CHRISTMAS TRAVEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 19 December 1922, Page 3

CHRISTMAS TRAVEL.

PLENTY OF TRAINS RUNNING.

BY RAIL TO WHANGAREI.

A NEW ROUTE. Country people and other visitors are already beginning to drift into town for the holidays—you have probably been aware of it by bumping into dozens of knots of folks exchanging seasonal greetings on the busy part of the pavement. Already Auckland promises to be full this Christmas and New Year but not overcrowded. No doubt the shipping strike has considerably affected the traffic. ■Steamers have started running again, but overseas people tied down to time have not felt justified in trusting to the present rather indefinite arrangements to j get them back to their homes at a cerI tain time. That is the reason many ] people that in the past have "taken a. I run home for Christmas" have not dared to do so this year. Nevertheless, Auckj land will be fairly full in a week's time, i and the strong booking for January at | the favourite hostelries is making th.e I proprietors at once pleased and worried. j These January people will be the true holiday crowd—people to whom a few days more or less is not so important as to those who in times of certain transport could afford to rush back to "the old home" for the Christmas dinner, but had to be back at business at a stated time. \ cry complete arrangements have been 'made by the Railway Department for meeting the holiday traffic. A novelty this year will be travelling between Auckland and Whangarei by rail with the exception of a small gap of about half a mile between rail-heads. This will be made possible by the Public Works . Department, which still has control of the j unfinished line beyond Huarau, running ■trains between Whangarei and the railhead which has reached to within a few chains of Huarau. Leaving Whangarei at 8.5 a.m. one will be able to reach AuekI land a few minutes before 5 p.m., and the j return fare excursion rate will be under I 30/ second class. •Between Huarau and the other railhead there will be a conveyance to take passengers and their luggage. The first train on this new service will run south on Thursday next, and the first train from Auckland will run the following day. Trains between Auckland and Huarau run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from ifuarau to Auckland on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. It is to connect with these trains that the Public Works Department will run its trains. Most people are aware that the rolling stock of the Public Works Department doesn't include any Pulman cars, but the novelty of the trip over- | land to Whangarei by rail is sure to make it popular. Railway excursion tickets will foe issued on the railways until January 2, and will be available for return until (Saturday, February 10. As usual the ordinary service will be augmented considerably. Expresses will leave Auckland for Thames at 9.12 a.m. daily except Sundays. For Ro*orua at 10* a.m. daily except Sundays. For Frankton. at 10.12 a.m. on December 22 and 23 and January 2, connecting with the 1.45 for Taumafunui. For Wellington, at 1 p.m. from the 18th to ihe 23rd December, 27th and 30th of December, and January 2, 3, 4, and fi; 7.10 daily except Saturdays; and 7.40 p.m. from December 15 to January 7 inclusive, except Saturdays.

| Special shipping arrangements have | been made to suit the convenience of Christmas travellers. The Northern Steamship Company announces vessels to leave for the popular seaside resorts on Saturday next, and special trips to the resorts are advertised for Boxing returning to Auckland early on the 27th for those that have to come back to town. The Taniwha's trip to Paeroa on I Thursday is the last until the 27th inst. The Arahura's departure for Gisborne ! next week has been put off from Tuesday until the day after to suit holiday- . makers.