HOME FROM THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 2

HOME FROM THE WAR

WILLOCHRA'S MEN WELCOME AT TOWN HALL The North Island contingent of tho returned soldiers from England who arrived at l'ort Chalmers by the Willochra on Thursday last were passengers from Lyttelton by the Mararoa yesterday morning. The steamer came up in good time with half a gale from the south behind her with rain and intense cold. She arrived olf the Ferry Wharf at about 10.15 a.m., but that hardly stood, for the hour of actual arrival, for 12 o'clock had struck before the steamer was made fast, and then it was' not to the berth detailed for her by the harbourmaster. Captain Manning found the strong southerly a serious obstacle to bringing his t essel in. His a iirst intention appeared to be to steam west across the head of tho Ferry Wharf, and drop into the berth stem foremost, but the Mararoa went ahead and her stern blew right round until she was lying with her noso against a coal-hulk that was tied to a berth at the Queen's- Wharf, whilst her stern was inside the Harbour Ferries' Wharf. After a time it was seen that there were two bow lines out on to tho Queen's Wharf, and the anchor down. Tho services of the Natonc were then requisitioned to carry lines to the Ferry Wharf from the Mararoa, and to pull tho nose of the steamer clcar of the outer tee of the Queen's Wharf. When a- strain was put on to the lines, ono of them snapped;' and the head of the ferry steamer paid off onco more. The Natonc pulled her out by the bow once more, as tho returned soldiers on board were heard to "count out" somebody. When the Mararoa's bow was clear of the Queen's' Wharf it. was thought that the vessel would drop down into her berth, but Captain Manning was taking no I more chances. Instead, lie went slowj l.v ahead and berthed the vessel at No. 1 north, Queen's Wharf. Tho result of this delay < was that the largo crowd of officers, next-of-kin, and others who had waited patiently in the cold for an hour and three-quarters, had then to beat it round to the Queen's Wharf; the waiting motors and ambulance van had to'follow suit, ■and the civic reception arranged by'the Mayor for II o'clock, did not commence until 12.30 p.m. At the Town Halt.

Consequent, upon tne loul weather and the delay, t-he attendance of tho public at the Town llall was not largo, fcipmo people, after waiting for over au hour, left the placo uncier the belief that the reception, was to be abandoned, and returned soldiers on tlio wharf were heard to remark to each other that "the show at the Town Hall had been cut out!" Assurances were 60011 given .that sush was'not the case, and as they arrived at the hall ,-iit motor-cars provided by the members of the Motor Reserve Corps, the men were given a very heaity greeting, ushered to the little tables that dotted the hali, and were at once given cups of hot tea.. The Mayor thoughtfully provided tramcars to bring the next-of-kin from the foot of the wharf to tho Town Hall free of charge. It was at once noticeable that the Willochra's'men included a heavy proportion of badlybroken men, nil meu who had suffered serious wounds at Gallipoli, and had many months ago been invalided to England. About a dozen of them had lost either au arm, a leg, or a hand, and were wearing artificial limbs, which, I though pretty perfect mechanically, -did not, in the case ;of men who had lost a nether limb, obviate the limp. As far as could be gathered, returned soldiers Bennett, Potter, and Urquhart had lost legs,, and: Colliim, Hollaway, Morison, ana Middleton lost arms. Private Richard Collins, who returns minus his loft arm, was a law clerk in the office of, M'Grath. and Willis, of Wellington, and is a nephew, of Mr. Alfred Coles, of Petone. Beyond the loss of hia arm, Private Collins is in line 'health and spirits. The AVillochra's men were in charge of Colonel Hutto'n, with Captain . Carriek Robertson (of Auckland) as the medical officer in charge.

•. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who was Accompanied on the platform by Mrs. Luko and Miss Robin, and the Hon. Colonel Janies Allen, and the Hon. Dr. AKNab, 6,aid they were there to givo the men who had returned from the fighting front a most hearty welcome home. That welcome he wished to extend to Colonel Hutton, Major Anders®, and the other officers and men who .represented so well the essential element of'the"great contest they were engaged in at the present time, among whom w;ere those of the higher command, wS'io had earned distinction on the field' and honours from the King, and men. from other ranks who had earned honours because of their bravery and eelf-sanrifico when "carrying on" with the. New Zealand unit. (Applause.)' There were members of the Madital Corps, and • representatives of that branch .of the service they all revered on the field or elsewhere, in 6ickness or in health, the Army Chaplains. (Applause.) It was his privilege and honour to give them all a good welcome home from the people of Wellington, and the people ofi New Zealand. (Applause.) He Lad 1 'few words to conveyto them, for tlieir hearts must be very full at the sight of. their dear ones. Many of them had tfome back broken and would feel 'disadvantages on that account, but it was s 'g n that they had born the brunt of<the battle, and the sympathy of the whale of the people of New Zealand would Ue some recompense for their suffering. "You boys have dono your duty nobly," said the Mayor, ' 'and I only hope that it will show others who are hanging back the way to db theirs. If there are those who see' what you have done and suffered who", go about the streets of Wellington without showing their responsibility to tfhe Empire and their wives and sisters,, without enlisting, they are not of tlra same composition as you boys. (Lotit,! applause.) We know you have done ( vour duty, aiid we hope it will be are. inspiration to others 1" (Applause.) The Mayor then introduced the Minister of Defence (Hon. ,Tas. Allen), saying that ho was a gentleman who hatf not been understood to the full, bub who had never slackened in his efforts ' on behalf of those who were going away and those in camp. i The War Spirit. The Hon. Jas. Allen said lie joined with His Worship the Mayor in welcoming them all back to New Zealand. Ho knew what it must feel to bo homo again and to meet once again their parents and next-of-kin. He also .joined with the Mayor in acknowledging that they had dono tlieir duty, and set an oxample to others. He did not think that tho Mayor meant all he said in one respect. Some of them might bo physically broken, but they had not come back broken in spirit. It was the spirit that had been engendered in this war which must bo the mainstay of this country in the future. The lives of those who had participated in tho war would bo transformed by their experiences. He did not know if they had 'read the papers during the last week or ten days, but they contained news that made every New Zealander hold his head higher.. (Applause.) \Vliat New Zealauders had dono in tho last so had involved many sacrifices, had meant many losses, and some gains which they all hoped would make up for the sad losses that had occurred.

Mr. Alien extended the wish' that they would all be happy with their kitb and kin, whom lio was sure would bo happy in having the possession of their loved ones again. (Applause.) Until the End. ' The Hon. It. M'Nab said it was not a time for lengthy speeches, hut was one for expressions of welcome. Referring to tho big actions in which New Zealand forces had played a part, Mr. M'Nab said it was news to make the blood tingle in the veins, and make them wish that they wero back again with their mates, and nerved them In. their intention to send a stream of reinforcements to them. For how long? He did not know for how long —but it must be to tho end. (Applause.) Coming direct from the theatre of war, tliey knew the work thaU was being done and where their duty lay. They (the returned men) knew • better than anyone what their mates in the trenches were doing and how clear it was that every eligible mail should enlist for the honour of his King and tile preservation of his country. Their coming back to the country ma-y be its greatest asset because of the inspiration that had been given to national life for all time. .Once more lie offered the congratulations of tho Government on their ' safe return, hoped that their scars would soon be healed, that their lives would be long and happy, and that they might be a. blessing to their people and associates* (Anplause.) . 1 ; The function was begun and ended with the National Anthem (with, Mr. Bernard Page at the organ). The Mayor very thoughtfully placed the Town Hall at the disposal of tho returned men and their next-of-kin for the whole of the afternoon, and reminded them that they could have tea' and eatables as often as they liked. Cheers were given for the returned mjn, the nurses, and the ladies who had si kindly provided tho morning tea. The returned men were also invited to make_ themselves at home at the Returned Soldiers' Club.