THE HUMORS OF TRAVEL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2067, 19 December 1907, Page 1

THE HUMORS OF TRAVEL

SCRAMBLES ON AND OFF A DEPARTING STEAMER. (Special to Times.) AVELLINGTON, Dec. 18. There was a scene of considerable excitement and merriment at the departure of the Maori for Lyttelton this evening. The usual late passenger arrived just as the steamer was leaving the wharf. Ho was accompanied by a bicycle and some lugage. The officers demurred to taking him aboard, but on his showing his ticket, relented. Lieutenant Shackleton, who was standing at the gangway saying good-bye to friends, assisted with tlio bicycle, and a policeman gave the late-comer a l!eg-up to the accompaniment of cheers from the crowd on the wharf. Then a woman with a baby and portmanteau arrived. By this time the steamer was moving, but tlio lady passenger was pushed up unceremoniously by willing hands, and made an undignified but successful ascent and descent over tlio rail to an accompaniment of laughter and further cheering. The baby was dealt with more gently by the policeman. Finally a well-known AA’ellington resident who had tarried over-, (long on board was seen scrambling down on to the wharf. Behind him was a Christchurch lady who naturally hesitated to emulate his acrobatic feat. The boat went out amid shouts of laughter from the crowd, but the captain on learning her plight chivalrously switched on the reversing turbine, and she managed, with the assistance of willing hands, to jump on to tlio wharf, whereat there was renewed cheering.