WELCOME HOME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 8

WELCOME HOME

::' A GENIAL AND CROWDED . BECBPI'IOxV. .A very hearty reception was accorded to the 275 returned .soldiers who arrived in Wellington yesterday afterjioou. . 'J'lie crowu was so great that it -was with difficulty, that people could 'move about at all, and viewed from 'auuve'a veritable sea oi,laces met the gaze. Among those present were many troni the' Wairarapa, Alanawatu, \Yaliganui, and Tarauaki, each of which districts 'had representatives among those who were beiug welcomed home.. The voyage was a. delightful one, and the healthful effect of. the • voyage on [the-.men was shown in the - restricted number of cot cases. When they left England the complement included 100 cot cases, but there were only teilwheu Auckland was > reached,- sis of whom were for Wellington. \ '

The Mayor and Mrs. Luke were among the first to meet the men. The 'Mayoress, with a number of tier lady helpers, armed with baskets of apnles, flowers, cigarettes, and sweets, were soon busy among the 'soldiers,, who Teally appreciated the efforts of the ladies to do, them a .kindness. When ' ; the Wellington' men. were 'assembled the Maj-or addressed them briefly. He said that' each and all of them bad 'done their part nobly in the great war, and had done their best to advance At a step towards victory. He wished to extend, on, behalf of the citizens, a very hearty welcome back home to their nearest and dearest, and to those who were wounded he wished as speedy a -recovery as possible.. '

Among those present were: General Henderson, Major Fyffe, Major Corrigan, .Major. Koberts, Captains Bryan and Hill: ■"",'■'' ■■■•'• ••

i Messrs. A. S. Biss and Fox (manager of the Soldiers' Club) were also present', and extended the hospitality of. the- club to those who were able to ialie advantage thereof. ' .