RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1919, Page 5

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

THE TRANSPORT PAKEHA. FATAL QUARREL ON BOARD. By Telegraph.—lVess At.sn.—Copyrljht. Wellington, Last Night. Tlio troopship Pokeha arrived in the stream about 2 p.m. and berthed at 4.30 p.m. Though the evenieg was wet and extremely cold, several thousand people assembled to meet the returned lien. The Wellington Motor Volunteer Corpß did good work in taking the men to theii destinations. The Auckland men left by a special train at 7.15 pjn., and the aouthern men left by the Maori, the Marlborough, Nelson, and Weit Coast contingent being taken by the Pateena, which was held until 6.30 for the purpose. The Pakeha remained at Newport News for live days to coal, and during that time the men went into a bij; American camp, where they were housed in spacious and well built hutmcnU. The vessel was six hours at Colon, where the men were hospitably treated by the residents.

Tho arrival of the transport in the Dominion was saddened by an accident which occurred on board on Thureday. It appears that two soldiers got into heated argument on the main deck, and eventually came to blows, in whicli Regimental Sergeant-major Samuel Stanley Choate, of Christchurch, fell heavily, the back of his head crashing on the side ct an iron winch. Choate's skull was fractured, and he died almost immediately. The other man concerned in the dispute was placed under arrest, and a courtmartial will be held.