EX-SOLDIERS’ SYDNEY VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1938, Page 7

EX-SOLDIERS’ SYDNEY VISIT

A GENERAL SUCCESS TRIBUTE TO HOSTS [BX CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] SYDNEY, April 28. The members of the New Zealand contingent of returned soldiers, who sail to-night for home, are delighted over the decision, of the Australian Returned Soldiers’ League to send a contingent, of war veterans’ to New Zealand in 1940. The hope was expressed by South Island members that the men would visit both Christchurch and Dunedin, as weir as Wellington and Auckland. The majority of the visiting l New Zealanders had a splendid time in Sydney, and declare they will fully repay the hospitality, "the weather during the whole of their stay here has been charming. Mr Vincent Ward, M.L.C., interviev’ed, said the New Zealanders were proud of the part they had played in the wonderful Ansae commemoration. “We return with a feeling of affection for Australia and. its- courteous hospitable people. The spirit of goodwill abroad during our visit was something words- cannot explain. I feel it is bound to lead to a better-.understand-ing between Australia and New Zealand.” LATER.

The Maunganui and Monowai left > for Wellington, the New Zealanders : r-ceiving a rousing send-off from the - : .wd i.f (.kind:, well-wishers and fel--1 low diggers- that packed the wharves, i and extended far along the ap- ■ proaches. Men swarmed up the masts and ships’ rails and 1 , at every vantage ! point the bands played and the crowd ■ joined in singing wartime songs, and Auld Lang -Syne. A police band' accompanied the vessels- down the harbour. The whole scene was one of the cheeriest for many years. SOME MISS THE SHIP | (Rec. April 29, 1 p.m.l , SYDNEY, April 29. It is not yet known how many New Zci-landers failed to board the Maungauui and Monowai before they sailed last night. At least, one arrived at the wharf, when the vessels would be passing through the Heads. There were also many, who were on the wrong ships, but it was too late to allow them to change. The vessels were due to sail at eight, and the men were supposed to be aboard at 7.30, but at that hour less than half were aboard. The remainder straggled down, overburdened with all manner of souvenirs. Both vessels were more than, half an hour late in getting away. Members of the contingent spoke most highly of the hospitality of the Sydney people. They Na veiled free on trams, trains and ferries and buses and are anxious to reply to that hospitality when the Australians pay a visit to New Zealand in 1940. The New Zealanders, by excellent conduct and fine bearing, also created a good impression in Sydney. The nurses with the contingent were not overlooked. They were guests at many 1 unctions, including the New Zealand Women’s Associa- . tion’s musicale, at which Mrs. Arthur Rathbone (Hawke’s Bay) sang, Miss Vai Sullivan played a pianoforte solo, and Mrs. Waigainga Tepine did a poi dance. David Baldwin, who broke an ankxe in a street accident yesterday, was 1 carried aboard his ship, just before it I sailed.