LOST LUGGAGE SALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20424, 28 November 1929, Page 8

LOST LUGGAGE SALE

FORGETFUL; PASSENGERS,

WOMEN WORST OFFENDERS^

DAY FOR BARCAIN-HUNTERS. Bargain-hunters stormed the auction rooms of J. E. Robertson, Limited, yesterday during the progress of a tramway lost luggage sale conducted on behalf of the Auckland Transport Board. Over 2000 unclaimed articles which had been left 1 J absent-minded passengers in tramoars and buses during the past year were auctioned afc prices ranging from 0110 penny to 30s. Au a result the Transport Board is fie richer by something like J3100.. The female of the species would appear to be the more absent-minded of all tram passengers. No fewer than 700 women's umbrella's, from the small chubby variety to giant multi-coloured beach sunshades, were disposed of. They were put up in lots of six, each bundle fetching anything from 6s to lis. As many of them were in perfect condition the advantage was all on the side of tha purchaser. Lady's handbags were legion.. Six of them commonly went for 2s, or 4d each. Men Not So Forgetful. Furs had a mixed reception according to whether they were believed to bs squirrel, skunk or rabbit. Pearl necklaces, it would appear, are held in something like contempt; scores were left in tramcars and in no case d;d they fetch anything approaching a reasonable value. •' Il These ladies must have a lot on their minds," was the auctioneer's dry comment, as he went through the long monotonous catalogue of forgotten trea. sires and trumperies. Women's gloves to the number of 234 pairs were disposed of. Compared with their wives, husbands are singularly careful of their belonging 3. Only 20 men's umbrellas found their way to the auction block, and 20 _ walking snicks. Spectacles, however, "being more readily misplaced, were apparently lost in vast numbers and met with an extraordinarily lively demand. Gold-rimmed s:pectacles were bought up in twos and tlirees for 2s each, no doubt more on account of their gold specie value than any problematic suitability for the particular visual weakness of the purchaser. Bargains in Watches. Watches of various makes and reputation! struck an exceedingly erratic market, bidding depending on the measure of optimism with which a buyer calculated their aga and reliability without looking at them. More than one purchaser carried off a, perfectly good silver watch, liberally bespinkled inside with rubies, for less than a shilling. This was a pastime after the heart of the gambler. A woman's; 9-carat gold wristlet watch was run up on shilling bids from 10s to 19s, silver brooches ana greenstone pendants were thrown out for 9d each, while pearl necklaces in any number were going for 2s. Parcels of books tied up so thai tha titles were not readily seen, gave 3 penny-dip sensation to the bookworm, ■who found in one case that his 2s had given him Shakespeare, Elinor Glyn, Edgar Wallace, Nesfield and Remarque. Boots and shoes, suits of clothes, rainproof overcoats, suitcases, attache cases, tennis racquets, footballs, schoolbags and lunch baskets, all found their way into the care of other masters and mistresses, and in some cases, perhaps, trill repeat the experience by being left unwittingly on the seat of the tramcar.