FRANCO-TAHITIAN DRAFT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2704, 25 February 1916, Page 3

FRANCO-TAHITIAN DRAFT

ENTERTAINED BY THE MAYOR

A company of 139 Franco-Tahitian reservists, under Lieutenant Lorenzi, arrived from Papeete by the Moana yesterday morning, and left last night for Sydney, en_- route' to Noumea by tho Manuka. They have' already undergone part of their military training at Papeete, and are to complete at Noumea. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) . made prompt arrangements to give the visitors a full day's outing, but the morning's, arrangements had to be cancelled as the men had to see to the transfer of their kits from one steamer to the other. _ In tho afternoon, they were taken in three special cars to Newtown Park and Zoo, and as nearly all the Tahitians of the company had never even seen an electric car before, it will be realised how much they enjoyed the outing. At the Park they were entertained at afternoon tea, after which they returned to the Town Hall. From the steps of the Hall the Mayor extended a warm ivelcome to the men, feeling that in doing so he was reflecting the feelings of tho whole of the people of. tlie'Dominion to a unit of our gallant Ally—France. He said that they all took the very keenest interest in the campaign, and he expressed the hope that they would participate in the struggle to bring this awful war, to a termination that would be satisfactory to the Allies, and so bring about a lasting peace to the whole world. Lieutenant Lorenzi . thanked the Mayor for the hospitality' extended to the men. He had been made to feel that their, interests were common, and in. the short-time they had been in Wellington they had felt quite at home. The Mayor then led in 1 the singing of the National Anthem, to which the visitors responded by singing "The Marseillaise" in French, followed up, to the delight of a large crowd of spectators, with a French version of the refrain of the song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."

The wedding took place very quietly at the residence of the bride's parents, Utiku, ou February 22, of Hiss Mary Urosnan, of Utiku, to Mr. 11. ,T. M. -fi'rauks. of New. South Wales, Australia. The ceremony was performed by Hie Rev. Father Connelly, of Taihape. The bride, who was given away by her brother, wore a silk embroidered voile frock; with a veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and was attended by her sister, iFiss Kitty Brosnan as bridesmaid. Mr. Frank JEgan was best man. After tbe ceremony the bride and bridegroom left for Wan'ganui.