THE MAITAI'S MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2593, 15 October 1915, Page 3

THE MAITAI'S MEN

,' WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR, | After the returned invalided soldiers ! by the Maitai had passed through the hands of tho medical officers on Wednesday evening, they were assembled aft by Captain Fraser, when the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) formally extended thfem a hearty welcomo homo on behalf of the whole of the Dominion, which he did as Prosident of the Municipal Association, and in doing so paid a tribute to the sacrifices the men had made and the gallant fight they had put up. In coming back to New Zealand they woujd have the opportunity of recuperating, and he hoped that their' native*,air would restore their health and strength. He was very glad to hear from tliein the splendid admiration they had for tho men of the British Navy, and also to hear of the cordial relations they had established with •their Australian comrades-in-arms, a 'consummation that,would not only add to the efficiency of our fighting forces, hut would tend to simplify in .future years the bringing about of a unity of action which must be of benefit to the Empire. Mr. Luke also offered to do anything in his power to -make their istay in Wellington pleasant, even to the. extent of providing them with funds. , 'As the men .were paid by the officials of the Defence Office, tho Mayor's kind-' ly intention was defeated._ At 6 p.m. "there were several cars waiting "fo take the men anywhere; they wished to go, but as a lot of them were.leaving for' the south and elsewhere these were not needed. The Mayor invited them all to 'attend at the Town Hair at ]0 a.m. yesterday, but, presumably through the greater number of the men-having left town, none of them , put in an appearance at the appointed time. .