MAORI SOLDIERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15788, 9 April 1919, Page 2

MAORI SOLDIERS.

THE RECEPTION AT GISBORNE,

(Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, April &

The East Coast members of the Maori Pioneering Battalion, numbering 264. arrived by the Mapouriki to-day. They were accorded a great reception by large crowds. The day was gloriously hue. The morning was made the occasion of a public holiday. All business promises wore closed and the town was liberally bedecked with bunting. The men arrived by tender. The wharf was fully beilagged and enthusiastic scenes were witnessed. The men were drawn up iu a square and addresses of welcome were delivered by the Deputy Mayor (Mr Hill). Sir Jas. Allen, and representatives of the local bodies throughout the East Coast districts. The men,, headed by bands, and accompanied by returned soldiers, territorials and cadets, marched through the town amid a bombardment of flowers and confetti. They entrained at the railway station for the Park racecourse. to" be welcomed home. Maoris from every pah between Hawke’s Bay and Cape E.unaway were present. Old Maori customs were observed at the reception, and a lengthy programme of hakas and poi dances were gone through. During the afternoon a big church service was held. Bishop Sedgwick paid a tribute to the Maori soldiers. In an interval in the proceedings, Sir James Allen presented Private Toi Karini with the Croix de Guerre for an act of gallanty at Ypres. The hni festivities will continue for a week. This afternoon Wi Kaipuke, of Nuhaka, when near the entrance to the Park racecourse. was accidentally knocked down by a motor-car. He was removed to the hospital, wdiere it was found that several ribs had been broken. The other injuries are not known. THE SOUTHERN DRAFT. WELLINGTON, April 8. Fifty members of the Maori Battalion arrived to-night by train from Wanganui and were welcomed by the Mayor. Four wore for the South Island, and were taken in the Mararoa by the Volunteer Motor Corps.