RETURN OF THE MAORIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14880, 7 April 1919, Page 3

RETURN OF THE MAORIS.

TO-MORROWS FUNCTION.

A civic welcome will be accorded to the returning Maori soldiers, members of the East Coast tribes of the "Maori [Pioneer Battalion, who will demobilise at Gisborne to-morrow. Lieutenant Ansell, tho disembarkation officer, was advised to-day that the Mapourika, with the East Coast Maoris aboard, left Auckland at 9 o'clock last evening. The steamer is expected to reach the anchorage by daylight, but owing to the tidal conditions the disembarkation will not commence until 9.30 a.m. Arrangements, however, have been made for the deputy-Mayor, Cr. Hill, and members of the Reception Committee to visit the ship aiid to tender a formal welcome. The acting-Premier, Sir James Allen, the Hon. Sir James Carroll, and party are expected to come ashore early. The tenders will leave the wharf .at 9 a.m., and the troops are expected to land at the wharf., at 10 a.m., where, as already announced, they will be accorded a civic welcome. Representative natives, returned' soldiers, the local bands, and the Senior Cadets will be stationed within the enclosure, and appropriate addresses will be delivered by representative speakers. Business people have been, invited to close their premises from 10 a.m. to noon. The various school committees have been invited to have the school children present, and to throw -flowers on the troops as they pass m procession through the town. The Maori soldiers then proceed by train to the hui grounds at the Park racecourse, where they will be received m accordance with the ancient native custom. As previously notified the official welcome will take place on the "marae" at the hui on Wednesday morning, the acting-Premier and Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, being present. , UST OiF RETURNING MEN. The local Defence office was advised to-day that the following men, ex R.D, 228 (Westmoreland) are due to leave Auckland by the Mapourika to-night: — Captain Wainohu, Lieutenant EYomm. Lieutenant Goldsmith, Captain Ferris, Lieutenant Ormond, Lieutenant Waipara, Lieutenant Tphau; also the following non-commisioned officers and men :— Babbington, P. Babbington, T. Lewis, -M. Lewis, S. Hana, Carroll, Baker, Crawford, Cooper, Lambert, Albert, Kuare, dark, Saddlier, Forrester, Bustowe, Grant, Grace, Harrison, Haereroa, Grant, R. Bustowe, Aramakutu, H. Autapu, Gilman, Brown, Akurangi, Waiti, Heany, Gerrard, Hokepa, Ruwhiri, Silbery, Rangiwaia, Mills,. Edwards, W. Mills, Gemmel, Matetu, Munro, Maru, Kara, Hicks, Pewhairangi, Paputere, Northover, Smith, Tengaio, Hale, Kopua, Leach, Whaarehinga (2), Heepo, Hodges, Wanoa, Wilson, Hiraka, Marsh, Hutana, Hingston, Maxwell, Lockwood, Koia, Tanepo, Henry, Tangeora, Parata, Tanimana, Waaka, Taylor, Ferris, Hale, Williams, Mahanga, Tapene, Taylor, Piri, Rotoatora, Paka, Wainohu, Mackay, Smith, Kaarauria, Pireto, Hitu, Kivyara, Koia, Hingston, Karmoana, Karangaroa, McAndrew, Cooper, Pakii, Haronga,' Raureti, Williams, Te Rau, Ryland, Warbape, Te Herekiekie, Tehorohau, Edwards, Moore, Takina, Weko, Smith (3), Harawira, Taitie, Matthews. Kemarsh, Penfold, Pepere, Walker, Honeycombe, Kingi, Waaka, Maitai, Hooper, Karawia, Mua, Renata, Whaanga, Walker, Morell (2), Jones, Mokimoki, Wehihore, Te Ngaio, Can-oil. Te Kihi, John, Webber, Wineana, Nelson, Pomana, Mulligan., Te Huiki, Ngata, Taheriri, Pakuku, Grace, Tooke, Porou, Puha, Whanga (2), Hamana. Paenga, Johnston, Rawhira, Reid. Tc Ohaere. McOvegor, Paka, Eremana, Haku, Pir*: ■'.. Turi, Tuhaka, Tantabi, Moore, Kiwaia, Te Urupu, Mua, Ngata, Rotoatara, Pirihi, Wanoa, Nepia, Rungaruhga, Tnhi, Smith, T. Wliarekara. Rotoatara, Te Okeroa, Eremana, Kingi, Takoko, Pomana, Whataira, Moana, Te Aho, Te Runa. Houia, Priestly, Pnhipuhi, Tuatau, Kerehau, Taukama, Whe•nuanui. In addition to the above there are 25 men of Group 18 (Masterton) and 37 men of Group 7 (Napier). Lieutenant Ansell states that approximately 271 officers and men will land from the Mapourika to-morrow, and of this number about 131, comprising Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, and Wairarapa na-' tives, are due to proceed south by the Mapourika at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. PRESENTATION OF DEOOiRATIO'NS.

The opportunity will be taken hy the Hon. Sir James Allen, Minister v of Defence, during his visit, to present the following decorations : — Private Toi Katrini, Tolaga Bay (Croix de Guerre). Sergeant H. D. Jeffreys, care Mrs. H. Mprice, Tahunga (Military Medal). Mrs. Whitfield, 6 Desmond j-oad. Gisborne (mother of the late Gunner G. E. Whitfield (Meritorious Service Medal).