HOMEWARD BOUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18963, 10 March 1925, Page 12

HOMEWARD BOUND.

THE ALL BLACKS SAIL. FAREWELL TO ENGLAND. THE SCENE AT LIVERPOOL. [from oi'P. own COltllßsl'if.N DENT. J ; LONDON. Jan. When the All Blacks left Horner.-, Hotel, on Saturday, more than one of the. page boy.-, had to wipe a teal' away. I here wus v no demonstration at the hotel, however. The team drove to Kustoii station in a motor-bus ami several taxi-cabs, leaving about twenty live minutes for farewells on tho platform. Several hundred people had assembled to sec the party oil. Sjwrlsmen were there and New Zealanders, but there were litany private triends of tho player.- as well, and, judging by the mun.'ro'is good-bye kisses, many rel-i----tives whom the New- Zealanders had met for the first time in England. _ There were some tears, and perhaps a few sore hearts.

There were no formal speeches- Eact) man was too busy with his own group of friends and admirers, and even the time available seemed too short for all the last things to be said. There was a general scramble when the guard called out "Take your scats, please," and one player who was especially overwhelmed by the number and quality of his good-byes climbed in through the window as the train began to move.

Some New Zealand ladies who happen to be staying at Berners Hotel had made up a bunch of heather decorated with black and white ribbons for each member of the team, and Mrs. A. E. Roberts presented Mr. D«m with a mascot doll dressed as an Ail Black in foothill outfit. Autograph hunters had seized their last, opportunity to satisfy their passion, and the footballers very good naturedFy complied with the many requests to sign their names. A few last photographs were taken, and there were hundreds of hand shakes, "good lucks" and "kla oras," and after the scramble to board the train- -which got away ten minutes late—the thrilling three cheers from the team and tho answering cheers from the crowd of several hundred people. As the many New Zealanders resident in London walked back up tho long platform after the train had passed on its way to the north, they doubtless felt a glow of pleasure that their countrymen had been able to make such a name for themselves and create such genuine feelings of admiration among the sportsmen of this country. Sir James Allen expressed this feeling as he returned to his car. "It., is not the number of matches they have won," lie said, "that is so gratifying, but. it is the impression they have left on the people of tho country by their general conduct wherever they have gone." At 4.30 the team arrived at Liverpool and went straight, down to the steamer Montlaurier. The whole party met on the upper deck where they received the Lord Mayor, Alderman 'l'. Dowel, and tlie Lady Mayoress. In wishing the New Zealanders "bon voyage," the Mayor congratulated them on their wonderful record. Mr. Dean, replying, said they had had a wonderful time in the Mother Country, and were, in one sense, sorry to leave, but they were looking forward to rejoining their own kith and kin. They had met many excellent sportsmen and made many friendships, which they hoped to renew in the future by a visit from a British team. At 5.50 the vessel moved out from the quay, and the wharf workers twice called for three cheers for New Zealand. The team responded with cheers and with tho Maori haka. Then the strains of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," played on a tin whistle, came from a musician on the wharf, and more war cries floated across the water and a chorus which seemed to have reference to the Sahara.

_ Before leaving Berners Hotel a little time was found to make fhree presentations. The, first was to Mr. and Mrs. Wray as a token of appreciation for their kindness to the team from their arrival and right throughout the tour. Mrs. Wray received a piece of plate and .Mr. Wray an enlarged and autographed photograph of the team. Mrs. Wrav, in thanking the team, said that in September, 1924, she had no children, but now she had a family of twenty-nine very strong boys. A silver rose-bowl was presented to Mr, and Mrs. Bonsor. Mr. Bonsor, on behalf of his firm (Messrs. T. H. Hamer and Co.) has given unremitting personal attention to the travel arrangements. Another pie sentation was to Mr. Fawcett. who had been with the team in a multiple capacity of trainer, luggage superintendent, and assistant to the manager.