THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLED.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 58, 9 March 1906, Page 1

THE NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLED.

GUESTS OF MR AND MRS

CLIFFORD

LONDON, January 19. Once back in London from Paris the Now Zealand team soon began to disporso 7iortb, south, east, and west, all visiting friends and relations. Several stayed in London at the Manchester Hotel, and had plenty of invitations. On Tuesday morning quite a number of the team left the city. Those leffc behind attended a theatre party jin the evening. On Wednesday a party of 13, with Mr, Mrs, and the Misses (2) Clifford left by early morning train for Welbeck Abbey, in Lincolnshire, the country home and residence of the Duke of Portland. The party went by special invitation of the Duke (through Mr Clifford's agency), and were met at tho Worksop railway .station by a huge automobile, which conveyed' the whole party to the abbey through the magnificent parks and grounds belonging to tlie Duke of Portland. After an exhilarating dash in the car for 14 miles the party arrived at the mansion, and then lunched together at a huge round table of oak, attended by servants in livery, in real old English style. Afterwards his Grace came into the dining hall and shook hands all round; and then, under the guidance of tlie duke's aide-de-camp, the visitors inspected the wonderful boxes and paddocks of the duke's world-renowned stable. Amongst the horses were such celebrities as St. Simon, Carbine, William 111, Havoc, Battlefield, Erskine, and Brabazon. The greatest interest was taken in the famous New Zealand champion Carbine, who has won over £29,476 in stakes. By kind permission, the old hero was brought out from his cosy quarters to the courtyard, and was there caressed, petted, and admired generally. He looked wonderfully well, with plenty of life, and in splendid condition. The groom in charge graciously gave each one_ a few hairs from the old warrior's tail, and these were very carefully wrapped up, to be preserved as souvenirs of the occasion. After seeing brood mares and foals, and horses for racing, coaching, and breeding, all well-bred and some famous, the elaborately-kept stables were left for the splendid gardens and fountains, and these, with the general surroundings of the residence, were inspected. Then the libraries, the private chapel, and the enormous glass-roofed riding . school were passed through. After inspecting all the interesting portions of the abbey, the duke and duchess received the party in .their own sitting room, and, after hearing a few splendid gramophone records of Madame Patti's voice (kindly put on by the duchess herself), the party took their leave, having spent a most enjoyable afternoon. The motor car again conveyed the party to the railway station at Worksop. "Around the abbey, it may be mentioned, were huge forests of old oaks, .some being hundreds of years old. They looked gaunt and bare w th no leaves on. . Browsing on the fine little hillocks near the huge artificial lakes were big mobs of deer, including one large mob of the famous white deer. The deer fences were very high, and were made of ironSherwood Forest, the famous haunt of good old Robin Hood, was passed, and his huge "larder" of oak trees pointed °l-Mr and Mrs Clifford (N.Z-) have been very kind to all the members pf the team, inviting them to different theatres and pantomimes ; etc. Altogether the team can be said to be having a real jolly good time. On Thursday evening one large party of the team attended the Canterbury Theatre and received the usual ovation. Another party less numerous, as the guests of Mr and Mrs Clifford, attended the Palace Theatre, and after witnessing some of London's best talent had a "farewell supper" at the Trocadero.