FFOM THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 7

FFOM THE FRONT

SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS CIVIC HOSPITALITY The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and 'Mrs. Luke wore again engaged yesterday afternoon in dispensing hospitality to a- party of invalided soldiers who arrived in Auckland by the Ruahine and reached Wellington yesterday. The men wore met at the Thorndon railway station by Captain Short, of tho Headquarters Staff, and conveyed to the Town Hall in a special car. They numbered about a score, and were principally enteric patients on the high road to recovery. Somo there were, howevor, who had not escaped unscathed in the warfare of the trenches, and showed traces of injury to limb of a more or less disabling nature. They were, nevertheless, in the highest spirits, and engaged in animated chat with their 'host and hostess. The Mayoress was assisted by a number of ladies in the task of handing round refreshments. The Mayor, in a few' words of welcome, said the whole of New Zealand was indebted to the men, who, with their comrades, had fought so gallantly on the Peninsula of Gallipoli and elsewhere, for Now Zealanaers had been engaged in overy theatre of war. It was their Uutv, therefore, to welcome theso bravo soldiers when they returned, sick and wounded, and to do everything for them that lay in their power. He sincerely hoped tnat it would not he long before thoy regained their former health, although jaw, with deep regret, evidence that some of them would never enter tho fighting line again. It was a great sacrifice they "nad made for our country and the Empiro to which we belonged. It was also so with those who had fallen, giving their lives for the cause which had sent them to the colours and to the firingline. Tho memory of theso heroes and of. their gallant end would never perish. Sergeant Ibbotscn (Ist _ Company, Canterbury Infantry Battalion) thanked the Mayor and Mayoress for having so hospitably entertained himself and his comrades.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEPTIONS MAYOR APPEALS TO THE MINISTER. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has addressed the following letter to tlio Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence: — _ "I shall be glad if you will assist mo ill dealing with the reception of sick and wounded soldiers. I have 110 desire to complain—these ■ are not the times for petty recriminations —but I have been put to considerable inconvenience and • disturbance of duties, _ the next-of-kin and tho public to _ disappointment, in regard to inceptions of sick and wounded soldiers. "Tlio thanks of the , community to the returned soldiers for the work they have done and the sacrifices made has been time and again enthusiastically shown in this city. It would be very undesirable for me to relax the hospitality of the city and show discrimination in the treatment of the different units reaching this city. I can as continuous batches of men will arrive, that there may be a. slackening of demonstration on the public side, and I shall need to deal with the requirements and hospitality as each occasion requires. , ■ "The information that I have received for some time has been of a very scrappy and meagre character, which warranted me in communicating with a Minister of the Crown whom I thought (and my assumption was based upon the fact that frequent statements appeared in the Press from such Minister) had charge of such _ work. I have been disillusioned in this respect. "I am now appealing to you as possibly the proper authority to assist me.' "I received a telegram past midnight this morning.as follows: 'Twentytwo railway warrants issued for men itL quarantine, to reach Wellington. 4 p.m., Friday.—(Signed) Baso Records.' "This was from Auckland, handed in at'B.so p.m., and it was past midnight when I received it. If that telegram liad been made urgent, I should liavo received it in time to enable mo to insert in both morning papers an intimation to tlie next-of-kin and friends interested in their reception. "I would further ask if you will be good enough to instruct the Base Records Office at port of arrival of soldiers to telegraph me direct (and urgent) in regard to the movements of tho men for Wellington, and those passiiig through this city.'' •