HOME AGAIN.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 8

HOME AGAIN.

MAEAMA'S AND MALTA'S MEN ARRIVE. At Lyttelton yesterday a number of soldiers who came out in the Malta arrived by. the ferry steamer Maori,' while others arrived in the hospital 6hip Marama, ' and the disembarkation .from the-transport. Briton continued. A detachment of the local No. 3 Medical Corps, under the command of Lieutenant Grenfell, paraded at Jthe Christchurch railway station at 6.30 a.m., and wont down to Lyttelton, where they transferred two cot cases and two walking cases from the Briton to a hospital carriage. Four men, suspected of having influenza, were placed in an attached carriage. They, and a number of other men from the Briton, who were to go on south, were brought to Christchurch. There were 203 men for Dunedin,and 233 to go jsouth of Dunodin. Captain Robertson acted as Medical Landing Officer, and Captain Brammall was in charge of-the records. The Marama, six weeks outr from Southampton, was at the Lyttelton heads at 8 a.m., and berthed at 8.30 a.m. There were thirteen cot cases in the ship, twelve being for Christchurch, and one for Timaru, and there were approximately 80 walking cases for Timaru, Ashburton, the West Coast, and Christchurch.. A number of other men on board went on with the vessel to Port Chalmers later in the -day. Among the Christchurch. officers in the boat were Captain ■ G. Russell, N.Z.M.C., and Captain L. F. Nancarrow (dental officer). . . The medical boarding had been done on vessel during the:voyage. __ The trip from England was an exceptionally smooth one, and the invalided soldiers wero greatly benefited by the voyage, as evidenced by the fact that when the vessel left England she Had on board no fewer than 300 cot cases, but upon reaching the Dominion all except about 70 were classed as walking cases. Tho Marama arrived at the Panama Canal on January 4th, leaving Balboa for the final stage of her journey on January 6th. The ship's hospital staff and the troops speak in most appreciative terms of the hospitality extended to them by the Americans whilst passing through the Canal. The weather conditions were dismal, and the • port presented a wintry aspect when the Marama berthed. A steady rain was falling, but notwithstanding this an eager crowd was present to welcome the men. At 9.30 a.m. the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool, accompanied by Colonel Chaffey, went on board the vessel, and visited the cot cases, amongst whom her Excellency distributed some beautiful flowers. A number of Lyttelton Red Cross workers, under the supervision of Mrs Lester, busied themselves treating the soldiers to fruit, confectionery, cigarettes, etc. Grapes, and other delicacies, were distributed among the cot cases.

Having disembarked, tho troops, in company- with their friends and relatives, left the port at 11.45 aim., in a special train for tho city. Tho Marama left port at 12.15 for Port Chalmers. The Lyttelton branch of the Red Cross Society have had a strenuoustime making preparations to receive and entertain the troops arriving by the Briton and Marama. The women workers were extremely disappointed that the fine spread which they had prepared for* the Briton's quota of North Island men on Wednesday evening could not be given to those for whom it was intended, and the men had insufficient time to have luncheon before leaving by the ferry steamer. The ladies' efforts, however, were Dot wasted for only 190 of the 240 who had been b'ookcd for a passage North arrived from the Briton in time to connect with tho ferry steamer, and those that remained behind availed themselves of the repast awaiting them. Probably between 200 and dOO returned men, including Canterbury troops, were entertained with refreshments in the Excelsior Hall The soldiers expressed appreciation of their kind reception. Shortly after , noon the men from the Marama reached Chnstchurch, where a large number of relatives and friends gave them hearty cheers. Ladies of the lied Cross supplied much-appreciat-ed refreshments, for them, and thov v/ere speediJy transported to their des"tmations —most of them in the cars' of members of. the. Canterbury Automobile. -AeaociatioQ, and others; in cfcarJEe^ofi

•the Medical Corps, in ambulances to the Hospital. Whilst the disembarkation of troops from the Mara'ma was taking place .yesterday morning, a Christchurch. Military named Monson, who was walking along deck on the Briton, fell down in a fit, and inflicted a wound above his right eye. A stretcher was requisitioned from the. Marama. and the man was removed to a guard-house on the wharf, where he received attention from the Marama's hospital staff.