ARRIVAL OF TROOPSHIPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17534, 28 January 1919, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF TROOPSHIPS

THE MABAMA AT AUCKLAND. (Pbk Uxitxd Pbms Assochatiob.) AUCKLAND, January 27. The hospital ship Marama arrived with 507 of all ranks aboard. Numbered among those -were 300 cot cases when she left England, but the number was greatly reduced at time of arrival. , The ship had an extremely good trip via Panama CanaL The Hon. Mr Massey. and Sir J.'G. Ward -visited the vessel at Colon; Private E. J. Tayendalo, of Kaiapoi, died of illness during the voyage.

The southern portion of the draft left in the Marama for WelHntgon at 3.30 p.m. The troops had Christmas Day at sea. The ladies and nurses made "treasure bags" for each patient, and filled them with sweets and other delicacies. 1 The Christmas fare included one highly appreciated item—namely, a cake from New Zealand, a number of -which -were put on board when the yeesel left Port Chalmers by the Red Croas Society.

MALTA AT WELLINGTON. "WELLINGTON, January 27.Tho P. and _0.. troopship Malta arrived here this morning from Egypt with troops. On the trip, across the Indian Ocean some of the 258 Rarotongans showed slight pneumonic symptoms, and 16 were landed 'at Fremantle. Eight more cases were dis- \ covered on the voyage from Fremantle to Wellington, eis of these being Rarotongana and two others being returned soldiers, one being an officer. All the Rarotongan soldiers and contacts have been landed at Somes Island, as well as the two New Zealand soldiers affected. All other troops after being inoculated and passed through the inhalation chamber are to be allowed to land to-morrow morning. The Malta is still in the stream. There is to be a consultation at 10.30 to-morrow morning ito decide whether the disembarkation of the men will proceed.

BRITON EXPECTED AT LYTTELTON. TO-MORROW.

A special train will leave Lyttelton at 8 a.m. to-morrow with the South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland quota of the Briton's draft of returning soldiers, who are expected to arrive at the Canterbury port to-day. This train is due to arrive at Dunedin at 4.45 p.m., and the Dunedin men will detrain at the overbridge close to the Early Settlers' Hall, and will be conveyed to their homes in motor cars. There are 500 men for this district, which is the largest draft of retorning men to arrive here thus far. The next-pf-kin of men laying south of Dxtncdin will be permitted to return to their • homes by the troop train at 5.10 p.m., and only the next-of-kin of soldiers will be allowed on the station platform. It is hoped that the public will turn out in largo numbers to give the soldiers a fitting welcome back. Lieutenant Garden will be in charge of the draft..