GREYTOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1943, Page 5

GREYTOWN

WELCOME HOME TO MAORI BATTALION MEMBER. (“Times-Age” Special.) The first member of the famous Maori Battalion to return to Greytown arrived on Friday by train from Wellington. On the station to welcome him were the Mayor, Mr A. W. Horton, Miss Higginson (chairman of the R.S.A.), and Messrs J. F. Thompson and H. G. Carter, as well as a large number of residents of Greytown and Papawai. A guard of Maori Home Guardsmen lined the platform as the train drew in. Private Rewi and his wife and family were accompanied from Wellington by Lieutenant H. Manihera. Welcome speeches were made by the Mayor, Miss Higginson and Messrs J. F. Thompson and H. G. Carter. Private Rewi expressed his pleasure at the cordial welcome given him. A gathering of the Maori people of Greytown. Papawai and. the surrounding district, assembled at the Papawai Pah to welcome home Private Mehaka ("Major”) Rewi in the traditional Macri custom. Speeches of welcome were made by Messrs G. To Whaiti, D. Anaru and C. Matthews, and Lieutenant Manihera. Private Rewi replied in a few well chosen words. Lieutenant-Colonel Oakeny, Major Hibbs, Captain Mitchell, Captain Lee and others were also present. There was a large gathering in the Papawai Hall in the evening, when Privates Rewi, Wallis and Montgomerie were welcomed. Speeches were made by Messrs J. F. Thompson, on behalf of the citizens of Grey town, A. Johnson, A. Gregor, Dolf Burch on behalf of the old settlers of the district, and T. Eremea, one of the oldest residents of Papawai. Mi - E. S, King, on behalf of the Pa-pawai-Greytown Tribunal War Conir mittee, presented Pte. Rewi with a cheque. TOWN HALL "DOCTOR AND DEBUTANTE.” There will be shown tomorrow night the brilliant drama, “The Doctor and the Debutante,” considered to be the best of the Dr. Kildare series of pictures. The chief characters are portrayed by Lionel Barrymore, Lew Ayres, Ann Ayars and Jean Rodgers.