THE JOURNEY ACROSS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 14

THE JOURNEY ACROSS.

(rito_ ont special coßßZsroNunrr.) SYDNEY, December 11. Matters wero so uncertain in -hipping circles in Wellington on Saturday last, that all were anxious about getting away. That anxiety was greatly increased when it was found that the time of departure had been postponed. from noon till 5 p.m., and again froto 5 till 11 p.m. The team were ordered on board early in the evening, but it was not at all certain if the boat would get away until Monday. However, all were relieved when, at 11.30, orders were given to get the hatches on, and a few minutes before 12 we moved away from the wharf. THE TRIP ACROSS. With the exception of Monday, each day was bright with sunshine, tempered only with the breeze made by tho motion of the boat as sho sped along, f Monday opened with rain and a wind high enough to make a choppy sea, which tested the sailing capabilities of the lads. . About half of the team had what Mark Twain called the •>Oh, myl" more or less severely, and for that day they were adejected and forlorn-looking lot. On the other days all went as merrily aa a marriage bell, the only difficulty being to find sufficient amusement to keep them out of mischief. Running, skipping, catchiug the cricket ball, and all the usual deck games were indulged in vigorously,, the only fly in the ointment being the fact that the captain would not allow cricket on deck. With

I tlio overcrowded stato of the boat, lie ■ t thought cricket -would take up too j much room. The run was accomplished lin good time, and land tvas sighted | about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, aud • there were cheerful anticipations of a j "knock" on tbe Sydney cricket ground ; that afternoon. Wo passed through tbe Heads at lunch time, and dropped anchor in Watson's Bay to wait the doctor, who camo on board almost iml mediately, and the hundreds of pas- ■ .engers, officers, and crew passed ■ slowly before him, presenting their i vaccination certificates for examination. But such is tbe "eusscdnes." of human nature that, notwithstanding tiro oft-published fact that no one would bo allowed to land from New Zealand unless vaccinated, and the further fact that in some centres of New Zealand the Union Company's officials refused to book passengers without a certificate bein*. first pre- | sonted, there were quite a number on j board who had not been operated on, and the boat was hung up until they agreed to be vaccinated, nnd bound j over to report themselves to the authoj rities for seven days to come. It j was 6.15 p.m. when the steamer was moored to the wharf, and everybody was ill-tempe.ed. ACCIDENT TO THE .MANAGER. -hiring one of the skipoing contests in which two short thick ropes tied /together were used, Orchard was struck by the knot on the leg, just above the heel, and tho leg swelled and became very painful, so much so that at the time of writing he has great difficlty in walking, and can only do by the aid of a stick. He must rest for a few days., so ho has •decided not to accompany the team to Maitland or Glen Innes, but will join it in Brisbane. He has a.p.intcd Boxshn_ as his proxy in the Northern i Districts. The team leave this after- ! noon for Maitland, and are having a j practice on the Sydney ground this ; morning; the only practice they will { get prior to the match. OUR RECEPTION. jMr Sydney Smith, the secretary of j the Board of Control, met the. team 1 at the boat, and escorted the manager jto the hotel. It was intended to give i the team an official reception, trat under the circumstances mo definite time could be fixed until the arrival of the team. The only time availi able for the function was this morning, but the manager wisely decided that the team should practice. Therefore, any function of the kind was postponed till the return of the team from Brisbane: