All Black Hockey Tour.

"Chas." Bollard's Story.

Your Editor has asked me to write a few lines on the Tour of the New Zealand Hockey Team in Australia, and, above all. to make it interesting. Well—I cannot answer for that, but I hope you may find it so.

The day after our arrival in Sydney found us 500 odd miles up country, at Casino, where two hours after arrival we played the local team, and were introduced to a type of ground unique in our experience. The average New Zealand paddock would have been a billiard table ground in comparison— hard as concrete uneven, and terribly dusty. The final touch was added by a concrete cricket pitch in the centre. It was a shock, but as the tour progressed we found it not unusual, and we soon got used to it—so much so that when, at Tenterfield, we found a man working on the ground prior to the match filling in the rabbit-holes with sand, and we expressed no surprise. They played football on these grounds, too—a solemn thought.

We found early in the tour that we were to be the recipients of overwhelming hospitality, consisting chiefly of civic receptions, dinners, and dances. In one period of ten days of our travels we played six matches, attended eight dances, and spent the other two nights in travelling distances of about 500 miles each time.

After the Queensland portion of our tour, we returned to Sydney to play Metropolitan, a splendid game, in which our opponents scored the equalising goal less than one minute from time. Next day we started on a 600 mile motor tour in the direction of Canberra, passing over the Blue Mountains, which were unfortunately heavily cloaked with fog. I was disappointed, as I wished to compare them with our own scenery. In Brisbane and Melbourne we had picnics in the bush, but such scenery as we saw was not to be compared with, our scenery here. Australia. that is, the parts I saw. seems to be destitute of any trees other than iron barks, and the eternal blue-gum.

We duly reached Canberra, after playing matches at Orange and Crookwell, and were put up at the Canberra Hotel—a wonderful place. The President of the Canberra Association, on our arrival, gave us the information that we were in for a right royal time. He told us that after the match we would have a dinner, and would then go on to the Albert Hall to a ball in our honour. He informed us that up till 11 o'clock we would have a great time, so great, in fact, that after II o'clock we probably wouldn't remember anything more. We arrived at the dinner in a state of expectancy, but our hopes were somewhat dashed. At the commencement of page 12 "the dinner the President got up and said something to this effect : "Boys, you can get as much liquor as you like on the premises, provided you pay for it." It put a new complexion on matters, as we had already had experience about the price of drinks in Canberra. The previous night one of our chaps had ordered two shandies in the lounge. He got them, but had to say good-bye to ¾ for the privelege. From what I could gather, Canberra is supposed to be "dry"—perhaps that explains the price. The ball itself was a wonderful success.

The match at Kenmore provided a humourous incident. It was played on the Mental Hospital ground, which was surrounded by hospital buildings. We were the centre of an admiring crowd, and, as usual, gave our haka before the game commenced. We were about half-way through this performance when a number of the inmate spectators started a few hakas of their own, and during the progress of the game we kept hearing snatches of hakas on all sides.

After the 600 mile motor tour we returned to Sydney to participate in the Inter-State Hockey Carnival. We played South Australia and West Australia. two teams which New Zealand had never played before. South Australia was very weak, which the score, 13 nil. indicates; but they were good sports, as. in fact, were all the teams we met in Australia. On Saturday, the 19th August, we came to the game we had all been looking for—the Test. We had had the opportunity of studying the members of the Australian team when playing in their Inter-State matches, but although we reckoned on a win, we certainly did not expect 7-nil. The game was very fast, and was a sparkling exhibition of clean hockey. Tommy Turbitt—our Canterbury-Otago friend—was at his best, and certainly made his name as a hockey player in Australia.

The Australians were terribly disappointed at the result of the match, but never in my life have I seen better losers. The Australians are great sports, and whether the score be for or against them, always play a clean game. Not once during the tour did I see a single doubtful stroke. It's a pity we cannot say the same about our club hockey.

Whilst in Melbourne I had the honour of receiving an invitation to a most enjoyable dinner given in honour of the visiting University Hockey Teams there for a tournament similar to our own.

The last game of the tour ended in a satisfactory one-all draw, New South Wales fielding a great team. We were glad we were unbeaten, and to know that we had broken all prior New Zealand" records. The previous record was held by the last New Zealand team to visit Australia—goals for during tour 109, against 15. Our record was, for 133, against 15. We also put up a record score for a single match, 18-nil.

In conclusion, I would like to mention our hosts, who were great, and did everything they could for us, our manager, Sid. Holland, to whom we willingly give all credit for the tour's success. As to the team itself. I am sure a better crowd of fellows has never travelled before, and know every member of the team who farewells future New Zealand teams for Australia will have a wistful look in his eye. and his one regret will be that he is waving farewell from the wharf instead of from the ship.