A NAUTICAL NARRATIVE.

NZ Truth, Issue 88, 23 February 1907, Page 4

A NAUTICAL NARRATIVE.

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

A little happening occurred m Auckland tho other day over which the Union S.S. Co. are sai*d to have tumbled m badly. A' certain commercial from across the water wanted to come south ,» ahd he Went td-thd Northern S.S. Comiiany and took out a berth. His friends subsequently pointed out to him that it Was a Union boat leaving Ijhat night ; and that unless he got his ticket endorsed at the Company's offipe he'd have ;to wait "jintil the following night arid 1 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 got 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 ])urser, When the ticket was prbduo6d. The commercial tried to explain, but the purser i wasn't taking any explanations, and told him he'd hiive to pay or get oft. Of course he! refused stoutly tto dp either, and ask--6d for the captain. The captairi duly arrived and „ SETTLED TliE ARGUMENT promptly by sidiiig > with the purser, The traveller still stuck to his guns arid, ref used to pay a second time or to leaVe the ship. But it is no good bucking up agaihst a skipper on his own craft. A couple of seamen were called and the poort bagman found himself oh the wharf before he . .had time to realise what was happening. Of course the full facts of the case were duly reported at headquarters, \%ri&. the company's officers made inquiries with the result that the.traveller was asked to assess his ioss. He was. modest and put it down at £250, and the manager couldn't find his cheque-book quick enough. Then bame the matter of some lost lugpaje—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, time, and dignity, and the company thinks itself lucky m getting off so lightly, and no doubt finds much .satisfaction m the fact that it did* the right thing m the right way. But if this papet is any judge, tlie captain and 'purser are feeling sick— very sick.