THE WILLOCHHA REACHES WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3983, 16 July 1915, Page 5

THE WILLOCHHA REACHES WELLINGTON.

WOUNDED WELCOMED I3Y THE PREMIER.

IMMENSE CROWD AT THE WHARVES.

MEN IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS. (Press Association Telegram.j WELLINGTON, July 15. The -s.s. Willochra arrived in port last night, bringing 273 New Zealand officers and men from Gallipoli. The oases on. board are scheduled as follows: —Invalids, 4 officers and 106 men; wounded, 8 officers and 155 men, 25 of which are stretcher cases. Early this morning tho Ministers for Defence and Public Health visited the ship, when the men were medically examined, paid, and arrangements made for their despatch to tlieir iiornes. Later the Premier went aboard and welcomed the wounded, who are in charge of Captain Mitchell, medical officer, and! Major McKenzie, military officer, and a medical staff,-assisted by eight Australian nursing sisters, of whose- good work the men speak in the highest praise. Except for the intense heat- in the Red Sea, the voyage was most delightful, and served to set men up in a most wonderful manner, many wounds healing most satisfactorily. The only one aboard who has lost a hmb is Lieutenant Peake, of Cambridge, who is without his right arm. Tho men look remarkably well and are in excellent spirits. The town is gaily decorated with bunting, and there is an immense crowd at the wharves in anticipation of the ship being berthed at Glasgow wharf at 2 o’clock. DESCRIPTION OF THE HOME GORING. STREETS LiXT.i) \ViT:i-C ! I FIRING. CROWDS. FLOWERS THRU X 0 Tll Id HEROES. ' WELLINGTON, Ju'y 15. The city was ready on b. iia.i <4 herself anil the Dominion to ffDing.y receive tlio men. Bunting floated from every public building. Every ship in harbor had streamers. Flags oil the Town Hall gaily Haunted. There were many long strings of gay flags from every pinnacle, and they also extended down the front of the buildings and across the streets. I lie day was observed as a half-holiday ior the schools and the Public Service, and for’ most shops and business places generally. Crowds were in the street an hour before 2 o’clock, and the route- was heavily lined, all the way. Tho wharves were laden. Glasgow wharf was reserved for next-of-kin of soldiers, numbering about 2000. As the- Wiliochru rounded the outer too of the wharf, ‘'Home, Sweet Home’’ waited out to them from a band on the wharf. Then arose great bursts of cheering from the Glasgow wharf. The liner came alongside, and the relatives of the men in tneir anxiety burst the barriers and shouted welcomes as they rushed down tne wharf. The arrangements for the procession were excellent. Soon a long line of motor cars bearum the soldiers were ready to proceed to the Town Hall.

Headed by the Salvation Army Band, the procession set off through a dense mass of people. Every vantage point along the route was packed. The enthusiasm of the crowds was unmistakable. Cheering people waved flags here and there and flowers were tossed into the motor ears. The men themselves seemed to enjoy the homecoming very much. RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL. KITH RING SPEECHES BY THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS. EPOCH !N THE HISTORY OF THE dominion. WELCOME HOME 7 TO THE MOST \\ ELCOME SPOT ON EARTH. WELCOME SPOT IN THE WORLD. When all the returned soldiers hail entered the [own Hall, the Mayoi (Mr J. P. Luke) addressed them. “Soldiers from'the fighting line and those that have been invalided," he said, “to-day marks an epoch in the history of the- Dominion. On this memorable occasion we welcome you back home and tender you our admiration and thanks for your work donein the interests of New Zealand and of the British Empire. You. have heroically engaged the enemy in the fighting line. I will not take npj-your timo making speeches this afternoon, but. I want to say some words of wolconic. I «isic you to boor in mind the memory of those who have not been so successful as the soldiers returned to-day—the sons of New Zealand who have laid down their lives in the interest of the whole people of the Empire. We should not- be unmindful of the wives, mothers or sweethearts of those who liaa c succumbed.. All honor to their memory. Now Zealand will always respect the memory of those who gave their lives in this great- war. We -welcome you all home to the most welcome spot m the world. The-whole people of New Zealand are receiving you to-day. Wo are not here in the name of Wellington only. You will have a hearty welcome from every mnn, woman oikl child in the country, who will see that those who have offered their lives do not want. I have received many messages to give you and all express the finest appreciation of your work. Mr Luke then read a telegram from Mr A. M. Myers, on behalf of tho Mayor of Auckland, welcoming the courageous soldiers who were returning that day. His Excellency the Governor was the next speaker. “Fellow-citizens,” he said, “as a soldier, my address will be short. As tho representative of llis Majesty the King I want to welcome you back to these shores. I speak personally as a soldier to soldiers. We are all proud of what you have done and. of the name you have earned for Now Zealhud. ‘You have come back with your minds enlarged and your ideas broadened in respect to matters and people. I should like to have a chat with every one of you. As the Mayoi said, the citizens have given you a royal welcome, not only from the capital city but from every town, village and district of New Zealand. You have seen the enthusiasm with which they have greeted those who suffer in a righteous cause, and lo» them we are glad td see you home once more. I have been on active service and know what it is to be home again. I hope that all in the room will soon be well again, surrounded .as theypave with kind relations and friends That !s all I have to say. May tlie best of luck go with you wherever you go. Ivlr Luke rose to say that he omitted to mention the Australian nurses who had cared for the men on the voyage, and expressed his appreciation of thengood work. , , “I am sorry that I cannot address you as fellow-soldiers,” said the Prune Minister (the Right Hon. W. • F. "Massey). “I can only, say : Soldiers of the King, I join with the Mayor and the Governor in a hearty ‘welcome to you all. We on the platform 1 speak for the whole country mdividu- ' ally and collectively, and extend the

