“LEFT LUGGAGE"

Evening Star, Issue 19783, 6 February 1928, Page 8

“LEFT LUGGAGE"

OX “ANCHOR” STEAMERS. When passengers walk down Ibe gangways from tho ferry boats they usually have their hands full of their personal luggage. It is safe to conclude, however, that on each trip several have left some of their belongings behind (hem (says the ‘Nelson Mail’). To such an extent is this the case that the Anchor Company has the whole matter of “ left luggage ” on a, definite and systematic basis. If you happen to have left your tooth brush, wallet, gold watch, or silk pyjamas behind, you find you cannot recover the lost property from the boat. It has been taken to the office of the company, where it is recorded, and you sign for it before you get it. Tho book kept for the purpose is a large one, and each trip is represented in the bet. Only about half the property is claimed. After six months, when tho available accommodation becomes overtaxed, the company hands on tho goods to Nurse Millar for distribution among the needy. Some of tire articles left are very valuable. On one occasion about £75 had been carefully placed under a pillow for safe keeping. In the morning all was forgotten, but owing to tho honesty of the stewards restoration was made in the usual manner later in the day. It would appear from tho book that it is not always a good plan to use the pillow as a hiding place for valuables, for the cares of the evening appear to vanish in (he morning. This doubtless accounts for the number of gold watches left on board.

Women (despite the prevailing fashion) appear to leave some of their undergarments on the boats. Corsets, however, have vanished from the lists in recent years, as have other articles of apparel which are not so commonly worn nowadays. .Their places, however, have been taken by silk nightdresses, with which the company nt present appears to be plentifully supplied. According to a veteran skipper the reason why the night attire is, so frequently left is that in many cases ladies change their minds about their mode of retirement for the night after they have opened their suit case and extracted garments. Not undressing, they forget they have partly unpacked their belongings. Nightcaps, bed socks, and hot water bottles apparently form quite a portion of the paraphernalia carried by passengers. These, along with tooth brushes, hair combs, slippers, brief bags, dressing gowug, and sets of false teeth, are left to the tender mercies of tho stewards. It goes without saying that the unfortunate umbrella looms very large in the leftrluggage department.