HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 306, 27 December 1922, Page 6

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

LARGE VOLUME HANDLED. Notwithstanding the overcast sky and the threat of heavy rain which J overhung the city yesterday, Aucklanders and hundreds of visitors were early astir on holiday bent, and trans- ' port workers had a busy day, trains, trams and ferries carrying large numbers. Tiie railway station was the j scene of much bustle throughout tlie forenoon and late in the day, 14 race | trains, each of ten coaches, going to; and from the course, all being well | patronised. The inward traffic on the | Main Trunk trains was not heavy. The Thames and Rotorua expresses were ] long, and each carried some hundreds | away from the city. In the evening the Wellington expresses were both | fully booked. Suburban iraffic %vas ■ heavy throughout the day. The officials express gratification at the fact that the worst period of the holiday rush has i>assed without accident and with no hitch" in the arrangements. Jt is estimated that the outward traffic was the heaviest yet experienced, but the number of passengers arriving was below the level of last year. The ferry service was well patronised, though not so well as on Christmas Day. Fourtem boats were running to the \-arious routes. The combined Salvation Army Corps utilised two boats for an excursion to Motutapu, about ItHX) being carried in this connection. On Christmas Day a similar number of sightseers were taken for a cruise of the harbour on a ferry boat, the trip being enlivened hy the Devonport Boys' Brass Band, under the leadership ot Bandmaster Dick Tatton. Tlie Northern Shipping Company's boats, which ran to the various beaches and bays along the coast, were all well patronised. During the rush hours no less than 148 tramcars were in use yesterday, and about the same number was found necessary to-day, the race traffic being particularly heavy. In the evening the traffic on/the trains and suburban trains was heavy, Queen Street and the several places of entertainment being the rendezvous of thousands. To-day, with fewer people free from business, the holiday spirit was less marked, and there was a decided falling off in the numbprs carried on trains, trams and ferries, far the greater bulk of the traffic being 'bound for the trotting grounds. Sonic scores of picnickers again left on the ferries for the beaches, but the diminuitjon of the numbers carried was noticeable aft*r the rush of the two previous days. 'Bookings for the Main Trunk expresses this evening were heav}-, but at an early hour this afternoon it was reported that fewer ipeople were expected to leave the city by train to-night than was the case last evening.