DOMINION CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 14

DOMINION CRICKETERS.

MANSION HOUSE BREAKFAST. THE LORD MAYOR'S FAREWELL. "YOU HAVE SHOWN US HOW." [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Sept.* 24. A good deal of entertainment was crowded into the last few hours the New Zealand cricketers spent in London. On the Monday night Mr. Arthur Sims, the New Zealand veteran cricketer, who had much to do with arranging the tour, was their host. He gave a pleasant and informal dinner to his fellow-countrymen at the Princes Restaurant. Afterwards they were his guests at the performance of " The Vagabond King " at the Winter Garden. Later, the party returned to the Princes Restaurant Cabaret where the clever young New Zealand dancer, Miss Joan Beere, is performing with her partner, Doret. Mr. Douglas Hay, the manager of the team, earlier in tho day had called on the Lord Mayor, Sir Rowland Blades, to pay his respects and to bid him good-bye. Hie Lord Mayor expressed his desire to entertain tho team and asked if they could dino with him that evening. As they were to be tho guests of Mr..Sims, this was impossible. Not to be outdone in his hospitality, Sir Rowland suggested a " lightning breakfast " on the following morning and the invitation was accepted. The Lady Mayoress and her twin daughters acted as hostesses, and several friends of the Lord Mayor were also present. The Mansion House gold plate was displayed.

" You have shown us ) how to play cricket in the public interests," said tho Lord Mayor at the breakfast, when he proposed the team's health in a cup of tea. "You have played the game as it should be played," ho added, " and we want to see you again very soon." He referred to the fine, freo cricket they had played to the great enjoyment and pleasure of the spectators. They had a splendid start at Lord's and went on from strength to strength creating a fine record of " 6's." Blunt had made 2000 runs and taken 96 wickets, Dempster's runs also exceeded 2000, and Merritt, a youth of 19, had taken 170 wickets. They bad played in a sportsmanlike manner snd were justly popular throughout their stay.

Lord Jellicoe, who was also present, said that, like every other Englishman, ho had been impressed by the sportsmanlike cricket of the team. " I think," he said, " possibly our county cricket suffers a little from the championship tabla which is published so frequently. But the New Zealanders were not handicapped by any considerations of that sort, and always went for the runs. In some of their matches against the strongest teams they had every prospect of winning, especially against the champion county, and then the rain came down. They are worthy representatives of the great people of the country whence they came. Full of grit, determination, and sportsmanship, they have shown the finest spirit throughout the tour, and maintained the best traditions of their country in the Motherland."

Mr. D. Hay, manager of the team, who replied, said: " We are a small country, but we want to grow up to be a Britain in the Pacific. We only want population—men and women from the British Isles—to make us a great country."