REMUERA'S DRAFT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10273, 7 May 1919, Page 5

REMUERA'S DRAFT

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON

Ywsterday afternoon the Wellington and South. Island portion of the Remuera's draft of returned soldiers arrived by special train at the Thorndon station from Auckland, where they disembarked. A large number of relatives .ja-nd friends of the returning men assembled at the railway station to welcome them. Thirty motor-cars, under the command of Captain "W. Pryor, of the Motor Reserve, were in waiting to convey the men and relatives to their homes, the ferry steamer, or to billots, as required. On tho arrival of the train the Patriotic Band played appropriate airs. Mr J. R. Palmer (town clerk) represented the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke), and Mrs Murphy and Misses Clark and Bock, of the Mayoress's Patriotic Committee, distributed cigarettes and tobacco to the soldiers. The arrangements made by Captain G. Proctor, military landing officer, were such that within a short time after their arrival the men were on their way to their several destinations. Of the 365 who arrived, 264 were bound for the Canterbury and Otago districts, 19 for Nelson and Picton, and 82 have their homes in Wellington city or suburbs. The southern men were passengers by the Mararoa last night, while those for Nelson left by the Nikau at 5 o'clock. The men for Picton were billeted last night, and go forward by the Pateena. to-day.