FUN AT THE SHIP'S SIDE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 7

FUN AT THE SHIP'S SIDE.

■;. THE LATE PASSENGER".,.,;/.' " \ People who had journeyed to the waterfront for their after-dinner walk last evening, and who had, found their way .'to the 'side of the Marafoa, wero : treated to an incident wliicli caused some amusement.

The post offico clock had struck 8 p.m.—the time for the Mararoa's departure.for Lyttcltoiii Tho. gangway had teen let go, and. the, doors closed and bolted, in the bulwarks. Captain.Manning was up on the flying bridge; on the side nearest; the wharf,'and the quartermaster on duty at the gangway was making things fast. . Then suddenly, a portly and elderly | personage was igaen coining down' the wharf at a sprint speed.' His overcoat was flying behind him, and generally ho showed all tho symptoms usually betrayed by a "man in nliurry." Before ho had reach-, ed tho bow.of the Mararoa, the vessel;had commenced to move .forward. Almost breathless he reached the place where ! the gangwayhad .been, and between short gasps howas heard to exclaim to the people ,'on deck; "Give me a rope! I want to get on! I'm' a passenger!" . -. ■•' ■ "Yes," replied tho nonchalant quartermaster, "by the Maori to-morrow night," and 'tho'crowd '.laughed," -' . ■'■.'■■,. Baffled, the intending passenger certain-. ly seemed'to have missed his boat, but presently a.deep voice—tho captain's— , came from * away up on the bridge: "Put, a rope over the sido and let that passenger aboard,"; it .said.'-".' . ■ '' The captain's order was at once obeyed, and after several attempts' and' much splutteritig and heavy breathing, and with tho assistance of \ friendly hands ' and shoulders amongst the crowd on the wlvarf, tho portly gentleman disappeared head first over the rail.' As his feet, were soon wriggling over the. rail, the crowd on the wharf• sent up a'cheer, and amidst hurrahs, hand clappings, and laughter tho belated passenger was landed on deck.',' . Wheu ;ho had picked himself up again,, lie leaned over the rail and called pathetically to'.'somo friends on the 'wharf: "Don't tell them about this in 1 Dunedin."