FLOTSAM & JETSAM

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2181, 20 June 1914, Page 6

FLOTSAM & JETSAM

PICKINGS HERE. & THERE

THE UNCONSiDEft&D TBIFLE

[By Ata Ata.]

"Exeuso me, sir," said Stevens, the steward, 'to the Clubman drowsing in front of a mUejuberod fire, "I think I'd better put a littlo ffiote coal on." And Stevens put- on the "Mttle moro coal," which was indeed « prodigal helping. The qnictnido <if the elioering rotl embers was soon dissipated,' A roaring blasso swept wp the chimney. The C-ltib.ina.n niado some remark like "coiifoanderJly hot," and withdrew his chair a pa«;c. Tben ho drowsed in comfort once again.

Ciank-elank-olank-clank!' A merry song the collier IC-anio's winches 4tre singing, Coal baskets tan a gasißg hold are quickly rising; a swing in mid-air and a suspension of the winch's song. Then a elatteMjlattor note from the tackle- as the basket is lowered away and its contents tipped into the waiting wagon. At last the wa-goner k ■satisfied with the quantity of his load j a convex-topped Mack wound fl-fl-i : | tests tlio asies of tlje dray. Leisureiy lie gathers up the reins and the wagon rumbles through the gateway of Taranaki Street Wharf. A jolt; and many of tho nuggets patter on t'e the timbers of the whatf'ond". Tlieio are watc-nei's ouUMb the gates : vs'hoin those miggots are indeed: capitalised 'Wetcanie. But tlio authorities forbkl such eoliee-' tion on Harbour Board pfspertS',: those are, not the perquisites of tire poor. But ; the roadway is free to all 3 tlie roadway also is riot .smooth; and laVehdown tlio muddy vnts tliewagoii eprink-ic-s » be-unty.- ft is net long unciainiod. Two waifs of bays dart upon the ceal liinips with haivk-Mke speed. Aiva.yto their barrow, and -a CjiiieK re* turn in the wagon's ti-'aeits once moretThey ftliproarfi a patch where a seedylffoking old mail is fossicking: ho. re* eeives their company surlily. Age cannot compote here with, niin-bid youtii, and although Ms eoat pockets" are sagging enoii si-do with to weight of small pieces "collestec! there is st'ilf room for more. A glint of greed appears in his eyes as ho pmiaiscs .upon a, triflfi partly mud covered. He prospects tho spot for farther" of the fallen fuel And so the quest goes on till the .carts cease their rumbling. Behind it all stalks the pinch of poverty: the comfortable economist's prattle on the Cast or Living.

A fcard- blue sky ftarlsM m£h-south-ward, scudding •©limdis; • a- blustering northerly rippling, tile Waters of Oriental Bay into ft'MtfriflrcsW lines 1 of tiny billows, fossinn; along on the watfe sma*»»s, .ami ar'tjw flotsam and jrtsam of.Port Nicholson is earning shoTow&rds, Anjong the spumo and spind-rift, a smaM fruit easo ana a, piece of sawn timbo* are wavering on tho ebb and flow of tho shallows irt their race for standing on tho beaoh Among tho a,wiclcly-gather£ng debris. And n.er : a there are watehftrs aiid waiter* for tho offerings of the &ce»a J s .drift. Tho- day of thro northerly, is fcwwyai round about a-s one when tltero is, a generous seat teiiijg of.tUal titbits. On tho clajfev papa bank standi* n TOty of awhile barrows and .trollies, the owner's of which are busily competing with olio an. otto cqltajsting a welcome kindling for winter days, gero and there among tho iarabfo, yoiitiittil soaiwhers jnayVofttimes ho Seen. Sojjrfo eatoti'oni w<!min With. savidr.y dragging at to skirt?. Respite-, iior handicap giio gains a fair $hmo of-the spoils ef tho sea,"A lean pursVHthat touch feadgfeetl Jiving causo hoi to tools npau tho .npH'iieriy's'fenefactioiis as a bright assisting ray ■' in keeping down-the C€ial'h;ifl'l6Vy. and eftirig out an existence. .. , •

