RETURNED SOLODIERS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2604, 28 October 1915, Page 6

RETURNED SOLODIERS.

THE TOFUA'S CONTINGENT GREAT WELCOME IN DUNEDIN (By leltfcraph.—Press Association J Dunedin, October 27. The military and medical authorities got through the arduous task of examination ot the- men by the Tofua and the compilation of the records most expeditiously, and by 8 a.m. the work of .disembarkation was practically completed; Everything , worked without a hitch. ■ Dunedin rather excelled itself in extending a. cordial welcome to the soldiers. The weather was glorious. A general forenoon holiday was observed, mid the long line of. route from the wharf,to the new drill hall at Kensington was crowded with citizens, interspersed by many bands. The cheering was continuous throughout. Tho soldiers- were ■ conveyed in motor-cars, which; going-at a brisk pace, took fifteen minutes to pass a given point. The concourse was impressed by tlie brightness of tlie soldiers, who had benefited remarkably by tho splendid voyage of the-Tofua. At the drill hall, where there was a civic reception, tli9 men received an ovation. . The Civic Reception. The enormous Drill Hall was filled for the*; civic reception to tho returned invalided soldiers. ' Tlie arrangements wore admirable. The Maoris got a particularly enthusiastic ovation. The speakers were the Hons. James Allen and G.W. Russell and tlie Mayor. The Anglican Primate (Dr. Novill) offered up a prayer of.tlianksgiving._ Mr. Allen said if for every soldier disabled two more ,of the same breed volunteered, everything would go. on all right. Mr. Russell stated that 'the men would'be nursed back to; thorough convalescence, and, when tliey had attained the same mental and physical fitness as at the time of enlistment, they would be offered the opportunity either to return to the. front or be given employment under the Hon. A. L. Herdman's Department,'in poultry, fruit, or dairy farming. He had given instructions to the medical officers not to be too hard on the men during convalescence. The men left for North and South by special'trains at 11.40 and 11.50. A Creat Send-Off. The soldiers on their departure received a great .send-off from a crowd of over 5000: The northern train should reach Christchurch . . shortly after 8 o'clock. The destinations of the men are as follow:— Canterbury, 88: Well-ington-Nelson, 23; Auckland, 91; Southland, 29. j

This Morning's Reception. The Wellington and North Island section of the wounded soldiers are duo to reach here this morning, by the Mararoa, which is expected to arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has arranged to give the boys from the battle line a hearty ieception, and the attention jof the public is directed to an advertisement appearing in this issue for full particulars. The men—or those of them who are able to do so —will disemoa'rk from the Mararoa at 10.30 a.m., and will be conveyed from the wharf in motor-cars to .the Town Hall, via Lambton Quay, Willis, Manners, and Lower Cuba Street, and 'will enter the municipal building by the main entrance. Holders of tickets (next-of-kin, • who can obtain them from the Defence Office, in Brandon. Street) will be admitted by the Mercer Street door, whilst the public will bo admitted at the Wakefield Street entrance. Brief speeches are to be made by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and possibly the Minister, of Defence (Hon. Jas. Allen). The ceremony will not be a long one, as most of the men for the north will be leaving Wellington early in_ the afternoon. The Mayor is making tentative arrangements to . accommodate , all those soldiers, other than the Wellington city men, who are not able to got away to-day. There may be none so placed, but in case there are, the necessary preparations have been made. The Mayor invites business people and others to' decorate their premises with bunting, in honour of those who have fought the good fight on rugged GaJlipoli. The secretary of the Wellington Auto- < .mobile Club intimates that His Worship the Mayor requests that members of the ciub, also other owners of motor-cars, will assist in convoying the _ w r ounded soldiers from the ship to the civic reception at the Town Hall. Cars will approach the King's Wharf via Waterloo Quay to the northern barrier near the Post and Telegraph Bulk Store, not j later than 10.15 a.m.

WILLOCHRA DUE SATURDAY ' NORTHERN'MEN LEAVE ON SUNDAY. (Br IWeffMHjh.—Prss» .Association.) v Dunedln, October 27. The Willochra, with returning troops, is expected to arrive off Deborah Bay about 9.30 a.m. on Saturday. Tho medical examination, eto., will be carried out all day, and the transport will come up to Dunediii about 9.30 on Sunday morning. After luncheon in the Drill Hall, the North Island, Canterbury, and Nelson soldiers will leave by the Monowai on Sunday afternoon, when' a special train will also leave for Christehurch for'the purpose' of conveying relatives' with iros railway passes, and for Otago soldiers going as far as Oamarti.