SOUTH SEA SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11763, 29 July 1916, Page 9

SOUTH SEA SOLDIERS.

N! JE ISLAND INVALIDS.

The fact that thoro arc twenty Niue Islanders at iiipsom Convalescent Home at the present time and only three- New Zealanders, says the '* *\ew Zealand Herald," leaves the latter in a decided minority. None of them have been in action, but all have been invalided back (Void Egypt, suffering from the aliments to which dark races are peculiarly liable \vhe?i subjected to different conditions of life and environment. A visit paid! to the home l recently found the inmates enjoying themselves in their usual whoie-hearted and simple maimer. A dozen or more of them were lounging on _ the wide verandah, crooning a plaintive love-chant, and watching with keenest interest a boxing match between two others on the lawn. Every now and then the love chant would break off abruptly, and a shout of gieo would mark the singer s approval of a neat blow landed at just the right point; then the song woulo croon on again. Time never hangs heavy oil the -\iue bovs' hands. Y> hen the weather is line they take long walics, or olo,\ ciocjuet and football in a manner all their own. If it rains there is always the gramaphone, and, wet or fine, the bosiiig gloves, for practice m the gentle art of self-defence is a pastime after their own hearts, and they hours at it. They are also ps-rticuir.rlv fond of singj ri! v." During the visit they sang fcr ]sn hour nnrf only left on when afternoon ie~. offered further entertainment. The Miie soldiers do not come into town a great d;-al. nor do they go out .it nights. They have not acquired the liquor haMt.