GISBORNE’S FIRST WELCOME TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PIONEER MAORI BATTALION, NUMBERING ABOUT 250 IN ALL, FROM THE GISBORNE, HAWKE’S BAY AND WAIRCA DISTRICTS, UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE WHARF. THE MAORI SOLDIERS, WHO ARRIVED FROM AUCKLAND BY THE MAPOURIKA, WERE CONVEYED UP THE RIVER FROM THAT STEAMER BY THE TUATEA, WHICH IS SHOWN BERTHING AT THE WHARF. AS THE LATTER BOAT DREW ALONGSIDE THE WHARF, THE BAND STRUCK UP “SEE THE CONQUERING HERO COMES,” WHILE THE CROWD GREETED THE NATIVES WITH LOUD OUTBURSTS OF CHEERING. THE SCENE OF ENTHUSIASM PRESENTED WAS A FITTING DEMONSTRATION OF THE PUBLIC’S RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORICAL DISEMBARKATION, THE BRONZED AND KHAKI WARRIORS STANDING OUT IN BOLD RELIEF ON THE DECK OF THE RIVER BOAT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1512, 17 April 1919, Page 36

GISBORNE’S FIRST WELCOME TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PIONEER MAORI BATTALION, NUMBERING ABOUT 250 IN ALL, FROM THE GISBORNE, HAWKE’S BAY AND WAIRCA DISTRICTS, UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE WHARF. THE MAORI SOLDIERS, WHO ARRIVED FROM AUCKLAND BY THE MAPOURIKA, WERE CONVEYED UP THE RIVER FROM THAT STEAMER BY THE TUATEA, WHICH IS SHOWN BERTHING AT THE WHARF. AS THE LATTER BOAT DREW ALONGSIDE THE WHARF, THE BAND STRUCK UP “SEE THE CONQUERING HERO COMES,” WHILE THE CROWD GREETED THE NATIVES WITH LOUD OUTBURSTS OF CHEERING. THE SCENE OF ENTHUSIASM PRESENTED WAS A FITTING DEMONSTRATION OF THE PUBLIC’S RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORICAL DISEMBARKATION, THE BRONZED AND KHAKI WARRIORS STANDING OUT IN BOLD RELIEF ON THE DECK OF THE RIVER BOAT.