LEFT ON THE CARS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 6 March 1913, Page 4

LEFT ON THE CARS.

ABSENT-MINDED PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. "Do you know the value of a genuine Blackthorn, stick? Why, you could sell it for a guinea—to a Hibernian! Como along! Only a shilling for four sticks. One and three, thank you! One and six, going at one and six—yours, madam 1" The auctioneer was Mr. James Doyle, City Inspector, and the goods he was literally "throwing away" were the annual accumulation of all manner of articles which had been left on tramcars in Wellington during the past year. The litter which covered the front of the stage of tho Town Hall Concert Chamber testified to the extraordinarily large number of people who are liable to attacks ol absence of mind on tramcars, One can find plenty of excuses for a person whoso handkerchief drops out of pocket, or even ono who omits to pay his-fare, but is there any for one who leaves a [jieat wire skirt frame nearly four feet liigii on a car, or largo baskets full of miscellaneous clotnes? \\ luu a great deal of conjecture such an array of goods must, lime cost their renpectm' owners! How few apparently ever remember that they boarded the car plus something, and left it minus. In the piles of goods sold lor less than a song yesterday by Mr. Dcylo were three or four dozeu string bugs, kits, baskets, and brief, bags, mounds of clothes, from undarned socks to hobblo skirts, ami dainty lingerie. Umbrellas are made to be lost, and one of the easiest places to lose tlicm is on a tramear. The Icily places her umbrella on the seat, or sUmts it in tho corner whilst she extricates lior faro from a puzzle purse, and then noting her destination outside, hops oil quickly, in response to tho conductor's "Hurry, please!" and goes away without a parting thought for the deserted gamp. Out of about three dozen umbrellas only three were of the lnuscitline order. bundles of four were sold for a shilling and one and sixpence, and ill several cases genuine bargains were secured.

A brown fur mtill', almost new, was bought for I*. Od., mid a largo I virionable sealolto muff, with o (loop fringe—u very soulful articlo of apparel—went for one-aml-ninopence. The truthful aue. tionoer said it was worth u guinea of anyone's money.

The lesson of the sale was very plain. If a person cannot account for the loss ot an article, apply at tho tramways otlicc. It is almost sine to lie there.