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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 306, 22 September 1919, Page 6

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HORORATA AND TAINUI DRAFTS ARRIVE CORDIAL RECEPTION A TRAGEDY AT SEA Thousands of people congregated on the Queen's Wharf on Saturday morning to welcome home tho returning troops on the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Hororata. The vessel arrived in the stream at 5.30 o'clock on the previous evoning, and berthed punctually at 10 a.m. Tho wharf has rarely presented a busier aspect, and at times the authorities had great difficulty in controlling the abnormal traffic. Apart altogether from the Hororata, freight wagons were attending other, ships, and while thousands lined tho wharf and endeavoured to dodge tho motor-cars as they watched the men come off, many hundreds of people were present'to farewell friends leaving by the Maheno for Sydney. ' . The Patriotic Society's Band was in attendance, and played throughout the landing operations. The Major (Mr. J. P. Luke, G'.M.G.) and tho Mayoress, together' .with a band of workers, extended to tho men ri hearty welcome and in addition to providing them with cigarettes and fruit saw to their general comfort. Every man was directed the wayto the Soldiors' Club, whore ample light refreshments wero provided for all. The disembarkation arrangements were carried out-under the direction of Obtain G.'Prictor, military landing officer, and his staff of assistants.' The total number, of men on board was approximately 1500, and every one was off the ship by 11.20 a.m. It was not possible to work a gangway for'ard of tho vessel, as she was too high out of the water, and while the two which wero placed aftwere very steep, the men found no diihculty in getting safely to the wharf. From a public point of view, the berthing of the vessel at the Queen's Wharf was a decided improvement, and a great convenience, but the authorities would »have much .preferred the King's Wharf, where the facilities for.a boat of-tho Horprata's tonnage aro decidedly better. There was a largo attendance of members of tho Motor Volunteer Corps with their cars under Captain Pryor, and the men -willingly availed themselves of this means of quick and comfortable transit,. All speak highly of the trip, and some enjoyed the voyage so much that they exDressed themselves as being in a way sorry that they had come to the end ot their journey. Calls were made at Cape Town. Durban, and Hobari. At each port the men were hospitably received, and at Durban in particular they had a wonderful time, the vessel remaining there seven days while she took in coal. When approaching New Zealand waters on September 9 tho vessel experienced rough weather, and- somo iheavy 6eas washed away the dental room, and aid considerable damage to the canteen. Train and Steamsr Arrangements, - Details for stations between Palmerston North to Wanganui and New Plymouth, and between Palmerston North to Napier and Gisborne—Thorndon Station (special train), departs 8.20 to-day. Note.-'-Theso details will detrain at PaV merslon 'North, where dinner will be pro. vided at the Department's expense,, and uroceed on- their journey as follows: Palmerston North to Wanganui and New Plymouth—Palmerston North depart 2 p.m. to-day. Beyond Wanganui to New Plymouth—'Wanganui depart 7.35, TuesSeptember IS). . Note.—Theso details will be billetca oi Wanganui. whero advised by train conducting officer. Palmerston North to Napier and, Gis> borne—Palmerston North depart 2 p.m. to-day. ' ... Note—Details for Gisborne will b6 billeted at Napier, where advised by tram ducting officer. Details for stations beyond Maaterton to Woodville detrained at Masterton, where they were billeted, and are to proceed on theii\ journey per 2.55 p.m. train from Masterton to-day. , ' Details for Palmorston North land stations beyond Marton to Auckland, including Rotorua and Thames, left by special train on Saturday. Details for Wellington to § Palmeiston Nortli and intermediate stations, not including Palmeiston North, left by train on Saturday. ' T ~ Details for stations between Lambton and Woodville, via Wairarapa, left by train on Saturday. . • Details for south of Timaru, Otago, and Southland, per 3,8. Manuka, at 7.45 p.m. to-dav. . Note-Dinner and tea will be provided at the Department's expense on Monday, September 22, at the Salvation Army Military Soldiers' Hostel, \ ivian Street, Wellington.. . Details for Picton and Blenheim, per s.s. Pateena, at noon to-day. ■Note.—Refreshments will be served at the Returned Soldiers' Club, Lambton Quay, Wellington. ■ Details for Christcluirch City, and suburbs, south" of Westport and north of ti-maru,-inclusive, left by the Monowai on Saturday night. ' - Details for north of Westport, Nelson, Motueka. and bays left- by the Nikau on Saturday afternoon. ••

ARRIVAL OF THE TAINUI SAD HAPPENING AT. SEA. At three o'clock yesterday afternoon the Shaw-Savill liner Tainui berthed at the Queen's. Wharf, and disembarked returning draft No. 283, which comprised 393 troops, 55 soldiers' wives, and 28 children. The main entrance to the wharf was blocked oil, and only next-of-kin and officials admitted at the main entrance. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.), the Mayoress, and others were in attendance and flie Patriotic Society's Band played throughout the proceedings. There was a large gathering of the general public. and the soldiers' English wives and children received a warm welcome from their next-of-kin. The wives and children certainly looked hearty and well, and were very happy at arriving safely in the homeland of their sokiicr-liiis-bands. The trip throughout was.jrery pleasant, fine weather being experienced all through. Tho vessel came via Panama and as usual all on board were hospitably received. There were a number of limbless .men on board, but all were, as usuhl, most cheerful. The Soldiers' Club was mnde (he rendezvous for all, and a willing band of la<iv workers 6aw to the comfort of both wives and soldiers. Ample supplies of refreshments, and tea were available, and the club was well patronised. No time was lost by tho men in gettiua off the ship, the disembarkation arrangements being speedily carried out by Captain G. Prictor and his assistants. There was a largo attendance of members of the Motor Volunteer Corps under Captain Pryor, and the local men were speedily conveyed to their homes

