She left Suez on June 11, and had good weather all the way.
The troopship had 178 soldiers on board, 132 being invalided back, the remaining number being composed of the ship's staff, non-commissioned officers returning for commissions, etc.
Most of the soldiers have been invalided through sickness, not many wounded men being on board.
There were two "lying-down'' cases - Farrier F. C. Allen (South Canterbury) and a steward named Maguire (of the ship's company), and four other cot cases - Rifleman W. Leane (Queensland), Rifleman J. Stevens (Australia), Driver W. T. Kim (Oamaru), and Private D. R. McLeay (Kihikihi, Auckland).
These four men, however, are able to get about.
All six cases were brought up to the Dunedin Hospital by the ambulance men, under the charge of Captain Bone.
Nine Niue Islanders, all invalids, are included in the ship's complement.
The men, taking them all round, appear to have benefited very much by the sea voyage.
They speak in glowing terms of their reception at Colombo, where they spent two days.
They were taken out for motor drives, treated to a luncheon at the racecourse, and given a splendid dinner at the leading hotel.
They were also hospitably entertained at Albany.
They will not be allowed to leave the steamer till this morning.
The soldiers were in charge of Lieutenant-colonel J. Hughes, C. M. G., D. S. O., who travelled from England to Suez in the Marama, and there awaited the transport.
Major Sharman is the steamer's medical officer, and Captain T. Harrison (who was in practice at Palmerston before going to the war) was in charge of the invalids.
Dr Harrison was one of the survivors from the ill-fated Marquette.
Sisters Humphries (Napier), Dodds (Dunedin), Mitchell (Wanganui), and Tuke (Auckland) were also on the vessel.
The Union Football Club's old fullback (Sergeant J. Little) came back on the Ulimaroa.
Sergeant Little's name was included in the last batch of those mentioned in despatches - these names being cabled from England.
He modestly professes to have no knowledge of how he earned the honour.
He stated that so far as he knew only men hailing from Otago were on board.
• A cablegram was received on Saturday intimating that Mr J. R. Mackenzie, late of Glenkenich Estate, Pomahaka, Otago, had on that day died suddenly at this residence, Glenroy, Victoria. During the past generation there were few studmasters more widely known in the South Island than Mr Mackenzie. The Clydevale horses, Hereford cattle, and Romney Marsh sheep bred at Glenkenich were in the very forefront of these respective breeds of stock in the dominion.
To Mr Mackenzie belonged the distinction of having selected and brought to New Zealand the Clydesdale stallion Baron Bold, now Mr James Patrick's stud horse at Lee Creek, West Taieri.
It is generally acknowledged that to the late Captain F. W. Mackenzie and his son, Mr John R. Mackenzie, who succeeded him, is mainly due the fact that in the Tapanui and adjoining districts are to be found many of the best Romney Marsh sheep and certainly the best crossbred sheep in the dominion, and the same districts have long been famous for the excellence of the breed of Clyesdale horses to be found therein.
Mr Mackenzie was in the van of the progressive farmers and stock-breeders of Otago, and until his health gave way a few years ago he took the keenest interest in the agricultural interests of the provincial district.
It was because of ill-health that he dispersed the studs at Glenkenich. - ODT, 17.7.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
