ON THE WHARF?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 264, 31 July 1908, Page 5

ON THE WHARF?

ALL THE WAY FROM LONDON TOWN. •As the big steamer Rimutaka, from London, drew alongside the wharf yesterday it was easily discernible that most of tho passengers had friends awaiting their arrival. "Hullo, 'Liza!" sang an'excited female from the chain barrier. 'Liza looked long and ; hard at tho dense pack below, and was about to turn her head when she caught sight of her friend, who was waving a' handkerchief. Her face lit up with a glad light as sho ; realised how small the world is, and after waving tier, hand wildly in tho air she lowered it to dash'away a furtive tear. : "Cheer ho, Ted! Look, thero ho is, down thero," said a "steerage" to a littlo knot. of. (presumably) relatives. They could not see Ted for'' some moments,, and looked worried in consequence, but. tho expression that fo'llowed recognition was like sunshine after rain. ' . .

No ono was allowed up the gangway until the' passengers were ashore. "It's the mate's orders!" said the two brawny quartermasters at. tho foot of tho steps, and everyono on tho'wharf who had a friend to meet on board concoived a deadly enmity for that mate. Thero wero nearly 300 passengers, and they would take somo time in negotiating tjie precarious : gangway. . Less than a hundred descended when a hiatus in the i descending stream of "new chums" occurred, aud tho word was -given to , allow, somo of the crowd on' board, and there was a wild rush .up tho side of the steamer. '

■ But it was a. good-natured crowd on tho ivharf.' Recognising tho flinty • composition of the mate's heart, they turned thoir attention to the newcomers as they stepped down tlie liarrow way. "Hero ho comes!" said one wag, and there was a roar of laughter as a young fellow, wearing a panama hat, scrambled down with a'bundlo containing half-a-dozen umbrellas and as many walking sticks., " 'Ow are yer, Percy?" from another . wag struck the crowd as the very acmo of wit, and. one can imagine Percy thinking unutterable things of " those awfiil colonials."

A bright young woman, who seemed on friendly terms with overybody on board, 'down to tho quartermasters at tho foot of the gangway ,_ was warmly welcomed, and only la,ughed in response to tho endearments lavished upon her by somo sportive young gentlemen in the- crowd. Gradually those below went up, and the majority of those on board camo down, and matters' simmered down to the normal. The newcomors had reached "tho land of hope and glory," and received the-hearty handshake and kisses of friends, and never a shadow fell across their spirits as they chattered of'the voj'age behind them and the journey'ahead.