EXTRA EDITION. FLEET " SPECIAL."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 42, 18 August 1908, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION. FLEET " SPECIAL."

PARLIAMENTARY PARTY'S RETURN. BAD .WEATHER. [BT TELEGBAPH. — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIOUKU, This Day. The Parliamentary train — the Main | Trunk Fleet special — left Auckland on the return journey to Wellington last night at 10.20 o'clock — advertised time — steaming out of the station to the minute. The train carries a few passengers* more than on the outward trip, and is due to arrive in Wellington at 6.10. p.m. The train at the present stage of the journey is about half an hour behitMj time, Tha trip on this occasion is being accomplished under weather conditions presenting a complete contrast to those prevailing on the ontward journey. All day yesterday torrential rain fell >in Auckland, and ever since the journey , started rain has continued, tvith but one -gleam of sunshine of halt a minute's duration on the Waimariß? plains. Tongariro, Ngaruahoe, and Rnapehu, which erstwhile were seen to perfection,* bathed in sunlight, were this morning .invisible owing to the mist. The train sped over the Makatote viaduct on this occasion without. stopping, and Ruapehu, 'on the one hand, and Egmont on the other, seemed to have disappeared from , sight. A mishap occurred at Taumarunui • early this morning. An engine which had been despatched to water ran' back too quickly, the result being a severe • concussion, felt throughout the train. Some of the windows in the end doors of the carriages were shattered, and several persons founi their matutinal slumbers disturbed ; otherwise,^ no dam.age was done. Lord Plunket, family, and staff, who* .left Auckland yesterday morning, travelled as far as Tanmarunui, where they stayed tho night. A train of three carriages v;as to be attached there to this .tram, but the load being too heavy the vice-regal party will follow later, drawn by a -special engine.