STRANDED IN LONDON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10574, 27 January 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

STRANDED IN LONDON.

A COLONIAL'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT

The Auckland Star correspondent wrote on December 15: —

"Never come to London unless you havo plenty of money and your return ticket out of it."

This is the advice of a colonial who has just been through the terrible experience of being "stranded" m London. It is a warning often given, and as often disregarded, but if only the imen who decide to come Home with the vague idea of trying their luck m the great metropolis would profit by the experience of others, they would think twice, and thrice, ere they ventured overseas. I-io colonial referred to is a typical case. He came from Australia with a view to establishing a legal claim to some small legacy, and like so many others, he found that the law is a very costly and a very lengthy process. His small stock of money began to dwindle at an alarming rate. Not having a single relative or friend m this countiy to whom he could apply, he wrote to his people m Australia for assistance, and pending the reply moved into cheap lodgings and looked round for work. That was a few weeks ago. This week he came into the writer's office m a starving condition, and at his wit's end which way to turn. The quest for work, it appears, had been utterly fruitless. "It is madness," ho said, "for a colonial to look for work m London, unless he has influence or friends. My money gradually melted away until none was left, and still I had failed to get work. Then began a struggle while waiting for the mail from Australia m answer to my letter. I didn't know a soul amongst all these millions. I began to sell my clothes m order to keep me going m food and lodgings, until now everything is gone except what I stand up m, and where my next meal is to come from I do not know. My advice to colonials is never to come to London unless you have plenty of money and your return ticket out of it. I liave been lost m the bush m Australia, and half dead for want of water, but believe mo I would sooiier go through tliat again thau what I have endured theSe last few weeks m London, with all its millions of people round me. For m the bush I knew that when I was found I would get relief, but here m London you can go through exactly the same experience, but no one will give you that drop of water you are craving for. "One night," lie continued, ''when I could not sleep, I was walking aimlessly along the Thames Embankment, when some young woman coming past threw me twopence and said, 'Here, old chap, better luck next time.' That is about the ouly kindness I have had shown me here m this big, hard, cruel city." Fortunately for the stranded one he was taken on this week by one of the Orient steamers at Tilbury Dock, to work his 'passage back to Australia as a cleaner m the engine-room. But he is not likely ever to forget his experience as an out-of-work m London, destitute, helpless and hopeless. It is to be hoped that the 6fcory taken down from his own lips will serve its purpose' as a warning. For the man without money and witliout friends thero is no place so cruel as London.