HOSPITAL SHIP ARRIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16021, 13 September 1915, Page 4

HOSPITAL SHIP ARRIVES.

HEARTY WELCOME FOR MEN

CROWDS IN WELLINGTON.

GREAT TOWN HALL MEETING.

REUNION WITH RELATIVES. ." fBT TELEGRAPH, —SPECIAL REPORTER.] Scenes both moving and inspiring ■were

witnessed in Wellington on Saturday

when the second draft of wounded and invalided soldiers,, comprising 518 men all told, were brought back to their own land by the hospital ship Tahiti. That New Zealand is proud of her sons who have- been fighting on Gallipoli was once more evidenced in the warmth of the welcome accorded to the returned men by many thousands of people representative of every part of the Dominion. It was a day of glad reunions, though for some—by great good fortune only a minorityit was a day of sad realisation of the grim meaning, and results of war. In anticipation of the coming of the Tahiti'many of the next-of-kin of the lads known to be aboard the vessel had arrived in Wellington from all directions on Friday, the latest arrivals Reaching the city early oh Saturday morning. The Tahiti entered the stream at 12.30 a.m. on that day, and when the dawn broke many an anxious eye turned harbourwards to be relieved by the sight of the grey vessel lying out in the stream. There ensued, for the waiting relatives of the returned men, several trying hours of suspense. It had been announced that the Tahiti would not come alongside the Glasgow Wharf until 3 p.m. Meantime the only persons allowed on board were the officials of the Health Department, Defence authorities, members of the Cabinet, and a party of pressmen, on this occasion limited for some unknown reason to 12. The last of these visitors had left the hospital ship by 12.30 p.m., and an hour later her anchor was lifted, and she steamed slowly alongside, making fast at about 2.30 p.m. Anxious Wait for Relatives. During the whole of the forenoon the offices of the Minister for Defence, the Hon. James Allen, and of the military authorities were besieged by streams of people in search of passes to the wharf. Many ware sent away empty-handed, having perforce to be satisfied with the intimation that passes had been already issued to the actual next-of-kin, and that no more would be forthcoming. It was no uncommon thing to hear bitter complaints on this score, several declaring that passes had gone astray, and that owing to the attitude of the officials quite a number of the men on the Tahiti would have no one on the wharf, none of their own kith and kin, that is to say, to greet them.

' Long before the vessel came alongside, the little crowd of soldiers' relatives assembled behind the strictly-guarded ropes and entered upon their enforced vigil. When the steamer had made fast they were permitted to go alongside, where,, for another half-hour, most of them had to wait on the railway tracks, confined within certain limits, crushed together regardless of their comfort, and employed in eagerly searching the khaki lines up on the Tahiti's decks for the one particular face and form they longed to see. Needless to say, the recognition by mothers and fathers of their sons, and by wives of their husbands, was followed by frantic waving of handkerchiefs and cries of welcome. Demonstration in the City. And, meanwhile bands .were playing crowds on the further and nearer wharves broke into occasional cheering,: an on all hands were the usual demonstrations of welcome. The actual . landing - of. the troops commenced shortly before 3: pm ! the worst hospital cases being first removed. As those able to walk or limp ! •with or without assistance, came down the gangways most of them were speedily claimed by their relatives and led to the line of waiting motor-cars, which at once set off with them for the Town Hall where the official we l come awaited them' SJST TV. ÜBand " ° f pe °P le lilled *• wet fa J T^ r ' Which had been g cleared off, j£

this time, and consequently enabled the majority of the population to take part in the proceedings. The result was that the procession of motor-cars experienced a triumphal progress, each one being cheered to the echo as it went by with its precious freight of khaki-clad heroes spared to see their homes again. Not one but arrived at the hall laden with floral favours.

Memorable Scenes at Town Hall. There were memorable scenes at the Town HalL The galleries and organ loft were thronged for two or three hours before the first of the soldier guests arrived. The entire floor space had been reserved for the latter and *j their next of kin and attendants. Tables loaded with delicacies and surrounded by Tattan chairs were provided in lavish profusion. Numbers of ladies waited upon the tables and ushered the guests to seats. As each motor-car discharged its occupants at the main entrance, great crowds outside vociferously cheered. The cheering was taken up inside the passage, and when at last the hall itself was reached the people in the galleries rose and cheered again.

It was impossible to look upon the scene unmoved. Amidst the crashing chords of inspiriting music from the organ there would arrive a once stalwart New Zealand boy so weak or crippled as 4.0 need the support of his aged mother, and be glad of it. He would enter smiling as the onlookers' applause and all it meant was conveyed to his ears and senses.

The afternoon sun, grown brilliant of a sudden, burst through the western windows of the hall and flooded the interior, the rays being seemingly of a purpose directed precisely upon the spot where the returned heroes were making their en- i trance to the hall. Thus they were thrown into prominence, making brave pictures in the sunlight. Some Pathetic Bourdons. Grey-bearded men reunited for the first time in the Town Hall to their boys—they must have missed them in the muddle and confusion on the wharfopenly embraced them. Young wives came with arms linked in those of husbands. And how proud they were. Heads lifted, eyes shining, they shared in the cheers showered upon their men. And the mothers, who shall tell of the emotions with which their proud hearts were filled. They bore themselves bravely, not one exhibiting signs of grief, though more than her own strength was needed to assist her boy to the nearest empty seat.

Frequently were to be seen whito-haircd couples, one on either side of a cruelly injured boy on crutches, helping him to hobble cheerfully along and take his place. One poor fellow arrived so badly maimed that four nurses had to carry him to his chair. And all the time the stout-hearted fellow smiled.

A specially hearty cheer was raised as one tall soldier entered and stood in the full blaze of the sunlight, a little curlyheaded hoy held close in his arms, a proud little wife clinging to his freer arm. And another warrior, bearing mim marks of the war, strode into the hall hand .in hand with a bright little girl and her radiant mother.

Underlying Strain of Sadness. However deeply the pride of race lighted up the countenances of the relatives of these fine lads, it was not possible for! those who looked on to blind themselves I to the underlying pathos of it all. Many j of the returned men. it is true, were prac-1 tically restored to vigorous health again, as the result of the invigorating sea-trip. ! One realised, too. as one looked at them' that these were burning to be back again ' at the front. But from their fin*: physique and healthy colour the eye would wander to encounter the armless sleeves of others, the painful limp, the numerous cases where ; sticks, and even crutches. wer<s still re- I quired. And the underlying feelings as : these sights met the gaze were sad in spite J of everything. * :

Men who went awav whole and fit have come back maimed. All the pride and joy of repossession cannot niter that. Wisely enough, however, there was nothintr of sorrowincr in the proceedings at th» Town Hall, neither in the speeches delivered, nor in the reception of the men by their numerous hostesses. The speakers included - His Excellency the Governor, wt«l r S le . -Minister". Sir Joseph Welif;^ Bart '^ and the Mayor of J*f ( The predominating note sate ~T ° f welcome and gratitude for Sv i'Z A 'l f ° r the «"« themselves. thankfuwl f n K «P re «*l nothing but he how? tE.t in ° n more at home, and fight It on v "°" . the y ma y renew the in the mSSL'ffKAj 6 add f d that benefited s ° fit again after the nTenfefXSnl't « ssra ms asr- from vari -