RETURN OF OUR CRICKETERS FROM AUSTRALIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 57, 31 July 1862, Page 3

RETURN OF OUR CRICKETERS FROM AUSTRALIA.

Under the above heading the Era of April 18 contains the following : “ On Monday evening last our plucky band of Cricketers, who, since October last, have sailed, steamed, rode, and drove over some 40,000 miles, arrived all sound and hearty back again to the shores of Old England. Eight of them arrived at Dover on Monday afternoon, and were met by Frederick Lillywhite and others, „ who forthwith bundled them into the train for London-brido-e whereat they arrived a little after 6 o’clock. There they mounted an omnibus, attached to which were four spanking greys, and with a loud hurrah and a triumphant blow of the cornopean, off they started for the Oval at Konningtou, around the outside of which they were driven at a rare bat and then witli a skill quite charming to witness, and a fine pace, amid the loud cheers of the assembled company, they were safely lauded on their much-loved Oral. They all appeared A 1 in health, and as they successively alighted from the top of the ’bus, and once more trod the renowned Kennington turf, they each and all looked as happy and as jolly as ‘ Mark Tapley.’ Need we say how they wore greeted—not a word beyond this ; it was stunning—hands were shaken, cheers were roared at them, aud answered with a will by thorn ; and when Capt. 11. H. Stephenson, Caifyn, Iddison, Mortlock, Griffith, Tom Hearne, and little Tom Sewell had all felt their feet a bit, they had to appear, first, in the Pavilion, which was forthwith stormed and filled by the outsiders on the ground; and then, to the loud and imperative demands of the vox populi, they “all had to show themselves from the top of the Pavilion steps, when there they were cheered to the very echo, repeatedly bowed their thanks for their reception, and then retired. Mudie, E. Stephenson, and Old Kent Bennett arrived in Loudon the following day. On Thursday' evening they were all nobly welcomed home by' the Surrey Club, who entertained the 10 (Laurence stops in Sydney, and Wells is on his homeward voyage in a sailing vessel) at their Annual Dinner at the Bridge-house Hotel, at which 150 guests sat down pi’csided over by H. Marshall, Esq. In replying to ‘ The Health of the Eleven Cricketers who have returned from Australia,’ Captain Stephenson said : —‘From the time they sct(foot on Australian ground, their path was strewn with flowers. They were immensely indebted to the two gentlemen who had, at the conclusion of their engagement, voluntarily placed at their disposal a sum of £550 to enable them to return to England. They have enjoyed every luxury, and people seemed to vie with each other in offering them civilities.’ On Friday evening the cricketers took a benefit at Weston’s Music-hall, Holborn, and when the ton met them at the supper-table, and, during’the interchange of well-won compliments, stated that he should have the pleasure of placing 50 guineas at the disposal of their fund.”