A NEW ZEALANDER’S TRAVELS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 December 1924, Page 8

A NEW ZEALANDER’S TRAVELS

IMPRESSIONS OF THE FOOTBALLERS THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR CHIEF Writing to liis friends from London on November 4, Mr F. W. Gardes, of Devon port, who is on a two years’ round of travel, says be lias thoroughly enjoyed the first few months of Ins programme. He lias already done the British laics pretty thoroughly, and shortly be will leave tor the Continent. From France he will go .to Switzerland, then to Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Germany (for four months), and Italy. Then lie will return to England. In a year’s time he will set out for China and Japan. Mr Gardes lias been travelling round with the. All Blacks for a few weeks. lie joined the team in Yorkshire, and went, with them to Durham, 'Cheshire, Birmingham and Liverpool. At Durham a very good game was played ; the match against Yorkshire was very friendly and the contest in Cheshire was a very gentlemanly game, each side showing great oensideralKin for the other. The game in Manchester against Lancashire, in marked contrast to the others, was very rough, the roughest match the visitors have had. The AH .Blanks, lie says, are creating a very fine impression everywhere, and all the members of the team arc much likod. The management is excellent, and the. men are all very loyal and obedient to Mf Deans. They carry out cheerily all his instructions, and when ho says, lie doesn’t want, them to be out at night they settle down quietly among themselves and play cards or billiards, or whatever may be their fancy. Mr Gardes thinks the team will prove victorious in all their matches, and the men themselves keep prominently in mind their own desire to take back an unbeaten record. Many invitations arc received and much hospitality is being extended, but it is not possible to accept anything like all that is pro-offered, as, with fitness for play the first consideration, numerous invitations have regretfully to be declined. Mr Gardes expects next, to see them in France. During his journey to England via the United States, Mr Gardes was astonished to find how little is {here known about New Zealand, or even its place on the map. He was asked if it was in Alaska. Not unnaturally he thinks it would be a good thing df some steps were taken to remedy this lack of knowledge. Mr Gardes was a former resident of Palmerston North and Foxton.