CORDOSA ARRIVES

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 79, 1 October 1919, Page 8

CORDOSA ARRIVES

A LENGTHY VOYAGE OUT

ALARMING FINAL INCIDENT.

"What do you think of our yacht?" The speaker was a New Zealand soldier, who was coming down the gangway from the Cordoba afc noon to-day, and, the pleasure boat he so strikingly alluded to'was none other than the "good ship" that had. been so long in bringing him home. She was an eight-knotter, and had taken almost three months to do the trip.: The soldier beamed; so did his next-of-kin. "^£es," she said, "it seems to bo a bit quick, but it's nothing compared to our railways. It has bean talcing us three days to get to Ancleland, you'know." The • soldier's look changed into one of alarm. Evidently he was an Aucklander, but his fears were at once relieved by the announcement that the railways were doing better now, having resumed, their second-best timetable since Monday last.

I VESSEL DRAGS HER ANCHORS. '"] The Cordoba, by no means a speedylooking vessel, arrived, hi the stream shortly after 9 o'clock, and anchored in Kaiwarra Bight. With the heavy gale : that was blowing, however, she ' soon commenced to drag her anchors, and as the strength of the wind increased she made such rapid progress towards Evans Bay that 'the authorities began to get seriously alarmed. As it was found impossible. for her anchors to hold her, the authorities decided to berth the vessel at the Queen's Wharf right away. This was done, and the medical inspection was carried out. The troops, under the supervision of Captain Prictor, Military Landing and Railway Transport Officer, commenced disembarkation at noon. They were met upon the wharf by large numbers of friends and next-of-kin, and the Patriotic Society's Band played patriotic airs,-which gave an atmosphere of gaiety to the proceedings. Some 54 members of the Voluntary Motor Corps were in attendance under Captain Pryor,, and placed their cars and services at the disposal of the returned men. The men were mostly, jocular, in referring to their trip out, calling it a "cruise." Others likened the Cordoba unto a dead whale, which could float, but could not go very fast, and said they thought they would know her again.. "Thank God we are on land again," exclaimed one man fervently, as he ' touched terra firma. THE VOYAGE OUT. The Cordoba left, Leith on 14th. July and Tilbury two days later, and came out .via Capetown, only, missing making a three months' trip of it. by two weeks. She put in at Las Palmas on 27th July, spent''l6th August at. Capetown, and from 20th to 26th August at Durban, where she took in coal and stores. She called at Fremantle on 15th September, and left again oh the following day, arriving at Wellington as above stated. The troops, yvho behaved, themselves admirably throughout the voyage, were well treated at Capetown, Durban, and Fremantle; especially by the Australian Y.M'.C.A., who put quantities of fruit\ and cakes on board for their consumption. Owing, to .the fact that there was no refrigerating plant on-board., fresh meat soon ran out after making a port of call, and ihe fruit and cakes in consequence were.the more appreciated. ,'. The voyage but, , ..unfortunately was marred by the loss of Private J.,. Sf. Williamson, of,Ota-go, at sea. He wa.s missed on 27th September, when ihe Coridoha.'was''. crossing th'e.'.,,Tssman.; Eight: other men'failed to rejoin the ship at ports: of call. ' . ' '.;,. . ;.' ■ '..- ADOLPH WOERMANN. . The Addlph Woennann (returning draft. No. 286) is expected to arrive in stream at four o'clock this- 'afternoon, and, ■if : passed as ,a. clean ship, , will berth at 7 a.m. to-morrow. Details for stations between Lambton. and Manga-; tainoka .will leave Lambton by the Wairarapa e..*.ress at 7.50 a~m'; men for1 stations between Palmerston North and. New Plymouth will depart by the Now Plymouth, express from . Thorndon at 8.20 a.m.; men fortl;e Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, and ' Gis.bome :by the Napier-mail train from Thomdon at 9.10 a.ni. ; and.; men for the Kirig Country and Auckland province by. special train,' leaving Thorndon ,at 2 p.m. Men for* Nelson, Westport, north .of Wesfcport, and Bays will depart by the : Nikau.at 5 p.m.; and men for" South of Westport, Canterbury, . Otago, and Southland by the. Mararoa at-7 ; ,45 p.m. Det.iis for.j-icton and . Bleubem: wjj.leave' by, the Pateena at noon ci Itidav, btii^f^biikted at the Hotel Bristol over-_ nighii:;'. ■ " '■ ■': ' • .'.' '' ,'"'■.