RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17634, 26 May 1919, Page 2

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

PAPAttOA DUAFT AKRTCTES.

TOFUA EXPECTED ON \YEDN33SDAT.

Ono hundred and ninety-eight soldiers, 7>° returned to New Zealand on tho ship Payaroa., arrived last night by special tram, winch left Christchurch at 1120 ». m aiul reached -Dunedin at a-quarter to 8. lhe platform was crowded by fxiondfl and relatives of tho men, and Gapb&iii D>obaon and Ueutenaut M'Car thy wero present to represent tho Defence Department. Upon detraining tho soldiers entered tho waitingmotor cars, and were driven to their homes, through cheering- crowds, passing on their way underneath tho triumphal arcii erected by tho Brigade at tiio corner of Stuart and Cumberland streets. ® , c ' ra '''i winch was under the command ot liieutonant Andrews, hud an uneventful journoy. At wayside stations they wero liberally supplied with chocolalo and cigarettes, and tho Defenoo Department saw to it that tho catering- arrangements worked eiiiciently. Ninety men for south of Dunedin wero billeted in town for tho night, and will leave by tho express tins morning tor their homes.

The latest news tho Defenco Department lias received about tho Tofua is that sho ia expected at daybreak on Wednesday. Lieutenant M'Carthy will go out to the Heads and board the vessel, to make necessary arrangements for the disembarkation of tho troops. If tho ship arrives when she is expected, sho should reach the Victoria, wharf about 11 n_m., and it is anticipated that tho men will be disembarked within 10 minutes. 'Ihe men "will havo received their pay and all their papers, etc., on the voyago, and all that will bo required on arrival will bo a rapid check of these, which will not occupy much time. It will bo completed before tho sliip touches tho wharf. Next-of-kin will bo allowed on tho i ji hut tho general publio will be excluded. A special train carrying the northern men will leave at noon. Men for districts between Duncdin and Palmerston South ATI 11 travel by tho 2.55 p.m. train, and men for Milton, Stirling, and Balclutha i i e P- m - Men for south of Balclutha and for Ofcago Central will leavo for their homes on Thursday morning. The Tofua left Colon on May 4, and hag on board 520 soldiers, five civilians (men), four women, and two children. One case of influenza was reported on board. Iho trooDship Waimana, conveying R.D. 257, is due in Auckland about June 20. Sho has 1675 soldiers and one woman on board.

. -Ki© troopship Rimntaka, with RD. 243, is due to arrive at Wellington on the 27th mat. Shp has 720 troops, 12 women, and eight children on board. Four influenza oases and one case of measles had been reported. Sho left Colon on May L The Devon, with 13 soldiers and seren women on board, left Sydney on Saturday. She sails for Lyttelton direct Tho troopship Pakeha, conveying- ILD. No. 251, is duo at Wellington on May 30. She left Colon on May 7, and has 1373 soldiers on board.

Tho Prinz Bssin, with draft No. 258, is expected at Wellington early in July. The draft consists of 87 officers, eight muses, and 325 other ranks of tho N.Z.E.F.; 39 officers, two nurses, and 106 other ranks Imperial details; sis civilians, 81 women, and /91 children. f

THE PAPAROA'S DRAFT. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 24. The Paparoa, with 600 returned soldiers, arrived at 6 a.m. to-day from London, and was declared a clean ship. : She berthed at 11 a.m., and the disembarkation occupied 10 minutes only. Tho Auokland and.Manawatu men leave by the second express today, and the Nelson men by the Nikau. Tho other southern contingent will leave by the Maori on Monday, and the Marlborough men will go by the Pateena the same day. 1