HOME FROM EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 270, 11 August 1919, Page 4

HOME FROM EGYPT

ABRIVAL OF ULIMAROA. By the time the Ulimaroa, with troops from Egypt, arrived in the stream yesterday afternoon the weather conditions, which had been very bad during the day, cleared a good deal, enabling a large crowd to assemble to give a warm welcome homo to the men, some of whom have been absent sinco 1914. The Ulimaroa lmido Auckland her first port of call, and left there at 5.10 p.m. on Friday, bringing with her about 290 men for the Wellington, Manawatu, and Wairarapa districts, as well as a considerable number for the south. The vessel also brought from Auckland a number of men who had arrived from England by the Matatua.

Tho Ulimaroa berthed at the King's Wharf shortly after 3.30 .p.m., and tho work of disembarkation was carried out in very rapid style under the supervision of Captain G. Brictor, Military Landing Officer. There was a very largo attendance of next-of-kin, and some hundreds of tho general public, induced by the favourable change in the weather, turned out to give the men a hearty reception. The Mayor and Mayoress wcr'o early on tho scene, and extended greetings to the returning warriors, to whom cigarettes ami sweets were handed. Airs appropriate to tho occasion were plnycd by the Patriotic Society's Band, and there was much cordial enthusiasm as the troops left the ship. The men looked particularly well after their long sojourn amid tho burning eands of Egypt and their arduous experiences in ejecting "Abdul" from the Holy Land. There was an excellent parade of members of the Voluntary Motor Corps, who, under the direction of Captain W\ Pryor and Mr. 11. J. Stott, speedily transported the Wellington men to their respective homos. After tho Wellington city men had disembarked, the remainder of the troops were granted leave for tho day. Details for Tauinarunui,, Palmerston North, Napier, and intermediate stations will travel by train from Thorndon Station at 8 a.m. to-day, and those for the AVairarapa and Wooclville will leave Lambton Station at the same hour. Men for Napier will detrain at Palmerston, and continue their journey at 2 p.m. the same day, while those for stations north of Mnrton will _ proceed as far as Taihape by train, leaving Marton at 7 p.m., and continue from Taihiioe to-morrow morning. Southern men will be .dispatched as follow:— For I'ieton, Blenheim, Westport, and north of Westport, per Mapourika. at noon to-day; for south of 'Westport, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, per Maori, at 7.45 p.m. to-day.