NEW ZEALANDERS.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14959, 6 January 1919, Page 7

NEW ZEALANDERS.

CHRISTMAS IN HOSPITALS

FESTIVITIES MARKED BY UNUSUAL GAIETY.

(From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official' War Correspondent with the New! Zealand Forces in the Field.) By Cable, December 26. The festivities at .too, New Zealand hospitals were marked by more than the usual gaiety. There has been recently a considerable- reduction in the numbers of patients as no wounded men are now coming through, and tho majority of patients are those whose more serious wounds are slowly healing, or who arc victims of influenza. Concerts, dinners, and dances made the day pass dieerdy. The wards-■were gaily decorated, prizes being given for the most artistir-, Bunta Glaus visited each ward, and every digger wokfi to find something in Ins stocking. At Walton-oh-Thamcs in the evening there was a brilliant scano, when the medical officers, sisters' nurses and patients dined Tii the lar^e ball. Speeches were*' made by bir 1 rhoraas Mackenzie, General Richardson, j Colonel O'Neill, Matron - Wilson, and others, it is now,,, announced that the division will not form part of the army of oecijpat-ion m Qermany, so demobilisation will proceed more speedily thj<n was originally anticipated. General Richardson, after a brief visit to the division, will proceed to Aew Zealand 'in connection with demobilisation arrangements there If the Allies send a force-to Russia there will he no New Zealand contingent and it is understood that any New Zeaiandors volunteering will have to join the British Army.