RETURN OF NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 16 July 1915, Page 3

RETURN OF NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED

GREAT RECEPTION A-4 WELLINGTON'. j (United Press Association, WELLINGTON, Julfe. The city was ready on behalf Jherself and the Dominion fittingly 1 receive the men returning by troVili lochra. Buntinig was flown f romyery I public building, and) every ship iuar- | iboui* ihad : streamers of flags. Thepwn I Hall gaily flaunted' many long st-rii of [ gay flags ,from eveiy pinnacle, anaags also extended' down the front- q the I building and across the street. l'l,uay ■was observed 1 as a half-holiday for schools and. the Public Service, as for most of the shops and business 'icea generally. Crowds were in the *ets an hour before 2 o'clock, and t-he jute \vas thickly lined all the way yfclie wharves. T9ie Glasgow Wfliarf ■wireserved for the next-of-kiiu oi solirs, numbering about! 2000. \

"HOME, SWEET HOME." !■ As the Willpchra Tounded the qter tee oi the wharf, "Home, Sweet Hort|/' was wafted; out from a band a-sbie. Them arose great bursts of cheering fjm the Glasgow Wharf, taken up by Jie crowd on a neighbouring wharf. ihe liner came and relatives of jhe men in their ancciety burst the barrsrs and shouted' welcomes as they along. » The arrangements for the piocessbn were excellent. One long line of motiroars bearing thie soldiers proceeded to ihe Town 'Hall, iheaded by the Salvation Army Band. The iprocessdon set bff through a dense mass of people. E'vAy vantage point -along the route was packed with enthusiastic crowds. There was unmistakable cheering, and the people waved flags, and here and there flowers were tossed into the imotor-cars. The men themselves seemed to enjoy their home-coming; very much.

SPEECH BY THE MAYOR. When all the returned soldiers had entered' the Town Hail, the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) addressed them. "Soldiers from the fighting-line, and. those that 'have been invalided l home," he said, "today marks an epoch in the history of the I Dominion. On this memorable occasion i we welcome you back home, and tender you our admiration and '-hanks for your work done in the interests of New Zea- | knd and of the British Empire. You j have heroically engaged the enemy in j the fighting-line." I will not take up Emir time making a speech this afternoon, tit I want to say some words of welcome. I a&k you to bear in mind the memoiy of those who have not been so ■successful as the soldiers who have returned' to-day—the sons of New Zealand who have laid down their lives in the interests of the whole people of the Empire. We should not be ■unmindiful of the wives, mothers, and' sweethearts of those who have succumbed. All honour to their memory.' New Zealand will always r«apect the memory of those who gave their laves an this great war. We welcome you all home to the most welcome spot m the world. The whole people of iSew Zealand' are receiving you to-day. We are not .here in the name of Wellington only. Your hearty welcome is com-' ang. from every man, woman and child in the country, who will see that those who have offered/ their lives do not want. I 'have many messages to (give you, and all express the finest appreciation of your worJs." Mr Lnxke then read a telegram from Mr A, M. 'Myers on behalf of the .Mayor of Auckland, welcoming the courageous soldiers who were returning that

J WELCOME BY THE GOVERNOR. The governor was the next speaker. . ' Fellow-sbldiiers," he said., "as a soldier my addTess will be short. As the representative of Sis Majesty the King I want to -welcome youi back to these shores. I speak personally as a soldier to solders. We are all proud of what yop have done, of the name you have earned for New Zealand: You have come back with your minds enlarged', with your ideas .broadened in respect of matters, men, and peoples. I should like to have a chat with every one of you. As the Mayor said, the citizens have given you a royal welcome, not only from the capital city, but from every town, village, and district of New Zealand. You have seen the entihusiasm with which they have greeted those who suffer in a righteous cause, and for them we are ©lad' to see you home once more. J have been on active service, and know what it as to be (home again. I hope that all ■wJAas room wiß soon be wefli again, surronnded; as they are with kind relations and friends That is all I have to lay. The best 0 f luck'go with you wherever you go. : ,«mtted to mention the Australian nurses who had- cared for the men on, the voyjagfc and expressed his appreciation of tiieir good. work.

