LOST BOWLS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 9

LOST BOWLS

NEPTUNE HAS THEM.

CHEERY ASHBURTONITES. BISCUITS WITHOUT TEETH. "Neptune is probably 'sending them up , along the deep green with our bowls in a game against Davy Jones." That was the cheerful attitude adopted by Mr. J. Davidson, of Ashburton, one of a party of four Ashburtonites, who were bound for Suva. His companions were Mr. G. D. H. Hefford, Mr. W. F. Finn and Mr. William Sparrow. "We are just four friends who intended to chase the sun to Suva for a ten weeks' holiday," Mr. Davidson went on. "Two of us had sets of bowls, which went down with the ship. We lost our suitcases and all the clothing except what we are wearing now. But the main thing is that we are alive." Hβ said that after . the explosion occurred there was no time to do anything but tumble out on deck with lifebelts donned. "I was in such a hurry that I left my false teeth behind," he added, displaying a fine set of gums. "All the same, I don't feel that I should make that public." From his pocket he produced an object that had once been square but now showed signs of wear. "That," said Mr. Davidson proudly, "is a. ship's biscuit, and you may imagine what a good time I had trying to eat that on my gums." As he restored it to his pocket he said it was his intention to take it back to Ashburton as a souvenir. There was little anxiety among those in the boat once they had left the Niagara, he went on. Everybody was cheerful and the time passed with the spinning of yarns, the puzzling out of problems and the singing of songs, most of which had a nautical flavour. "Row, Brothers, Row" was a favourite with f'Pull for the Shore, Sailors" coming a good second. Happiness was the keynote with gratitude that their lives had been spared. Mr. William Sparrow, who was dressed in an overcoat covering a suit of pyjamas, was still cheerful. As he joined the group to be photographed he sang a brief ditty about a man from Gundagai and finished' up TJy adding: "Well, we've had . a great experience, anyway." "All the same, I'm sorry about those bowls," said Mr. Davidson. "I hate to think of them lying in the last ditch."