THE HOME COMING

Dominion, 14 March 1919, Page 6

THE HOME COMING

« n hororata delayed by * WEATHER si u a DUE THIS EVENING ° a t RECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS J A wireless message received by tlio Defence authorities last evening elated s that i ho transport Hororata, carrying e the Main Body draft, had run into a S.W. gale, and was being delayed. It ® was doubtful if the vessel eould reach J Wellington before 7 p.m. to-day. jj The message added that a further re- ' port would bo sent by wireless at eight 11 o'clock this morning. receptionlrrangements I i THE HARBOUR DEMONSTRATION, i There was a meeting of the Main Body Reception Committee in the Mayor's room at noon yesterday. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and there were n.bout thirty or forty present representing the 'various interests concerned in • the welcome to "the first over the top." , The chairman of the Harbour Demons- , trntion Sub-Committee, Captain Paterson, reported that it was probable that , the following lioats would be available , if a ceremony could bo held in the afternoon Maori, Tutanekai,. Duchess, Kaitoa, Wairau.- Kahti, Hawera, Ka- [ puni, Pelican, Waverley, and Janie Seddon. The programme the committee had 1 outlined was ,that tiro Maori was to pick \ up the Hororata outside the Heads, and 1 escort her into port, and that no other steamers were to eo farther down the ' entrance than Ward Island. There, they would form into two lines, keeping at least 400 feet away from the transport and 400 feet away from each other (in line). The above programme was arranged before it was known that the troopship had been delayed by bad weather and would not arrive until 7 p.m. As to the use of the boats at night for tho purpose of the proposed serenade Captain Palerson said that they had been carefully into the matter, and were of oniuion'that it could not be managed. Wellington was the home port for most of the boats concerned and the sailors .did not as a rule work after 5 p.m. In view of that he was afraid that the request could not be acceded to. It was no use making arrangements, and then finding at the last moment that they could not be adhered to. He was very sorry to say it, but it was a fact—they could not guarantee that any boat would be available for the proposed serenade. General Sir Alfred Robin said that the Janie Seddon would ba available for the serenaders, if she would meet tho remiireme'its. Mr. Cr. F. Wilson said that the Janie Seddnn would do fine. About n hundred would renresnnt the Savage Club, and Commrrcial Travellers' Male Choir, and a band. The Marine Procession. The allocation of. the boats was then considered, and finally it was decided that the steamers should be allocated as follow, if an afternoon ceremony should be possible:—Maori—Next-of-kin, and Mission Band. Tutanekai—Returned Soldiers, and Tramwavs Band. Torrtwhiti-Next-nf-kin and NX Natives' Association Ba"d. Pelican—Civil Sprvice Ladies' Choir (Nn. t), and Patriotic Sricietv's Band. Wairau—Civil Service Ladies' Choir (No. 2), and Wellington Pine Band. Duchess—School children, and Salvation Army Band. Kaitoa—Boy Scouts and Wellington Waterside Workers' Band. Kalni—Patriotic workers (from Town Fall), and members of the Reception CommitteeAs tho Waverley, Ivapuni. and Hawera werp doubtful starters, they were not fully commissioned. If Ihe fleet went out the .Tanie Seddon would ioin it, with the Ministers and their friends, and members of the City Council and their wives. No accommodation was bcins provided on steamers for the general •public. Tt was staled (hat it was far bettor not to do so. the rush of 10,000 to 20.000 people, for room would be fraught with too much confusion, if not danger. A Salute of Honour. General Sir Alfrod Robin said that Colonel M'Donald was going to see that very, special honour was going to be dono the returning men by firing a salute of "blanks" as the vessel drew abreast of tho forts. That might attract a number of people to tho bays; More Motor-Cars Wantetj! When it came to the consideration of til.! part the motor-cars play in the disembarkation of the troops, Mr. .T. R. Palmer said that it was desired that all cars should pass the Customhouse Quay front of tho G.P.O. no matter to which point they were bound, as it. was the only place where the outside public could assemble in any number and give the bovs a welcome. Captain W. Pryor, of the Voluntary Motir Corps, said at once that it could not b3 dono. They could only take ton soldiers in a car, and they had 1100 soldiers to handle, at which rate they would need 110 cars, whereas they had n° .-cr had more than 70 cars available for ■ the work. It was a big job, and was going t:> tako all they could do to pull through, and anything extra they wero asked to do would upset tho whole arrangement. What they did was to make tho short trips, leaving the longer ones to Miramar, Newtown, Karori, or Petone until a little later. To do what was asked of them would take the cars double the time on the short trips. Their tiouble had been in the past that there were times when there were no cars available for a few minutes. The soldiers felt that sorely, and commenced w.ili; ; .'ig away rather than wait a lninuto or two. If the meeting could guarantee the attendance of thirty additional motorists outside the V.M.C. they would take on the round-tlio-Post Office proposal. Councillor, W. H. P. Barber said it would be a thousand pities if that part of the programme were not carried out, as it was ihe only opportunity presented to the public of seeing the men and giving them a welcome. He did not think the delay would amount to more than three minutes in any case. Quite 70 pen' cent, of the soldiers were bound to places south of tho G.P.0.. leaving only 30 per cent, or less to be distributed over Wellington North. He thought a strong effort should be made, to carry out the programme. His car was available for one. Councillor R. A. Wright agreed with Councillor Barber. He. suggested that an official of the City Council might be deputed to wait on private car owners and ask for their assistance. Councillor L. M'Kenzie: Why not appeal to the taxi owners? Mr. L. R. Partridge (V.M.C.) said that for months past their organisation had 'been one of the very best in New Zealand. They all knew now exactly what to do, and were being asked to do something' else.' They had to clear the ship within an hour. If there is any delay the' men would not wait. lvverv minute or half-minute counted. If they had the number of cars wanted they eould do what was desired, but not otherwise. Lieut.-Colonel M'Donald said that every moment mattered. They had to clear tho gliip as fast as possible.' If there were delays there was always the possibility of trouble. "We must get tho ship away to Auckland two hours after she berths here," said tho colonel. "Unless the disembarkation is done expeditiously and each man dealt with as soon as he leaves the gangway, it seriously interferes with our work." The Mayor said that ho knew all that Captain Pryor stated was true. lie moved that the committee stand by liini in securing Ihe sen-vices of twenty for the work of disembarkation." This means that, if tho taxis can be secured, all the cars on Saturday afternoon will pass through the Post Office Square, en route for their destinations, no matter where tlie.v may be. The members of the Civil Scrvice Ladies' Choir are being supplied with tickets that will admit them to the next-of-kin enclosure on tho wharf to-mor--1 row. Another Meetinn This Morning, i In view of the delay to the Hororata tho Reception Committee is being called

