COMEDY AT THE SHIP'S SIDE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 7

COMEDY AT THE SHIP'S SIDE.

' SCRAMBLE FOE THE MAORI. . ■One would naturally think that intending passengers by ferry boats leaving Wellington for Lyttelton would, by this time, knbw-'that; the.JlaTaroa and Maori leave this port for the south' Apparently, however, some of the public are uiider 'the impression. that a minute or two does not matter. Precisely at 8 p.m. yesterday the. gangway leading on board the-Maori was lowered to the wharf after nearly 700 passengers had gone.aboard., The vessel had oommenoed to back out!' She was well clear of the structure at the stern and the. 'midships portion (where the gangway was) was about threo feet away, ■when there was bustle and commotion among! the spectators. Presently fivo passengers (three nien and two women) made their appearance at th& wharf-side laden with-baggage. , v This they, hurled aboard ii great style. Then one of tho male passengers managed, to .scramble aboard with comparative ease. ..-He was quickly followed by another of his sex, and then came a woman. " Aiind cheers from pas--6engers>:and spectators she was bundled over the bulwarks, but' . with 1 , .difficulty. Then a man made the attempt, and succeeded with'difficulty : in getting on to the steamer. . By this time the Maori Was a. good distance' out,, but not wishing to be left behind and making a bold bid for tho deck the, last—but,by no - means , leastmember of 'the party—a woman—was about to■ make a spring for the bulwarks, when the kindly hand of a policeman saved her from wist- would have been a certain immersion.. 1 'Someone on' board shouted: "Let her come down by the Tarawera 1 ," and immediately friends 1 on board' told the friend on. the wharf "to go round to the Tarawera." "What am I to do," she cried, "I have Do '•. "Well, you won't need much to-night," Baid a standing.;by. With a look of scorn the woman surveyed tho youth for a moment, and then moved off ill;' the. '.direction.. of - the 'Tarawera—a disappointed, but no doubt a wisfer woman.