THE MAHENO'S RETURN.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1916, Page 7

THE MAHENO'S RETURN.

WELCOMED AT WELLINGTON. :NO. 1 HOSPITAL SHIP BACK PROM THE FRONT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Jan. 4. The Maheno—No. 1 hospital ship—which lias returned with sick and wounded soldiers from the Dardanelles, was expected to arrive in Wellington at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, and shortly after 9 o'clock the citizens began to assemble at the Taranaki street wharf, where the vessel was to be berthed. They were informed, however, that the hospital ship was not yet signalled and was not expected to arrive till about 1 o'clock. A notice to that effect, it transpired, had been posted up at the General Post Office, etc., but it had not been seen by the early arrivals. About 12.50 the Maheno rounded Point Halswell, and shortly after one o'clock she was alongside the wharf, where a number of officials, both civil and military, and many next-of-kin, had gathered awaiting her arrival. At the entrance to the wharf, which was barricaded and guarded by mounted constables and civil and military police to preserve a pathway for the motor-cars conveying the soldiers to the Town Hall, a large crowd had assembled, The arrival of the steamer was greeted with loud cheers, as also were the motorcars when they later on emerged to take the wounded, khaki-clad heroes to the Mayor's reception. The quayside overlooking the Taranaki Street wharf was also packed witli an enthusiastic throng of spectators. The entrance to the wharf was gay with flags; flags flew from every flagstaff in the vicinity; and streamers of bunting hung from the Town Hall tower. When she lfefit Wellington on her errand of mercy in all the glory of her fresh paint, the Maheno was indeed a picture. Yesterday, after weathering the storms of the Mediterranean and with much of the paint scrubbed from her sides by the constant rubbing of ithe lighters as the wounded were taken aboard or disembarked, the hospital ship looked nothing like such a picture, but yet, in a way, much more picturesque and much more interesting to the eye, which saw in her worn and weathered appearance evidence of the good work she has been doing for our good lads at the front. The men who lined the Maheno's decks as she drew into the wharf, had, for the most part, a bronzed, healthy lcok, but, as many of them had been some three or four months in hospital before they set out on their return and the vessel had a good, fair-weather voyag, that is not to be wondered at. Three or four men were seen on crutches, about as many more were still confined to their deck-chairs; two or three had their arms in slings; at least one was noticed with an empty sleeve; and some had bandaged heads, but the number of serious cases, happily, was not large. It was when the men came to descend the gangway that one noticed how many of the otherwise hale-looking fellows had a bad limp which showed that the enemy's shot had by no means passed them by. A number of nurses returned by the Maheno, and the neat grey uniforms with their broad red collars struck a welcome note of color as the ship came alongside.

The wounded soldiers for the Wairarapa left by the 4.30 train yesterday afternoon, and the Maheno left for the south at S p.m.

MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Hon, G. W. Russell, discussing the fact that, a number of returned soldiers by the Maheno were detained at Auckland as enteric "carriers," said only those whose cases necessitated it would be detained any length of time. ■He said it was with the greatest regret that lie felt it incumbent upon liira, as Minister of Public Health, to take the steps that had been taken in detaining and isolating men. Those precautions were only determined, on after careful consultation with Dr. Collins, the principal medical officer of the Maheno. As a mult of that consultation it was realised that no other course was open than that finally resolved upon. Arrangements were now in hand for making a complete examination of each case, and he hoped a number of the men would be discharged at an early date.