RETURNING MAORI TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 103, 25 January 1919, Page 8

RETURNING MAORI TROOPS

i " TO LAND AT GISBQB-JvE

'By Telcgraph-rreßS Association. : Clsborne, January 24. 'Arrangements have been made, for the transport with tho Maori pioneer *■ battalion, expected in March, to land ! her troops-at .' This. coricesf sioA is "being inade because the eastern ' - Maori districts supplied more than half !■ :'.the"<"NativesVsent to :th6 war. , t *: The Native people on the East Coast ' are> preparing a great liui for tlio en- : tertainment. of the. returning soldiers, and a fitting wolcoine in accordance I:' with.'the' Maoriycustom.r " -J,.

' It is expecte'd" that over 1200' Maoris . will'come iri the! first ship, and it is ' the second .ship with the bal- ! anco of 600 will also bo dispatched to

• Gisborne: ' ■ . . : !'•.> The Maoris jnll'-be;'received 'at_ Gisborne by> the ' Aoting-Primev Minister, . • the Native. Minister, and ofKtr mr.m- , hers of tho Executive.

. Captain Pitt, secretary of tho execui tive of the Maori Soldiers' Fund, to augment which a-big function,is to be i held in March, announced that about twelve. ; hundrcd of itho Maori Pioneer

Battalion will land at Gisborne from i England..lf the second transport of 800 Maoris arrives.at .the 1 same ■.time.

/both . will disembark at Gisborne in 1 March. • Arrangements- are :Already •••• being made for welcoming the soldiers.