HOME FROM WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 180, 25 April 1919, Page 5

HOME FROM WAR

MAHENO IN PORT

CORINTHIC DRAFT ALSO ARRIVES

-i - Thero was some dqubt in the minds of D»uy outlookers yesterday morning when the Maheno rounded Point Halswell, as •to the identity of tho vessel. : Some arttued volub'ly that it was the Maori, "because she had two funnels," whilst •others, more correctly informed, said'that -the Maori'was not due at all that sday. The officials about the wharves soon identified the vessel as the Maheno. 'The confusion was due to the steamer .laving changed its hospital uniform for 'the original well-known Union Company Gone are the glistening white isides, the vivid crosses • intersecting the land of green, and gone is the row of little green lights which formerly ■ outlined- the. run of the main deck. The Maheno, with a' 150 "cases" for "Wellington (includiug some sorely wounded men, still classed as cot. cases) for disembarkation here berthed at the Glasgow Avliarf at 9 a.m., and the work of taking ■off the cot cases was at once: entered upon, and the others who came off were helped +o their various destinations by the members of the. Volunteer Motor Corjis.' The Monowai came alongside about a ouarter of. an hour later, with about 500 of the Corinthic's men (transhipped .at Lytteltonj. ' - 1 ■. The Patriotic Society's Band turned •out. and played lively music as the "boats were being berthed and the men landing, and the Mayor- (Mr. J. P. Luke) und Mrs. Luke tendered the soldiers a glad welcome hoiue, and <listribf iited 'cigarettes and fruit among the ihome-eomerj. ' Of the 150 men who arrived by the j&iheno, twenty were cot cases, which •were taken out .by motor ambulance ,to //the Military Hospital at Trenthain. The Returned Soldiers'. Club on Lambton 'Quay was .thrown open to ihe. newly.returned men, and hospitality was freely dispensed throughout the day. I The Auckland-men left by the express at-13.45, p.m., and the Wairarapa men l)v the afternoon trains.- The Tarauaki, Waiigaaui, and 'Bay men will leave for, their homes this morning. Tile Maheno went south Inst-evening. ; ARRIVAL OF THE lONIC. By Telegrat'h—-Association . - Auckland, April 24. The transport lonic, vhich arrived in the harbour-.last evening, was berthed, this morning at the Queen's Wharf. She brought, 49 officers, 18 nursing-sisters, 614 other ranks, IGS soldiers'-wives, and 61 children. ...!..- ; A seaplane from the New Zealand' Flying School at Kohinwrania flew over the transport and dropped messages of. welcome on board, and liberated a sackful <if confetti as, a special tribute to the , soldiers' wives. i The lonic left London' on .March 14, and Mine to New Zealand via the Panama Canal. The chief incident of . a smooth and uneventful journey was tho reception given. to( the troops in the ■canal zone, .where' the American residents'. despite the frequent and numerous calls on their hospitality, showed the 3Cew Zealand soldiers eiery considera'tion, and attended to their comfort with .-unflagging 'enthusiasm.-. The health of the troops wa,s good'throughout, the voyage, there Mug only three cot eases. The use of an. inhalation chamber successfully prevented tho advent of influenza. After' doing splendid work in Prance the Tuunellers have,returned as a com- ' unit: » under Captain It. H. Dnidv, The batch of bonny English girls who have come to New Zealand as ihe wives vf soldiers created a very favourable im- , -pression, and the spectacle of many of ( ihe "Diggers" proudly carrying 1 babies i in their arms fired the enthusiasm of Ihe waiting crowd. The young wives •were quickly made to feel' that they were truly welcome. The southern quota of the contingent was entertained .at luncheon, and -in' tho • flfiemooii were given t'lotor trios around the city and suburbs. All of the soldiers. disembarked, at. iuckiand. I'ive of, the. babi.es on the transport were, suffering from measles •.when the vessel,arrived at Auckland. - They were nil taken to the general hospital. One of them was stat»d this afternoon to he in a critical condition. ' BHAMO AT AUCKLAND. • By Teleeraali—•«>:-•* A w'atlni. Auckland, April 24. The transport Bhamo arrived in the ' at S o'clock to-night. She will berth early to-morrow morning if found' To be a clean ship.