N.Z. Cricket Team on Tour

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 52, 24 May 1927, Page 12

N.Z. Cricket Team on Tour

THE TRIP TO ENGLAND IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA (By MID-OFF) NEW YORK, April 22. The trip across the Pacific was a most successful one in every way. Socially. it was largely due to our worthy secretary, “Herbie” McGirr, who was a host in himself. “Herbie” must have walked a few miles on the trip across. He was never idle, and to show how his work was appreciated, the passengers made him a presentation the last day at sea. On the morning of “Good Friday” we were all aroused very early by the stewards, who told us we were within sight of the Golden Gate—the entrance to San Francisco. It was just on G a.m. when we berthed. After passing the doctor we had a taste of the American Customs’ methods. We were made to turn our luggage inside out, and the delay was most exasperating. The air was pretty thick before we had finished. MEET THE REPORTERS Then we were met by a team of reporters, who wanted news, and a photo of the team. We gave them all we knew regarding news. Some of the boys did a little gentle leg-pulling. One of the party capped everything by saying he was a ranch-owner from Albert Park, Auckland! The first thing that came under our notice in San Francisco was how well catered for this city was for playing fields. Every ground we passed was a mass of young folks wielding baseball sticks, or playing some sort of game. We left ’Frisco at midnight for a three days’ train journey. The run up to Toronto was very tiresome for the first day, the scenery being very poor, but from New Mexico the country became something similar to our own. Most of the land was under water in parts, on account of the heavy floods. We arrived at Toronto at about 8.30 a.m. on the morning of April 20, and after a short stay took train again for the Niagara Falls. It was only an hour’s run, for which we gave thanks. We seemed to be living in the trains. We arrived at the Falls at 4 p.m. Words cannot express the magnificence of the scene. We waited till night time and were very much rewarded. The Falls are all lighted at night time, which makes a very fine sight. IN NEW YORK After a good day we left for the big “smoke,” New York, which we reached next morning. Everyone was glad to get to the hotel, and be able to get a hot bath, and a good night’s rest. During the day we did a few of the sights of the town, the principal one being the Woolworth Building. This huge structure is the largest in the world. We all got to the tower and saw the most wonderful sight I have

ever seen. I think the height of this building is 720 ft. One thing that took our notice was the number of lifts in operation, and all manned by young women. On the afternoon of our brief stay in the “States,” we were all anxious to see a game of baseball, and to our delight we got news that there was a game on, so off we made to the ground. For most of us, it was our first game. I was delighted at the performance, but most of the boys did not care for it. I think that was because of not knowing the finer points of the game. The crowds get very excited, the women especially. It reminded me of our fotball crowd. The game over, we all made our way to our hotel, some of us losing one another in the crowd, but all managing to find our way home. The next stage of our trip is across the Atlantic, of which more anon.