A NAUTICAL NARRATIVE.

NZ Truth, Issue 87, 16 February 1907, Page 4

A NAUTICAL NARRATIVE.

Commercial Loses His Berth 'And Bites the Company for a Bit.

A little happening occurred m Auckland the other day over whish the Union S.S. Co. are said to have tumbled m badly. A certain commer!cial from across the water wahted to come' south, and he went to the Northern S.S. Company and took out a berth. His friends subsequently pointed out to ..him. that it was a Union boait leaving that night ; and tba ( t unless he> got his ticket endorsed' at 'the Company's qffipe he'd have to wait until 'the following night and go by the Northern Company's boat. As business wouldn't allow of his staying another day he went to the Union Company, explained his mistake and ffot his ticket endorsed all right. He was just preparing to make himself snug m his cabin when the purser 'came along and .demanded his ticket. "That's no good," said the purser, when the ticket was produced. The commercial tried to explain, but the purser wasn't taking any explanations, and told him he'd have to pay or get off. Of course he refused stoutly ito do either, and asked for the captain. The captain duly arrived and ' .-

SETTLED THE ARGUMENT promptly by siding with the purser. The traveller still stuck to his guns and refused to pay a second time orto leave the ship. But it is no good bucking up against a skipper on his own craft. A couple of seamen were called and the poor bagman found himself on the wharf before he had time to realise what was happening. Of course the full facts of the case were duly reported at headquarters, and the company's officers made inquiries with- the result that the traveller was asked to assess his loss. He was modest and put it down at £250, and the manager couldn't find his cheque-book quick enough. Then came the matter of some lost lug?a?e—boxes containing orders— these fetched £15 without a murmur. All's well that ends well. The traveller no doubt finds £265 ample consolation for loss of goods, jtime, and dignity, and the company thinks itself lucky m getting off so lightly, and no doubt finds much satisfaction m the tact that it did the right thing m the ' right way. But if this paper is any judge, the captain and purser are- feeling sick— very sick.