TALE OF A SWAG.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1941, Page 6

TALE OF A SWAG.

LEFT LYING ABOUT.

CONTAINED £120 IN NOTES.

(0.C.) HOKITIKA, this day. Swaggers and swag* wore fairly common throughout New Zealand a few years ago, but since the modernisation of the camps at the major Public Works jobs, conditions have altered a great deal, and the old familiar swag has given way to the more modern suitcase. But the Vwag i* still to 1* seen with the old-timers; they prefer the old sack to the modern hag. One mail's ewag from Jackson's fJay created more than" passing interest during the Chrwtmas holidays. When the Gael berthed at Hokitika after a 23-hour journey from Jackson's Bay, with r>4 workers aboard, after one of tlie roughest trips -on record, the men lost no time in clambering ashore as the vessel touched the wharf, even though it was li.'.iO o'clock on Sunday morning. Many picked up their bags and headed for the nearest hotel to forget that tea voyage. One old campaigner tn?sed his swag ashore and tripped up the town. Giving one look at the swag, he "'I won't be needing you for some time." The swag was taken by the Harbour Board staff and plaoed in the shed. Three days later the owner, still clad in hits working clothes, roamed down the wharf and located his swag. Opening up the .sack he took out a towel, went into a nearby liotei to enjoy u. good wa.-.h, and afterwards put the towel back in the swag. This time the swag was left lying on the roadside for a day and a night. The hoteikeeper then picked it up and put it in a parlour. It always appeared to be in the way. Finally the licensee put it in the storeroom. On Christmas morning, when all hands were enjoying a quiet talk on the seat outeide the hotel, the old-timer rolled along. His lirst inquiry was for the barman. Then the proprietor came out and said, '"Oh, you are looking for your swag?"' The old-timer replied, "Well, she would be handy just now."' Receiving the weil-worn sack from the hoteikeeper, the qjd-timer opened it up and digging- deep down to the bottom, hauled out a neat roll of bank notes. The roll counted up to £120. With a smile the old-timer placed the. roll in his back pocket and left the old swag just where it was. The expressions on the faces of the interested onlookers were worth recording.