"LEFT LUGGAGE"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 January 1928, Page 7

"LEFT LUGGAGE"

WHAT PASSENGERS LEAVE ON THE STEAMERS When passengers walk down the gangways from the ferry boats they usually have their hands full of their personal luggage. It is safe to conclude, however, that on each trip several !i«»"e kft some of their belongings behind them. To such an extent is this the case that the Anchor Company has the whole matter of "left luggage" on a definite and systematic basis. If you happen to have left your tooth-brush, wallet gold watch or silk pyjamas behind, yon find you cannot recover the lost property from the boat. It has been taken to the office of the company, where it is recorded and you sign for it before you get it. t

The book kept for the purpose is a, large one and each trip is represented in the list. Only about half the property is claimed." After six months, when the available accommodation becomes overtaxed, thp company bands on the goods to Nurs.i Millar for distribution among the needy. Some of the articles left are very valuable. On one occasion about £75 bad been carefully placed under a pillow for safekeeping. In the morning all was forgotten, but owing to the honesty of the stewards, restoration was made in the usual manner later in the cloy. It would appear from the book that it is not always a good plan to use the pillow as a hiding place for valuables for the cares of the evening appear to vanish in the morning. This doubtless accounts for the number of gold watches left on board. Women (despite the prevailing fashion) appear to leave some of their ments on the boats. Corsets, however, have vanished from the. lists in recent years, as have other articles of apparel which are not so commonly worn nowadays. Their places, however, have been taken by silk nightdt esses with which tho confpany at present appears to be plentifully 'supplied. According to a veteran skipper the reason why the night attire is so" frequently left is that in many cases ladies change their minds about their mode of retirement for the 'night after they have' opened their suit cose and extracted the tfarment. Not undressing, they forget they have partly unpacked their belongings. Night caps, bed socks and hot-water bottles apparently form quite a portion of the paraphernalia carried by passengers. These, along with tooth brushes, hair combs, slippers, brief bags, dressing gowns, and sets of-false teeth are. left to the tender, mercies of the stewards. It goes without saying that the unfortunate umbrella looms very large in the leitluggage department.