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Unclaimed Property.
(By M.C.)

The flotsam and jetsam left by travellers on the railways generally finds its way into the lost property depot. The forgetfulness (or indifferentism) which characterises some people in regard to their movable property is surprising. It is no less remarkable how much luggage is never claimed—if that dealt with by the country station of which the writer is in charge, may be cited as an example.

Last year for instance, one hundred and forty-six packages were dealt with. Of this number only fifty-one could be delivered to owners, the remainder, because of there being no identification on them, or enquiries made concerning them, being sent to the lost property depot, where the packages will remain until sold by auction at the end of the year. It is interesting to mention, in passing, that only twenty-two out of the 146 unclaimed packages were inscribed with the owner's name and address.

Special interest attaches to two lost gold rings. One was claimed—the climant having lost it two months previously whilst getting through a railway fence, the ring being found subsequently by a surfaceman raking the gravel in the yard. The owner of the other ring could not be traced. Of five purses found only one contained coin amounting to one shilling. This purse, along with three others, will be eventually sold under the auctioneer's hammer.

The varied assortment of lost property handled during the year comprised, among other things, two gold brooches, four men's hats, five kit bags, twenty-three ladies' umbrellas, four walking sticks, two pieces of music (songs), five overcoats, five suitcases, eight books, one parcel of cake, two parcels of fruit, one parcel of fish, one pram (claimed), one halter, two whips, two butchers' aprons, one horse-cover, one mattress, one violin, two bottles of beer, one scythe, and one fountain pen.

It would be more satisfactory to all concerned if such property could be restored to its rightful owners.

Scores of parcels, however, are found bearing no name or address, and are never inquired for. They are therefore sent to the lost property depot for ultimate sale.

If passengers took the precaution of addressing all their packages (even if carried with them on railway racks) the railway staff would be able to institute definite inquiries from particulars shown, and be thus enabled to perform a further service to the Department's customers by restoring their missing goods.

Great inconvenience, and much irritation, is often experienced by passengers in losing their luggage and other property. In very many cases, however, the fault lies with the passenger and not with the Department. The Department can be depended upon to restore property which has been left behind by train passengers, but for the complete success of such efforts the co-operation of the passenger (in seeing to it that his parcels, etc., bear adequate identification marks) is necessary.