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Press, Volume LV, Issue 16417, 10 January 1919, Page 6

HOME AGAIN.

ARRIVAL OF MAUXGAXUI'S DRAFT. WARM WELOOSIE AT THE CANAL ZONE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION" TELET.IUM.) AUCKLAND, January 9. ® The transport Maunganui (No. 203) arrived at Auckland this morning from Liverpool with an Invalid draft of S4O soldiers of all ranks. Tho vessel was examined in Rangitoto Channel. Tho Maunganui left Liverpool on December 2nd, and for tho first week encountered bad weather. On two occasions sho had to heavo-to, but before long tho weather moderated, and for tho rest of the voyage it was quite good. At Panama, the drait was givoa an exceedingly warm welcome oy American residents of the Canoi tone. Not only were the men liberally entertained at tho two terminal ports, bub at every lock peoplo throw on bo&rdt packages of tobacco and other things jwhich they knew the soldiers would like. Ait Colon tho ship was loaded up with magazines fruit, tobacco, and afi sprta of eatables. Special trains wero putt on to convey the men from the port to tho town, where entertainments and) refreshments were provided for them. They wero taken out for sightseeing trips, and a regular lnunch service was maintained between the ship and tho slioro; in fact, their goodwill ami generosity quito overwhelmed tho men. One of tho first remarks addressed to tho newspaper men who went on board the Maunganui to-day was a request that something should be printed to show the gratitude of all ranks to their American friends. "The thine thab struck most of vs," said ono of tho officers, "was tho hearty and demonstrative way in which the Panama people did iti all. They oan boat us Britishers at that. Ido think that tho New Zealand' people ought to do something in return, or at least make them a grant, in cash to help them to entertain New Zealanders passing through. The pooplo of the Canal rono are mostly Government employees, and thero are no capitalists amongst them. I understand that we only pot what they givo to every New Zealand draft, and how they can afford to koep it up I don't understand. We certainly ought to do something in return." On tho voyage a certain amount of educational work was carried on under tho scheme now 'being developed in thio New Zealand Forces. Voluntary classes in economics, steam engineering, and elementary bookkeeping were hoid. The men who attended showed keen interest, and this -was specially so in tho economics class.