A Tragedy at Sea. The voyage of the Tninui was marred by a casualty which occurred after the vessel had left the Pannma Canal. On the morning of September 12, No. 23,<0i Tarrier-SerKNMt Joseph, New Zcaland Engineers, was lost overboard, 1 and endeavours to effect a rescue woro fruitless. Tho happenings was particularly sad, as* tho deceased's wife was accompanying him on the voyage. All 011 board" woro deeply affected'by the loss, and the sympathy felt for Mrs. Joseph was expressed in a practical manner. All 011 board contributed towards tho raising of a substantial sum, which was handed to the widow. The lute Sergeant Joseph came from Tirnaru, but has a brother living in Wellington. Train and Steamer Arrangements. All ranks must report at least half an hour beforo tho tiiuo oi' departure of the trains:— Details for stations beyond Morton to Auckland, including Uotorua and Thames —Thorndon Station (express), departs at 12.45 p.m. to-day. Note.—Refreshment.* at Returned Soldiers' Club. Lambton Quay, Wellington. Dinner will bo provided at tho Department's expense at Mnrtpn. Details for stations between Wellington and Palmerston North, and between WaiiKuuui to Now Plymouth and Napier

to Gisborne—Thorndon Station (special train) departs nt 8.20 a.m. to-day. . Note—These details will detrain at Palmerston Nortli, whero dinner will be provided at the Department's expense, and proceed oil their journey as follows: Palmerston Nortli to Wanganui and New Plymouth—Palmorston North depart pev 2 p.m. train to-day. Beyond Wanganui to New Plymouth— Vi'mißanni depart, at 7.35 a.m. on Tuesday, September 23. " 'If. Note.—Theso details will be billeted at Wanganui. where advised by train conducting; officer. Palmerston North to' Napier and Gisborne—Palmorston North oepart at 2 p.m. to-day. Note—Details for Gisborne will be billeted at Napier, where advised by train conducting officer. Details for stations between Lambton and Woodville, via Wairarapa—Lambton Station depart at 8 a.m. to-day. All rallies must report at least half ail I hour before tho time of departure of the steamers :— . Details for south of Westport, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland' per s.s. Manuka, at 7.45 p.m. to-day. Refreshments: Dinner and tea will be provided at the Department's expense at the Salvation Army Military Soldiers' Hostel, Vivian Street, Wellington. Details for north of Westport, Picton, Blenheim and Nelson, per s.s. Pateena, at noon to-day. Refreshments will be served at fhe Returned Soldiers' Club, Lambton Quay, Wellington.

THE AYRSHIRE AT LYTTELTON. MAN LOST OVERBOARD. In IK.inr. «||..--I'ri!ii* A.MllilfttlOU Christchurch, September 20. Tho troopship Ayrshire, which left Liveipool- docKs on August u, brought out a mixed draft, ot soldiers from ulte Main Body up to tho Forty-tlurd Reinforcements. \vitlt the jxccption of lour days tho trip was excipuoually smooth. The only port of cail was Colon. A sad incidenO happened just belorc reaching Colon. Pnvace Mr. jU'Njcholls, who is well knpwn in Christchurch, was lost overboard. M'Nicholls was standing at the stern of the vessel, and apparently was jerked overboard. The alarm was immediately given, and the ■ vessel was stopped. A diligent search was made lot- ,nvo hours, wiinout result. A lull inquiry was held, and tile decision of the Court was that it was'a pure accident. While the vessel was in mia-Atlantic it French sailing ship was passed, ilymg a signal of distress. Tho Aytauiro weiiO alongside, and ascertained tuat the sailing ship had beon 110 days out, and was becalmed. Tho crew wero absolutely starving. They were supplied with.an abundance of food from tho Ayrshire, and were profuse in their thanks. Speaking. in regard to the food, LieutColonel IS. 1. Narijey. of Bltham, who was in command of the troops, said that tlioy left England at when' potatoes were scarce, and tho result) was that the men had to go short of potatoes during the latter part of tho' trip. Meat and other foodstuffs were good, Gut there vas a shortago of vegetables. A good deal of latitude was' allowed tho men in tho matter of bringing out souvenirs At Colon several of the officers purchased monkeys, and tho men parrots rnd other birds, which wero safely brought out. ■Educational classes were conducted on a purely voluntary basis, and wero highly successful. Some of tho .classes wero exceptionally' well (attended. Licut'.Colonel Narbey stated that about thirty men who had been serving long terms ot imprisonment for serious offences had been put on board before leaving, and ( would bo handed' over (jo tho proper authorities lwre. Some of these men- were really bad lots, and had caused some (rouble on tho voynge. Four men hnd formed a plot to break into the kit store and rob tho kits, bul; wero caught i-ed-handed. They were sentenced to twentyeight days' detention, and deprived of their railway privileges. These men had been kept in closft detention from too time they were sentenced, but the other 'prisoners' too allowed tho froodom of tho ship.

'A draft of North Island men who arrived by the Ayrshire a(i Lyttelton reached Wellington by tho Manuka- yesterday morning. All those who live outside Wellington will leave for their respective destinations in accordance with the same arrangements, as have been made for the men who arrived by the Tainui. •