..The chorus of eapiive cwriines ii\ the Municipal Kennels; has a«fdptl to it a shrieking noto. It is tire shttll tail of the sea fowl. On the. Clyde Qimy Mcia■nation a general, assembly is in progress. Gulls, mdlylwsVJfs, and tern gen% glide, to the :spot-: where 'the dredgo Wbaka*ii<> • k tlischdrgMg 4lio dwdgtags rf the harbour bed., ,'i Muddy volume of Water swirls fram the gaping/ p'ipfts a : pd gradually coders &e silted flat. . JSfer and anon "a 'seagull or a nw>flyh&ttlt dives at ssjme glittering 015. Jcei. And ttei awing, less fortunate hunters wheel jute nwckrir also. With tta fish held firmly in » s ttmtg bill the lucky _gu.lt twists aiftl turns 1» ererWidoivilig',:cirr.fc.9;'as his pursuers make aitaeks a$ the- pre;j?. 'iQtfatteify' some of thp pttrs(ipts drop; ■below. Again' to Jala the watehars- aii*}- waiters in 4)ie now tnrgkl lakelet, fvfo ..robber birds ebntinws the aerial clia.Sp 1 .-iffi,'a:fc..iast, tl'to possessor of the prcjy' is' driveif'to' seals; saactuary ore th e Jiilts; ■ 'Penearrowwards. 'Ssldoipj'liaweTOf, is lie allowed to disappear without . sow. hopeful c-OJjvoy nt atteiidailcs., ■ ,' Sometimes tbra is a, great' fluttering an« screeching as a; li'lVjolt and Whit© •pinioned bird rises with, a, bright trophy. WM hi magajii affoe enco more the robbers, But the chise. is. lisitW stern nor long, < T-ha trophy is Jet fall, It is only a piece of tin-; On the ijuter fringe of the. arnlv of larger gulls seeking: twitters a sniall,B'q.t)a6j of teirn. What escapes thomofe formidanle • foragers 15 their iwrtion^so'ine'tiin.es.. ■.(Scno.ro'lly a keen-eyed niollyliawit swoops down and endeavours to seize the. reward .of the / tera's diligence. _ Tiro waters subside, and lit their subsiding a-jrcckittied ar&i ' has gained -aijr, other Srac&n .6i silted, bei. Rcliis* tartfcly and iafily live gulls' ''rise'' ft swarms from their meal : grOj.indi Soine human s.ea.r'obei's among .-the, she.frstretfii bhioy mould is the reasolv'for the termination;.of thb feast;:. The wrescnee of three paying iii'gn qis'tljrEs the- peace of three thousand galls, Oi.is of the. nfott s*on makes EnS, which he places fix a'tin he is. carry-, tog. The tin MI, the eajifistit's £&> emptied in a sack: 'curiosity impels, the stiisfoivb of aature to tote like sack to disenvor whether ho lias, struck a tribe of cojicliologlsfe It is v i'rbt so, file sacks, an* slowly filling ■with :coaj'! Truly in the eling out bf ail esistie.uc<i in Wellington not'mtiiih is'mlsse.d, 'the dredge that day. be it Hieii Ji.ad. noted—had be<?n working at- a wharf where ■colfifiES.fecliafg-o; " AJid luflips of <jo:U, evoil t'ho-se rflSciTOd from the dce[> by the drtdg'o, are no unconsidered trifles to iti tlicge cold days. ,

The Olutiflaii j-Wfietfs. As tie saj" rag lists its- five- do3o t.ad "demo him. iiq goeii" Ho feli ifi siMgry itiocsfl had dreamt .ffiaf' a- tribe, of Cliotekee Indians tad eaflfotrod Min,. a/ntl lie was hmt\'X iHiravt <vt tlie stake. Agitatod., lie awoke' to t'lie Tcrtlf-satio'n .tltait a ftoreo .(tee hntl "toiwW lihih". ' Stevens appeared.. Pwco of luvlnt, ho lifted *:he- cdal-sftßtfcte Slid was. tiltmji.rV ''Stoad.Vi ray iVicfsl,':. said' tfe clwli'ric Olubmnft. "I tfhihlt 1 Wf?ll gave Mte coal." . ... [ Ami said,.: "'yes,;sir.?'