heartiest welcome it is possible to convey. Only a few months ago you were sent off from this city, and it was predicted that you would do your duty and do credit to yourselves and us. You have done all these. (Applause.) You have not been found wanting. You have proved yourselves good men and good soldiers, worthy descendants of your ancestors, who, under the great captains of past years, founded the Empire. Wo are bound to protect you. You went away gay, bright-faced, and liappy. You have.come back gay but battlescarred, scars to which you will be able to point at some future day as received when Germany tried to smash Great Britain, which is being preserved by the courage and heroism of her soldiers and the self-sacrifice and! patriot ism of iu-r citizens. Tho battle of Gallipoli will go down in history as one in which our soldiers fought ag-

[ iiin.st grout odds. When the war came New Zealand took up tko burden of Empire, ami ' she will never _ lay it down. We mourn and will never cease to mourn for tlio fallen. Our sympathies go out to tOieir relatives, but we will light on, and intend to do so till the war ends and a peace proclaimed satisfactory to Great Britain and her Allies. That is the position. W • do honor to the brave men lighting for us on the other of the world. I endorse what the .Mayor said about the nurses. I went on board and spoke to the men, who spoke of them in the highest possible terms. They were glad to get home. Yes, but they were sorry to leave the ship and the nurses. ' I thank the nurses on behalf of the country for taking such good care of our men, and when tne war is over and their duty done, i hope they will cast in their Jot with Xew Zealand. I say to the soldiers in conclusion: You have come buck to your city and your friends, and I wish you many years of health and happiness. The Minister for Defence (Bon. James Allen) read a telegram of congratulations from the Mayor of Hokitika. ‘ I have not many words to say,” he said. "I am glad to see the wounded men hack again. Mould that you could come back withoutwounds. lam sure you u ish tnut von were rid of your wounds and bac.e again in the trendies. I know how the parents and next-of-kin. in welcoming you hack New Zealand joins in this welcome. _ Mu; is jrrateful to the (apta i n and crew or uie WillocTira as well as to the nurses who brought you back in safety. Captain W'-Me's* cheerv manner must have done you all good. 1 hope these that })‘.i v(* come hack will settle vloa si. 1 on.c rnav have the opportunity to again their country. and this time I iiono they will serve without wounes. j wish you all a good time, and can. fully understand your parents grati iieation in having you home again. t Sir Joseph Ward was received witn a tremendous burst of applause whic.i continued for some time. ‘A our Worship the Mayor. Your Excellency the Governor, ladies and gentlemen, and soldiers of the King.” he said. “i do want from the dent ns ot mv heait to extend a warm welcome to the men who have returned to Now Zealand to-dav. The one reeling swaying the Dominion from end to end is oi profound pride in the work her men have done. This is the most glorious epoch in the history of the New Zealand The rem*esentative or the King, the head of the Government. Ministers of the Crown. Members of Parliament. the Mayor and citizens have assembled to pay a tribute to tm sokliers’ work. What has occurred will never be effaced m our history. The deeds performed at Gallipoli, m mv opinion, stand unrivalled m the w;ir—(applause)—in any country in tiio world. It i> a supreme satisfaction that New Zealand iecG in welcoming those New Zealand.rwho have fought and returned. V V regret that some of their comradehave fallen, but we leei tnat ta-c men are not only a credit- to Ne Zealand Put to themseives. Tliev uiU leave Or. ir individual mark for future youths to by reference to them tne grand way in which they discnargc-t. their dutv und added to tne tracitions nf i heir forefathers. We recognise that blood has been .. spi.y. but it has not been spilt m vain. We bare put our hands to the plough, and will never desist till freedom and liberty are obtained. I, too want to pay a tribute to the nurses. Eiglitv wounded men tti*. carried on to tlie Willoclira, but only fifteen were carried ashore. Tne energy of the nurses and tiie physicale of "the New Zealand have enabled them to work successfully on these magnificent specimens of the human race. I hope that the men on their return will find their dear ones alive ana well to welcome them, and that- wounded will be soon restored to health. T wish them long and happy lives. Their great work on behalt ot tme Empire will ever be remembered. (Applause.) Three resounding cheers wore given for the soldiers at the call of tne Mayor, and the men themselves gave three cheers for the Australians.