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[Page 117]
Prize given to those best dressed to represent any person or persons, comic or otherwise. It proved a splendid success nearly the whole of the 1st Saloon passengers competed. The dance also was very successful & the fancy dresses amused & caused much fun amongst the troops & their wives.
27 Aug.
From Port Natal 3938, to Fremantle 439 miles. Mod. breeze & sea. Having had a wireless to the effect that the seamen's strike was over & that we could obtain coal at Fremantle we lit up 7 boilers & put up a speed of 15 knots.
Aug. 29
Mod. gale, heavy squalls. Dist. from Port Natal at noon 4268½ miles from to Fremantle 109 miles. 7.20 p.m. arrived in Gage roads & dropped anchor 2 miles off the harbor of Fremantle & had orders to proceed to port at 6 a.m. A Fancy dress ball held amongst the troops & their wives in which all enjoyed themselves immensely. The dresses were lovely & proved a great success.
29 Aug.
At 6 a.m. hove up anchor & proceeded to Fremantle harbor. The Quarantine Authorities, customs, etc. came aboard & at 10 a.m. Pratque [Pratique] was granted & moored at F Shed. Leave granted to the troops, thousands of friends & relatives on the wharf & the Military band playing all kinds of airs whilst mooring & disembarking the West Australian troops & their wives. The hotels clothes closed at Fremantle & Perth yet a few troops intoxicated.