SALE OF LOST PROPERTY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21404, 21 February 1935, Page 10

SALE OF LOST PROPERTY

ANNUAL POLICE ACCUMULATION

* STRANGE ASSORTMENT UP

FOR AUCTION

Every year an astonishing collection cf miscellaneous property accumulates at the Central Police Station, the fruitful harvest of the city's absentmindedness, carelessness, and in some cases dishonesty. And every year the rr.any and various articles which make i:p the collection are disposed of by cucticn. This sale of goods lost, stolen or strayed,' is always interesting, not only to the inveterate bargain hunters who are drawn as by a magret '■>> the red flag hung across the footpath, but also to people who are rrer.'lv idly curious to see what sort of tilings their neighbours are in the habit of allowing to go astray. For two hours yesterday the auction room of C. E. Jones, Ltd., was filled with a curious crowd, enduring manfully the hmoky atmosphere and the steaming heat of the muggy weather, intensified in the crowded room. Buying at this sale is a gamble. It takes a keen eye to tell at a glance, for instance, whether a pair of leather gloves held up dispassionately by the auctioneer's assistant will turn out to be a reasonable fit. Bidding for cuch doubtful articles is usually cautious, as is that for small trifles which rnay or may not prove useful or valuable. Paris and the Whole Fir.-t to be put up for sale was an assortment of bicycles. These varied greatly in apparent efficiency, and some seemed to have long passed their prime. Eut there were many in the crowd who knew their bicycles well, and a quick glance was enough ground for decision by the more experienced. Not only complete bicycles were ofTerrd. Some were without a back wheel and some without a front wheel; End hand'ebars, saddles, and wheels were held up, being disposed of so quickly that it appeared that there were a score of people present who were anxious to lay in a store of snare parts. The assistant bent to a pile of lots su his feet, hidden from view by the crowd, and struggled into sight again, heaving up the front wheel and forks of a woman's bicycle. "A lady's bicycle," announced the auctioneer (Mr C. E. Jones). "It's only got one wheel," the assistant said apologetically as the maimed hinder part of the machine appeared. "Then it's not a whole bicycle," replied Mr Jones. "How much for half a lady?" Firearms Next After the bicycles, the firearms were auctioned. Most of these were service rifles altered in one respect or another. Though the state of '.he barrel ii a first consideration in the buying of a second-hand rifle, the bidding was fairly keen, there being several persons who seemed willing to take the risk of acquiring a damaged weapon in return for the chance of a bargain. The conversion of weaDons of war might have been described once as the beating of swords into ploughshares, but the modern equivalent Is the use of the .303 for the slaughter of wild pigs or of deer. There were older rifles, of even more doubtful serviceabilitv, but these were soon disposed of. The assistant rattled the breech blocks seductively, and the sound probably had its effect on the bidding, waking the old wish (which is common to men and boys) to possess a weapon which will kill. Several cut-down carbines were sold and fomc of these at least must have been intended for the slaughter of pi£s

Odds and Ends

The odds and ends which were left to the last were mainly articles which ar« most easily lost and hardly recovered. Handbags, gloves, wristlet watches, and Kcarves were sold in quick succession. In between such lots, however, came others less ortho?i? x ' Stethoscopees, It would be thought, do not often go astray; but a rtethoscope was among the lots put up for sale yesterday-more surprising ?& iL w l s Eold - Jt is i 0 be hoped that the buyer did not follow the flippant advice of the auctioneer and attempt to take his temperature with

"A Fijian's full dress," was the desenpaon given to a necklace offeredand this was followed by a bolt of shirt material which was stated to be suitable equally for shirts, curtains, pyjamas, or anything else. Five shillings was the first bid for a "lady's chSrTrfJ/. 61 W3tCh C A baby ' S PushcSmmnn? £h en ° ÜBh> PaSSed With OUt *tTS' T j? er V vcre comparatively -ew odds and ends this year and the S, w ed Wit J hout Rotable bar! gams being made.

LODGE MEETING The Chief Ruler, Bro. L. Brown, presided over a large attendance of* officers, members, and visiting juveniles, »t the fortnightly meeting of the Pride of Christchurch Tent, 1.0. R., held at the Young Men's Christian Association on Monday last. Three new candidates were initiated, and cordially welcomed by the Chief Ruler. The Chief Ruler also welcomed the officers and members of the Tawera and Whakaora Juver.il;- Tents, who were paying their yearly visit to the Pride. Sister E Smallwood and Bro. I Blackett replied on behalf of the visitors. Juvenile Superintendents' reports given by Sister E. Smallwood and Bro. J. Provan showed an increase since the previous meeting. Sister Smallwood abo reported on the combined Juvenile picnic held on Saturday. A motion of congratulations was passed to the Whakaora Tent, the winners of the Smallwood Sports Cup. Bros. J Jackson and C. H. Bascand reported that an enjoyable time had been spent at the Pride's annual picnic. Bro. Bascand presented the prizes to the winners at the races. A report on the Provincial Council's meeting was Riven by Bro. T. Nuttall. Reports were received and the delegates thanked. The members of the Tent were invited to a social at the Addington Tent on Tuesday. March 5, at the Dickens street Hall. Because of the absence of several officers in the early part of the iitx>. meeting it was decided to commence the social portion of the evening at 7.30 p.m., and the business portion at 9 p.m., when the officers would be present. After the business of the Tent the Juveniles were entertained by Mr Hall and several Juveniles, after which an ice cream supper was enjoyed.