INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 5

INVALIDED SOLDIERS.

WELCOME HOME,

Trooper Taylor, No. 2 Company, first contingent, formerly attached to the Torpedo Corps, Auckland, who was one of the first batch of invalids to return from South Africa, reached Dnnedin by the steamer Mokoia, from 'Melbourne, yesterday. Trooper Taylor was invalided from Grasspan, and four days aftei leaving the Capo was prostrated by enteric fever. On his arrival at Melbourne he was taken to the Prince Alfred Hospital, and remained there for seven weeks, meeting with the greatest possible kindness. Ho speaks most gratefully of the attention he received at the hands of the staff of tho hospital, and also at the hands of the officers of the Victorian Defence department, who were unremitting in their endeavours to do all they could for him. In reference to his experiences of the hospital in South Africa, he states that everything was done for him that could be reasonably ex|)ectcd, when inking into account the fact that there was an enormous pressure of surgical and fever coses on

SLEE*P FpR SKIN-TORTURED BABIES and rest for Tired Mothers in a warm bath with Culicura Soap, and a single anointing with Cuticura, the great skin cure and purest of emollients- This treatment will afford instant relief, permit rest and sloop to both parent and child' and point to a speedy, permanent, and economical cure in the most distressing forms of itching, burning, scaly, and crusted skin, «calp, and blood humours, with loss of hair, when all else fails* X

all the time. Members of the Organising Committee interviewed the returned trooper at Colonel Webb's, and showed the greatest solicitude for his welfare. Offers of assistance were proffered, but these Trooper Taylor declined, not being in need of anything. Trooper Taylor's health is still anything but good, and, for this reason he preferred to spend his time quietly, in place of accepting anything in the shape of entertainment, though offers in this direction wore made by the committee. He goes on by the Mokoia to Wellington to report himself at headquarters.

(Pee United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON,

July 25.

The Mayor of Wellington paid a visit to the Papauui this morning and officially welcomed {he invalided soldiers. Both officers and men declined, to be interviewed, as they are slill under military control.

Mr Seddon, Mr Ward, Mr Hall-Jones, Mr Duncan, Mr Walker, Mr Carroll, Mr M'Gowan, and Lieutenant - colonel Penton were in the Cabinet room at 1 o'clock to receive Lieutenants Vernoii (New South Wales), Canavan, and Heather, and Trooper Saunders. 'Mr Seddon said that he was delighted, on behalf of the colony, to welcome the men backhand he hoped that soon they would be restored to perfect health. The wliole country recognised that they had done credit to the colonies which had sent them, away. Lieutenant-colonel Penton, in the course of his remarks, said that the forces of the colony were proud to welcome them back as comrades. Lieutenant Canavan returned thanks for the hearty welcome that had been extended to the party. Lieutenant Vernon also expressed his appreciation of the kindly treatment that he had received in New Zealand, and he was glad to visit that colony whose men had done so well in South Africa. He considered that the New Zealanders had done better than any of the other colonial contingents, .with the exception perhaps of j New South Wales.—(Laughter.) The party S were afterwards entertained by the Premier at lunch. , .

(Feou Oub Own Cobeesfondent.}

WELLINGTON, July 25.

Some indignation lias been aroused because of the alleged apparent negligence of the Go-' vernment in regard to some of our invalided soldiers who, have returned broken in health and almost penniless' from the war. A case lias come under my notice, in which one memboi of our contingents was absolutely left without a shilling-. This man had to telegraph to friends in another pai-t of the colony for some meney to keep him going, and the result was. that he received £5. It seems an extraordinary state of affairs, however, for one of our volunteer soldiers to be left in such a position. It will ~be remembered that when the House resolved last year to send the first contingent, Mr George Hutchison tackled the Premier on the point of the Government's making full provision for the sick and wounded'on their return to the colony, and that theJPremier gave a promise that everything necessary would be dene. Mr Lewis, the member for Christchurch, is very emphatic on the subject, of pooling the patriotic funds, and points out that if they are put into the Treasury for the purpose of meeting the financial responsibilities of the Government in regard, to the invalided members of the .contingents, the Government will have so much more money to pay the increased salaries they propose to give themselves.

THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS,

Mr James Mills has received the following, letter from Mr J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., with re&pect to the Otago and Southland Patriotic fund being retained in the hands of the Organising Committee: — >

,_ '. " Wellington, July 23, 1900. " Bear Sir, —Your wire duly to hand. I thoroughly agree with resolution passed by your committee, and will do all in my power to comply with your request.—l am, etc., " J. F. Arnold."

A TELEGRAM FROM THE PREMIER

Mr James Mills, chairman of the Otago Patriotic Fund Committee, yesterday telegraphed to the Premier the substance of the resolutions passed at Tuesday evening's meeting as to the manner in which it was desired the funds in this district should he administered. Last evening he received the following reply from the Premier: — "Your telegram received. lam pleased to ■hear that you have decided to establish a trust and appoint trustees. So far all the object I had in view in the matter has been obtained, and I trust there will he no objection to legislation so long as it is consistent with the views of your subscribers."

Trooper W. A. Saunders desires to make a correction in that pprtion of his interview with a member of our staff referring to hospitals. He did not intend to say that he had been in all the hospitals in South Africa, but had been in all sorts of military hospitals, but not as a patient. Inquiries made at Wellington have elicited the fact (cays the Timaru. Herald) that the "Private F. P. Brown, Timaru," yesterday reported by cable from Major Cradock as having died of enterio fever, was Frank Percy Bourn, a- son of Mr Chas. Bourn, Timaru. His name was wrongly entered on the list of the second contingent as Brown, and probably only his number, 561, was cabled by Major Cradock. The Timaru Herald states that Mrs Jowsey has received a cable from the Major, which states that they (he and his son) are both in Pretoria and doing well. It also states that Captain Bourn has been captured, but is all right. • ■ . .