ATHENIC'S ARRIVAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 6

ATHENIC'S ARRIVAL

TROOPS TO LAND THIS MORNING

reception arrangements

With returning draft N°- 2 -i 0I ) board, the Shaw-Savill liner Athemo 111rivid i:i the stream at 0.45 a.m. yesterday, and will berth at 7.15 a.m. to-dny. The voyage from England, which occupied t'ortv-threo days, was uneventful, the weather being most propitious for the pr'sedition of military work and decs amusements. ~ As is usual with New Zealanders the Americans stationed in the Canal 4one k.iv.j them a wonderful reception, and entciiTancd them liberally. No effort was snar j (l to make the short stay at Colon as enioyable as possible. Along the route of the Canal.American officials and their wives assembled, and gave hearty greetings to the Mew Zealanders while magazines and basket of fruit andcigaiettns were sent oil board. Throughout the voyage tho health ot the troops and passengers was excellent, and every effort was made to maintain the comfort, of tho soldiers wives and tlie young children on board.

To-day's Reception Arrangements.

Tho reception arrangements announced; in The Dominion- on Tuesday hold good for to-day, with tho exception of tlft hour ol' berthing. The Patriotic-So-ciety's Hand, together with the Civil beivice Choir, will parade on the wharf, tho Salvation Army Band will parade in i'ost Office Square, and another band will 1m in .attendance at the Returned Soldiers' Club on Lambton Quay. At the club a committee of ladies will be in attendance to supply refreshments to all returned soldiers, their wives, and next-of-kin and ail" returned soldiers are invited to attend at the club-rooms to-day. Tho Mayjor (Mr. 3. P. Luke, C.M.G. desires that all citizens make plentiful disn'.av of bunting to-day, and trusts that us many 'people as possible will be present to give the. returning men and their wives tho reception. they so . richly deserve. Returning soldiers and their wives will be entertained at tea at tlio Town Hall at 11 o'clock to-day by the Jlnvur and Mayoress. Through the courtesy of the Eastbourne ferrv Company, 1000 children, in charge of Mr. Foster, and accompanied by the Waterside Workers Band, went out in tho ferry steamer Duchess to welcome the returning draft yesterday morning. Numerous patriotic songs were sung ami the meii obviously enjoyed the f-veeting tendered by tho scliool children. The next-of-kin were also accommodated in a special steamer supplied by tho Ferry Company, and fully. -00 people availed themselves of the trip.

Train and Boat Arrangements. In a special order, Captain G. Prictor, military landing' ollicer, announces the following arrangements for the disposal of all men other than thoso for Wellington city:— • Those for stations between Wellington anil Palmers ton North will leave by a (i-ain from Tliorndon 6tation at 4.10 p.m. Those for beyond .Marton to Tauinariiniii and also beyond Palmerston North .to Now Plymouth will leave by the same train. Those for Wairarapa will leave in a train leaving Lambton Station at 2.55 p.m. • Details for Wanganui and Taranaki will detrain at Marton Junction and will stay the night at Wanganui, leaving the next afternoon' by the New Plymouth express. Details for Napier and Gisborne will detrain at Palmerston North, where they will stay the night, proceeding to Napier on the following morning. Those men for the south, including Greymouth, will sail by the Maravoa at 7.50' p.m. to-day. Those for Nelson and district will sail bv iha Nikau early this evening. 'The Auckland men will proceed in tho Athenic. which is set down to sail at 10 o'clock to-day. _ The numbers who will proceed south are: 246 men, 37 wives, and 11 children.

MESSAGE OF WELCOME. The following message was sent by the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) to the officer commanding tho troops on tho Athenic: "We had the pleasure on Saturday last of welcoming homo a large number of 1911-15 fit men and other members of tho N.Z.E.F., and are making preparations to give you and your officers and men also a hearty welcome on arrival here. lam very glad-to know that the general state of "health of all on board is excellent, and hope that your sick and wounded will all land very much better for the voyage out."