RETURNED TROOPERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 440, 12 June 1902, Page 2

RETURNED TROOPERS.

DETAILS FROM THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH.

ARRIVAL OF SEVENTY CONVALESCENTS.

The s.s. Zealandia, which arrived yesterday, brought to New Zealand sev-enty-one returned troopers from South Africa. The men are convalescents, mostly from the Sixth and Seventh Contingents, while a few were New Zealand members of the irregular forces raised in South Africa. Those belonging to the Sixth Contingent are men who were in hospital when the previous draft of the Contingent left Capetown and were unfit to travel, and they form the final batch of that regiment. With two exceptions, the men are now in splendid health, and are all very fit. The exceptions are Sergeant G. Coleman, of Wellington, who was struck by lightning while on patrol duty, and who is partially paralysed on liie right side, and Trooper D. R. Revelle, of Ashburton, who is recoverng from an attack of typhoid fever, and is now almost well. Sergeant Coleman: was unconscious for four days after being struck, but during his stay in the hospital he improved greatly, and a complete, though slow, recovery is anticipated. Lieutenant Christian, who is in charge of the draft, tens of a trooper who was blinded by lightning in Charlestown, and who recovered his sight some time later during another thunderstorm. The men left Capetown on the -ltli ult. in the troopship Aurania, along with about 1500 returning Australians. They had a fine passage across the Ind an Ocean, and again from Albany to Sydney, where they arrived 011 Monday evening last. The whole of the troops were landed at Sydney, nwd were magnificently received by the inhabitants. They, were paraded on the Tuesday, and were addressed ‘by ‘the Governor, Admiral Sir. Henry Rawson, by Mr G. IT. Reid, and by MajorGeneral Hutton, the latter oi whom spoke in very complimentary terms of the services of the Australians at the front. The New Zealanders, who formed the- rear of the procession in the march, were received with especial warmth, and up to the time oi their leaving Sydney were royally treated. The troopship was crowded, and the men behaved splendidly. A few stowaways created a bit of a disturbance which some of the others joined in, but this was sternly repressed' by the men themselves, who sentenced the offenders to various punishments—ducking, and so forth.

Lieutenant Christian does not belong to any of the contingents, having been in Africa when the war started. He has been on active service from the first few days of the war up to the beginning of last month, and has thus achieved the longest record of any New Zeal ander at present in the colony.; During the course of the war he was under fire many times, hut was never struck by a bullet, and was only incapacitated for a few weeks by a slight attack of enteric.