together at 10 a.m. to-day. Providing tho steamer does not arrive until 7 o'clock this eveniug, tho arrangements for the marine procession cannot very well bo carried out ill detail. There may be two or tlireo boats to go out and meat tho transport, but not sufficient to make the spectacle contemplated. The serenade may take place, as it may possibly be, rj arranged for somo of the boats to circle round the vessel either in the morning or afternoon. Tlw whole position will bo discussed at an emergency meeting to bo held in the Mayor's room at 10 o'clock this (i morning, when more exact information as to the time of tho Hororata's arrival should bo available. j Tho time of embarkation of returned t soldiers on the Tutanekai will be posted t outside the clubhouse. ' o The troops returning on tho Hororata n and thoir next-of-kin and returned sol- j diers and their next-of-kin are invited by f tho Mayor and Mayoress to a welcome to s be held in tho Town Hall on Saturday 1 night at 8 o'clock. c The chorus members of the Savage < Club arc asked to assemble on board tho t Janie Seddon at the Ferry Wharf at 7.30 ' this evening for the purpose of participat- il ihg 'in tho reception of the Main Body f men who are arriving by the Hororata. j THE SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS < NO HOLIDAY TO-DAY. ! As arranged at the meeting of the com- , mitt.ee yesterday, . tho ferry steamer Duchess has been reserved for Standard VI pupils of the city public schools, with teacher's in charge. It is regretted that the available space thus limits tho numbers. Owing to the lato arrival of the vessel the arrangements for Friday will hold good for Saturday, with such modifi- ! cations as the committee may make at the meeting to-day. Any alterations de- ' cided will bo communicated to the Press after the meeting. The work of the schools will proceed as usual to-day. The Salvation Army Band has volunteered to accompany tho children.