TRIP AT NINETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 11

TRIP AT NINETY

"GLAI) TO BE HOME" PARLIAMENTARY VETERAN ROMANCE OF ENGLAND GONE "Very glad to bo home again," said (lie veteran Gentleman I slier of the Black Hod, Mr. A. T. Bothamley, on his arrival by the Awatea yesterday after a visit to Kngland. Mr. Bothamley, who is 90 years old, occupies a unique place in New Zealand Parliamentary history, having been connected with the Legislature for 65 years and he has held the position of Black Hod for II years. His visit to Kngland, which was his first since 101 1. was made with bis daughter. Miss P. Bothamley. "Kngland is spoiled," Mr. Bothamley said, "London has spread out and the little villages that surrounded it. even !■"> miles out, have been swallowed up in rows of grimy houses. It is the same everywhere. We went to Land's Knd and found a big hotel had been built there. All the romance is gone." Mr. Bothamley visited Temple Grove School, which he attended in 1854 and of which he is the oldest living old boy, but he confessed he had not been near the Houses of Parliament. Ho paid a visit to the New South "Wales legislature, however, on his way home, and met the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Sir Daniel Levy, whoso acquaintance he had previously made in Wellington. Auckland looked very beautiful in yesterday morning's sunlight, as the Awatea sailed up the harbour, but Mr. Bothamley thinks the same about its expansion as about the growth of London. "it looked still better when I first saw it in 18(5!)," he said. "You could see all the volcano cones dotted about then, but they are hardly visible now."

Jt, was a very welcome sight, however, he said. His trip abroad had been beneficial and remarkably good weather had been experienced, both coming and going, but he was glad to be back and lie would not travel abroad again.