IN NEW ZEALAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3557, 18 September 1916, Page 6

IN NEW ZEALAND

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

THE TOFUA'S CONTINGENT

DUNEDIN, September 16. At 7 o'clock this morning the Tofusi, with 19 invalided soldiers from England,., berthed at Port Chalmers... Very fine weather was experienced as far as Capetown, and the run across the Southern Ocean was not unpleasant, for the transport was running; before the lumpy sea. which Usually prevails there. The passage occupied 44 days from port to port. The returned, soldiers have all seen active service in France, and some of them were previously through] the Gallipoli campaign. The men enjoyed fche change from hot Egypt to pleasant France. Altogether, France is regarded as preferable to' Egypt, though the cannonading on the Western front is far more intense and trying tlian on Gallipoli. Though France was a pleasing change in many respects, traere was, however, the disability of damp boots, despite tho "dunk walks "Vof boarding on the bottom of the trenches. This resulted in some sickness. \ The Tofua's men are sickness cases from the ■ Walton-on-Tnames HospitaL Major Lapraik, of Thames, is the medical officer, and he states that the men benefited "immensely by the sea. trip. There were two cot cases on( leaving England, but they quickly !| passed' out of that category when the healing sea breezes got to work. Sister McAra and Sister Salmon nursed the men. Tho former sister is tho wife of Dr McAra, of Gore, who recently returned from the front himself. Captain Welch was the officer in charge.