BACK FROM EGYPT

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9172, 12 October 1915, Page 7

BACK FROM EGYPT

OFFICERS RETURN ON SPECIAL DUTY. Amongst the passengers - by' the steamer Moeraki, which arrived at Wellington last evening from Sydney, were three officers of the first Maori Contingent, who are now fighting by the side of their pakeha brolhors-iu-arms in the trenches on Gallipoli. There were also on board Private B. Mitchell, of the 16th Battalion, machine-gun section, of the Australian Fourth Brigade; Private Christie, of Christchurch, also of the Australian forces; and Captain W. Sloan. The latter belongs to an English regiment, and is taking a tour for the benefit of his health, after suffering untold agony in the heavy fighting in Flanders through being “gassed.” The Maori party is in charge of Captain Roger JJansey, of Dunedin. The other two members are Lieutenant Hiroti Te Uru, of Wanganui, and Lieutenant Hertet Thomas, of -Te Kuiti; When seen by a ' ‘Times” re-, porter, Captain Dansey stated that as the three officers had; returned to-Now Zealand Under instructions for special dutyi he could not:give any information concerning the great showing the Maori Contingent had made at Gallipoli. • 'VXt.T; T ■ ...V-; > - 'lt had been .bruited abroad that a largo party of returning- soldiers were, on boat'd the Moeraki, and in consequence an unusually large number of people collected on the Queen’s wharf last evening to,witness-the vessel’s arrival. The authorities announced, however, that a party of 25 troopers of the Expeditionary Forces, under a lieutenant, who reached Sydney last week by an Australian transport from Egypt, will arrive at Wellington by the Maitai to-morrow. It is understood that Private Mitchell. who has returned to his native land minus his left arm, took an active part in the initial landing of the Aus-: trodian and New .Zealand forces at Gaba Tepo, when the limb was shattered by an explosive bullet near the elbow ten days after the landing. Private Mitchell belongs to Oamaru, where ho was at one time engaged in farming. He subsequently went to Australia, and was faming there when the call came for the formation of the Australian Expeditionary Force..