\ '^ A!Yy BI?r B^TTLE-SCAR.R,ED." te-# a ™ sorr y that t cannot address you fW§F-' («»g-h.t Hon. W. F. Massey). "I lxan>only say, soldiers of the King, I join, hvitlr the Mayor and the <3overaor L a hearty welcome to you all. We on the (platform speak for this whole country md™dually and collectively, and extend, tne welcome it is possible to convey. Only a .few ago you r^f;?^^/ 101 " the cifc y> and was predicted that you would do your diutv and do credit to yourselves and us You all that (applause), and have not been found wanting. You have proved yourselves good men and good sol--st£; of your ancestors wlho under the great captains of past years founded the Empire that we *lv PS Ot6ot - You wenfc »way ,gay, bnght-faced. and happy. You have come hack gay but scars to which you will be able to point at some future day as having been reG \ rman y tried* to smash ■ureal Britain, who was preserved by the courage and heroism of her soldiers and -the seltf-sacrifice and patriotism of her citizens. The battle of Gallipoli will go ■down an history as one in which our soldiers fought against great odds. When the Avar came New Zealand took up the burden of Empire, a*id. she will never Jay it down." v

THE FALLEN. Continuing,. Mr Massey said : "We mourn and/wiH never cease to mourn for the fallen. Our sympathies go out to their relatives. But we will fight on, and intend to do so until the war ends' and a ■ peace is procLaimed satisfactory; to Great Britain < and her Allies. That is the position!. We do honour to the brave men fighting for us on the other side of the world. I endorse what the Mayor said about the nurses. I went on board the WiHpchra>, and spoke to. the men> who spoke of theira in the 'highest possible terms. They were glad to get home, yes, but they were aorry to leave the iship and. the I thank the nurses on behalf of th / country for taking' such ' good' care of our men. And when the war as over, and their duty j done, I hope they will cast intlfeir lot with Ntew Zealand 1 . T say to the soldiers, in conclusion :' 'You have come back ■ to

your country and your friends, &n-d> yd*": friends and I wish you many yeai'S OI health and 'happiness.' " J MINISTER OF DEFENCE. ; The Minister of Defence (Hon. Allen) read a telegram of from the Mayor of Hokitika. "I hi not many words to say," said Mr -A-LlfV "I am glad to see the wounded men ba again, and would that you could Htf come (home without wounds. I arn s? you wsh that you were rid of y& wounds and back again in the trSnShf; " I know how the parents and feel in welcoming you back. We JoinL. this welcome. lam grateful to ilie tain and crew of the Willochra, as Vi. as ..to the nurses who brought you hsF in s"afety. Captain' is eville's cheery -mi--" ner must have done you all good. I hc? e those tihat <have come back will set?* down. , Some may have an opportunity to again serve the*country, and tJnis tinfc I ihope they will return without wound?I wish you all a good time, and cafir f uiIV understand your,parents' gratification & having you home again." ~ \

SIR JOSEPH WARD. - . Sir Joseph Wardi was received with } tremendous .burst of applause, which continued, for some time. "Your Worshij the Mayor, Your Excellency the Gover-) nor, ladies and .gentlemen,, and 'soldier/ of the King," he said, "I do want frbii the depths of my heart to .extend- a warA welcome to the men -who have returned to New Zealand) to-day. The feeling »way> ir.ig the Dominion from end to «nd is on? of profound pride in the work Iwtf rffiei have done. This is the most gldi'i#uj epoch in. the history of New Zealand/ The representative of the King, the head of the "Government, Ministers of the 'Crown, members of Parliament, th*" Mayor and citizens" have assembled t<> pay a tribute to the soldiers' work. "What has occurred will never he effaced in our (history. The deeds performed at Gallipoli, in my .opinion, stand unrivalled, in the history of the war (applause)—in any, country in the world. It is a supreme joy and satisfaction that New Zealand feels in welcoming brave New Zealanders who have -fought and returned. We regret that some of their comrades have fallen, .but we feel fhat these men are not only a credit to New Zealand but to themselves. .They will leave their individual mark 'for' the future youths to see by reference to them tihe grand way in which they discharged their duty and added to 'the traditions of their forefathers. We recognise that blood has been spilt, but it lias- not .been spilt in vain. We have put our hands to the plough, and will not desert it till freedom and- liberty are obtained:. I, too, want to pay a tribute to the nurses. Eighty -wounded men were carried on to the "Willochra, .but only 15 were carried ■off. The energy of the nurses and the physique of the New Zealanders have ensured success. I hope that the men on their return, will find their dear ones alive and well to welcome them, and that the wounded, will be soon restored, to health. I wisfo them long and' happy lives. Their .great "work on behalf of the j Empire will ever be remembered." (Ap- ■ plause). i Three resonnddng cheers were given for ! the soldiers at the call of the Mayor, and j the mien' themselves gave three cheers for ; the Australians. }