RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 6

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

ARRIVAL OF OXFORDSHIRE

IPRE3S ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, February 5. Tlic transport Oxfordshire, bringing draft No. 207, which arrived in Rangitoto Channel early yesterday morning, having undergone hours' quarantine! discharged her troops at Auckland this afternoon. She liod 1173 of all ranks on board, and 44 civilian passengers over 30 of whom were tho wives of officers and men. There were no cot cases or limbless soldiers on board.

Tho ship is in charge of Liout.-Col D. 13. Blair, 1X5.0., M.C. Tho vova4 was via tho Suez Canal, and was*lino throughout. The troops arrived in gooc health. En route, educational classes on a variety of subject* were hold being well attended. The agriculture class was the most popular. The conduct of tho mcu while at Colombo u-ar exemplary. While tho vessel was in quarantina here, Mrs A. H. Colvillo, widow of tho late vicar of St. Sepulchro's, Auckland disappeared. She was returning with her mother, having taken Home her husband's body for interment. She was missed about midnight on Saturday and a thorough search was made, but' without result. Mrs Colvillo was formerly Miss Ohvo Peat, of Foilding. ' The Oxfordshire win the first hoe-, pital ship taken over by the Admiralty and engaged continuously as such, and she was at Ansae, Cape Hollos, and Salonika in tho Persian Gulf, and in, 1 ports up to February, IiUS. During this period sho had many encounters with submarines, frequently being fired on. but sho escaped ecatheIcss. After February sho made foun voyages from America as a transport, cn "7 m S American troops to Europe. The returning men were officially welcomed by tho Mayor and Colonel Potter, O.C.D,

The South Island troops nnd thosa for the southern portion of the North fsLand left by special train this even-' mg. DRAFT No. 209 DELAYED. Regarding returning draft No. 209, on tho transport Nostor, which was "expected to arrive a t Sydney from EgvptJ on January 27th, tlio Defence Department has been advised that tho vessel has been quarantined at Melbourne, and was expected to arrive in Sydney oui Saturday; also that it is proposed bv i l i!J v ' a[ trans P°rt authorities to send the New Zealand troops (150 officers and men) on to tho Dominion by tho Mamari during this week. This is. ofl course, uncertain, a3 tho Mamari Herself may also bo quarantined on arrival at Melbourne. Consequently further advice must be awaited.

WILTSHIRE'S DRAFT. Tho South Island portion 'of the soldiers who returned to New Zealand by the Wiltshire arrived at Lyttelton yesterday, and wore oonveyed to Christchurch. They numbered 210, oomprising 78 for Ohristchurch and district, 14 for tho West Coast, 30 fo r South Canterbury, and 88 for Otago and Southland. Thero were no cot cases. There were a largo number of motor-cars at the Ohristchurch railway station to convey tho local men to their homes, and the others to their quarters in the citv. The southern men will leave by to-day's express, while tho West Coast men will leavo to-morrow morning. 1 Yesterday about 40 of tho men Who do not , belong to Ohristchurch were taken for a motor ride in six cars. They visited Supinor and then Now Brighton, and came back to the city via Burwood' Proceeding to tho Returned Soldiers'" Association rooms, they wore given afternoon toa prepared by a oommittde of ladies, and wore welcomed on behalf of the B.S.A. by tho secretary (Sir Leadley).