LEFT IN THE TRAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 268, 12 November 1928, Page 5

LEFT IN THE TRAM.

ODD THINGS TO LOSE.

FOREST OF "BROLLIES."

LADIES WITH BAD MEMORIES.

In a queer mixture of portable property heaped up on benches at Robertson's auction mart this morning the oddest was surely nine dozen of photographic films. Lost umbrellas and walking sticks are understandable, but films seem such strange things to leave behind in a tram car.

As usual when the city tramways have their periodical clean-up of lost luggage there was a large crowd of bidders and onlookers. Everyone was amused and got a certain amount of satisfaction out of asking in an incredulous voice, "How could anyone lose a big thing like a cane basket?" or something else that looked harder to get rid of than the usual umbrella. What did strike one, however, was that a town like Auckland could contain so many women who could afford lose such good umbrellas and not go to the bother of calling at the tramways depot to claim them.

Umbrellas were put up in bundles of half a dozen, and as the venturesome auctioneer pulled out one after another and had them opened it could be seen that most of them were "as good as new," as the advertisements say. Occasionally he had bad luck and drew out one with groggy ribs or minus a fast handle, but the number of perfectly good ones showed that a pound umbrella is a mere trifle to many Auckland women. Under the hammer they brought 10/ to 12/6 a bundle. There were a few men's umbrellas, but it must be admitted that most of the strays were "stum pies." The wometi, however, could not be blamed for the forty walking sticks that figured on the benches.

If proof were wanted of forgetfulness of the ladies, it could be found in a "host of gloves," but the men must answer for overalls, caps, football boots, tobacco pouches and three pairs of trousers. Most of the articles that had lost their male owners might naturally suggest an erratic homeward journey after a gay evening, but the ladies seein to have shed the most strange belongings when cold sober.

Six tennis racquets might suggest a "forgettery" of rather unusual brand, but anyone who has seen them used in the street, obviously merely as an ornament by some flapper, could quite understand how they came to be left behind. Five shillings to 7/6 was the best price they attracted, so they were clearly not the Davis Cup brand. Bookworms are supposed to be absentminded, but evidently Auckland tram travellers are not very studious. Only thirteen books were put up this morning —and one of them was a Prayer Book. Nine wristlet watches, ten gold bangles, coats of all sizes and styles, .bathing suits and towels and children's cameras were among the things sold, and by the time the auctioneer had got to the end of his list one began to think it was lucky for some tram travellers that houses are fixed to the soil.