MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Now that tho holiclay season is approaching, a large number of people have been inquiring into tho condition of- travel on tho Main Trunk lino,'which, with tho exception of a. short distance covered by coach, is now''open for passongcr trafiic as far as Auckland. The traveller, who ' desires to make a highly interesting ' journey,, of three days through newly-developed couiitry must leave Wellington'at 7.50 a.m., and he will, arrive at Mataroa, six miles beyond Tailiape, at 6.5 p.m. There tho ballast train, with carriage attached -for'his convenience,'., is waiting to take him on to AVaiouru, a 'distance of eighteen miles, over a portion of tho line which is partly unballasted, and • nowhere completely ballasted. 1 his section of the'line'will be'handed over to the Railway Department' as, entirely finished by. Christmas, so that travelling over it at-present is not attended with any very great, discomfort. At "Waiouru there is an old-established accommodation house, built to suit tho Pip-, iriki and Taupo coach: services. The traveller will stay there for the night,.leaving on tho ballast train at 6 a.m. for Ohaktino, situated at.tho end of'another eighteenmiles■ section, which makes the roughest travelling on the trip. Still, the pleasure-farer is riding in a carriage, and, the jolting is over beforo S o'clock,' when he gets into the coach' for Itauriimi. ' Lunch is obtained at Alakatoto, and the traveller reaches Raurinm .a little after 3 o'clock, the ballast train leaving at four for Taumarumii. At last lie is-.journey-ing-again on a lino fully ballasted, whore his train might travel ' forty miles an . hour. At Tnumarunui. he will spend his second' -night at an excellent accommodation'house, leaving noxt day at 8.10 a.m. for' Auckland, which ho will reach at 5 p.m., or changing trains at Franklin for Hotorua, attainable by 5.50 p.m./ or the Thames attaiiuible by 0.20