefited, by the sea voyage. ■ Many were the glac reunions on the wharf, but there was in some cases difficulty experienced by the soldiers in finding their relatives. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) went out on board the ship, this morning and extended a welcome to the men. He conversed with many of them, and found them to be in excellent spirits and optimistic regarding the result of the war. He distributed amongst the men a quantity of fruit and cigarettes. At the 'wharf the members of the Vol-: untary Motor Corps, under the direction of Captain W. PryoT, attended with their cars to convey the men to wherever they wished to go. The Auckland and northern men were dealt with first, 'being -rushed off to catch the extra express. Then the local men and their relatives were conveyed to their homes. The men: for the south will leave by the Maori to-night. , During the period of waiting a band discoursed several selections on the wharf, which was* decorated with ma flags. Lieutenant-Colonel T. Mill, K.A.M.C., who returned by the vessel, has come back to take charge of -the hew orthopaedic hospital in Dunedin.