MAORI TROOPS AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15931, 31 May 1915, Page 5

MAORI TROOPS AT SEA.

RECENT VOYAGE TO EGYPT. INCIDENTS OF THE TRIP. An interesting account of the voyage of the troopships which conveyed the Maori contingent and the third reinforcement draft of tr'ie New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Egypt was given to a Herald representative last evening by an .officer of one of the ships. The officer laid spocial emphasis on the 6plendid conduct of the Maoris throughout the whole voyager of 37 days. , In company with others, the troopship conveying t!he Maori contingent left Wellington during the second week of February. As soon as the vessels entered Cook Straits they ran into bad weather. A heavy gale raged for tin first two days, but in spite of this the men were m good spirits, and soon settled down to sea life. After the second day out tho weather improved, and nothing of note occurred for the remainder of the voyage to Albany, whero tho transports dropped anchor early on a Friday morning. At this port the Maoris were somewhat depressed by the illness of their commander, Major Peacock, who was landed to receive medical attention. . The Maoris missed their leader, as lie was a great favourite with nil on board. In the afternoon the men ■•from , all the transports wore, landed and taken for a route march through the suburbs of Albariy The splendid physique .. of the Maoris was greatly admired by the populace, while the other troops also, created a good imprereioji. The men were marched back on board in the evening, and, the ships having taken in freeb water and bunker coal, the voyage was resumed, next morning in a heavy gale. As the ships proceeded the weather improved, and the voyage to the end was marked by fine and pleasant weather. An interesting event of the trip was the diverting of tho vessels in order to enable the troops to view the remains of the German cruiser Emden, which was driven ashore-on Keeling Island by tho Sydney. The ships passed close to Cocos Island and then steered round Keeling Island, about hall a mile from the shore, so that a clear view of the wreck was obtained. Before the ships crossed the line, a' gloom was cast over the Maoris by the first and only death during the voyage, that of a young Maori corporal from pneumonia. The burial service was very impressive. The ships were stopped, with their ensigns flying at half-mast, and as the body was committed to the deep, the " Last Post" •was sounded by the buglers and three volleys fired. During the voyaga the natives were instructed in . the usual drills, which were practiced every day, while every evening Dosing and singing were indulged in. Special interest was taken in tho Maori band, which,made good progress under the direction of Lieuts. W. Stainton and P. TnhiwL Tho troops were allowed liberty at Colombo. The Maoris played a. Rugby football match against a team picked from the other ships and won. The next day a team picked frojn tho troopships played a Colombo team, and also won. The Maoris were well represented, the team including Lieutenant Kaipara, a well-known player who toured Australia and New Zealand with the native team. The ships reached the Red Sea after a fine passage from Colombo. The weather in the Red Sea and tho Suez Canal was cool and pleasant. The troops were afforded their first sight of war when they saw two allied warships firing in the Red Sea. The night before tno ships reached Suez an enjoyable farewell concert was held, at the conclusion of which two iliuminatod addresses, prepared by one of the natives, and signed by Lieuts. W. Stainton, H. Dansey, P. Tahiwi, and many there, were presented to the captain and chief officer of the ship. The Maori contingent and other troops were disembarked at Sue;! the nex« morning. The Maoris entrained at once for Cairo, and departed amidst cheers from the crews of the transports. I g