RETURNED SOLDIERS HONOURED
SOCIAL AT PUKETERAKI
There was a large gathering in the Huirapa Hall, Puketeraki, on Friday night, when a social was held in honour of Private George Woods, who left New Zealand with the First Maori Contingent, and returned on Sunday week, after serving his King and country for nearly four years. The residents of Puketeraki and Karitane, both Maoris and Europeans, take a keen interest in the soldiers belonging to the district, and for a considerable time a Reception Committee has been in existence to accord a suitable farewell to men leaving for active service and to extend a welcome to them on their return. This committee has been heartily supported by the community, and already more than L100 has been spent in making presentations to those who have joined the colours. Mr J. M. Ellison presided, and amongst those present were visitors from Waikouaiti and Dunedin and about half a dozen returned soldiers, who received a very warm welcome. The arrangements made for the entertainment of the gathering were all that could be desired, with the result that a very happy time was spent. In opening the proceedings, Mr Ellison stated that the district had supplied 20 soldiers out of 70 adults in the community. He thought that was an excellent record for such a small place. The Maoris who had been on service had worthily upheld the noblest traditions of the race, and had shown that they had inherited the courage, devotion to duty, and love of freedom and justice which had been outstanding features in the character of their ancestors. After expressing pleasure at seeing other returned soldiers present, Mr Ellison paid a tribute to the qualities of Private Woods as a soldier and a man, and extended a hearty welcome to him after a long period of strenuous service worthily performed.
Mr H. Parata also extended a warm welcome to the guest of the evening. He mentioned that out of 518 men who left New Zealand with the first Maori Contingent on February 14, 1915, only 72 had returned so far. No doubt others would return later, but unfortunately many had made the supreme sacrifice. The speaker made feeling reference to the bereavements in Private Woods' family during his absence, his father, one of his sisters, and two brothers having died while he was helping to crush the Huns.
Speeches of welcome were also made by Mr T. McLachlan. Mr F. H. Francis, Private Walker (who returned from the war at the same time as Private Woods), and Mr Waraka Weka (who spoke in Maori, his remarks being translated by the chairman). Mr Ellison then presented Private Woods with a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed, as a token of the esteem in which he is held and as a mark of appreciation of his valuable services to the Empire.
Private Woods gave a modest speech in reply. He made light of the dangers which had faced him, and expressed thankfulness that he had been in a position to take up arms in such a worthy cause.
Most of the remainder of the time was spent in dancing, and the pleasure of the gathering was increased by a number of musical items, which were highly appreciated. Songs were given by Private Walker, Private Woods, Mr Jackson, Mr Tipa, and Mr Sinclair McIntosh, a duet by Misses L. Woods and Miss Te Tau, a violin solo by Miss McGeorge, a poi dance, a Gallipoli Maori haka by the Puketeraki Concert Party, and a Maori haka by the Puketeraki boys. The proceedings terminated about 1.30 a.m. -OW, 22/1/1919.
Private George Woods, who left New Zealand with the Maori Pioneer Battalion (Main Body), died in the Dunedin Hospital on Thursday evening. The funeral took place at the Karitane Cemetery this afternoon, and a party of about 28 soldiers from the Hospital, under the charge of the Rev. V. Q. Bryan King, attended, and with other soldiers from Puketeraki and district supplied the firing party. The Rev. E. J. Neale read the service at the graveside. and the Last Post was sounded by Sergeant Robertson. The death of Private Woods is very sad, as a brother died shortly after his return from the war about 12 months ago. Private Woods was a member of one of the oldest and best-known Maori families in the Puketeraki district. -Evening Side, 13/12/1919.
George Woods left New Zealand in October, 1914, and returned in January, 1919. He was hospitalised on Gallipoli with diarrhoea - a common complaint on the Peninsula - and also with influenza in 1917. In 1918, it was with infected lymph glands in his neck, eventually diagnosed as tuberculosis.
After his return to New Zealand, George was enrolled as a patient at the Pleasant Valley TB sanatorium near Palmerston in February 1919. He did not leave it alive.
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