RETURNING TROOPS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 6

RETURNING TROOPS.

THE BRITON'S COMPLIMENT. The Union Castle liner Briton, which is expocted to arrive to~morrow morning, will bring buck 1165 officers and men, tho largest number of soldiers who have yet returned in one batch. Of these there are at least 404 for Canterbury and -192 for Otago. The Briton is the first vessel with returning troops to make Lyttelton her first port of call in New Zealand. The vessel will be kept in the stream until the record work is completed, and will not bo berthed until Wednesday morning, but it is intended to disembark tho men for anil its suburbs and tho North Island, Nelson and Marlborough men to-nmrro»v evening, and to send tho flatter North by the ferry steamer. The Christchurch men will be sent to the city by a special troop traiy, arriving in Christchurch at 6.40 p.m., at the southern platform, where an enclosure for relatives will be provided. Relatives will not be permitted to travel on the troop train, and in this connexion the Mavor , (Mr H. Holland) stated on Saturday that as it would take from 12 to 14 hours to pass the men, nearest relatives would gain nothing by going to Lyttelton to meet them, especially as it had been ordered that only soldiers would bo allowed on the troop train. In these circumstances nearest would do well to decide to meet their relatives at the Christchurch railway station. It should be borne in mind, also, that the exact time of the arrival of the transport was uncertain, and she might not perhaps arrive to-morrow morning as anticipated. Mr Holland' added that the Reception Committee would like to 6oe a good display of bunting from flagpoles and windows in tho city and suburbs.

Before the troops who are to leave Lyttelton to-morrow night take their departure, they will be entertained at tea by the Lyttelton branch of tho Red Cross, which in another column makes an appeal for gifts of fruit to be.left at the Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers by noon to-morrow. If donors are unable to leave the fruit there, they are asked to communicate with Mrs W. T. Lester.

On their arrival in Christchurch tho soldiers will be met by members of the Canterbury Automobile Association and conveyed to their homes. Tho Association has called a meeting for this evening, and it invites all motorists willing to help in transporting returned soldiers to their homes, to be present. Tho Defence Department will be represented,- and by this means tho Transport Committee of the Association ia hopeful that better arrangemens 'will bo mado for carrying out this work.

'.TRESS A&SOCIArrOJf TELEQBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 25. Tho Wiltshire, with returning draft No. 210, is now reported to be approximately due at Wellington on February 3rd.