HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 1, 2 January 1924, Page 3

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

TRAMS AND FERRIES HEAVY

Except for an accident brought about by a tramcar fretting out of control in Upper Queen Street on Frido.y afternoon last the holiday traffic during the Christmas and New Year has been fortunately free from serious accidents. This despite the fact that on all sides the traffic has easily eclipsed all previous records with perhaps the exception of the railways, and the latter only a« it applies to race trains running to Ellerslie.

Although the figures for the holiday week are not available, the information is tendered that the traffic on the trams will break all records, and this is due to the running of a frequent service to the racecourse at Ellerslie. Boxing Day was the best day, but yesterday the cars carried between 8000 and 9000 passengers to the course. To-day the traffic is not nearly so heavy, but this is due to many of the visitors to town having left for their homes either last evening or preparing to depart to-day. Very large crowds have patronised the Zoo, and here again is an avenue which has contributed to the increase in the tram traffic.

Inquiries at tlie Devonport Ferry Company reveal that the traffic this Christmas has established a record, but of the holidays Boxing Day was easily the best, and yesterday (New Year's Day) and to-day were rather quiet. "The railway passenger traffic received a set-back through the running of the trams to Ellerslie, but the three expresses running were all patronised to their utmost capacity. In anticipation of a big outgoing passenger traffic this evening 0 the "Railway Department will run three expresses to Wellington today and this evening. The first left at 1 p.m. this afternoon, and the two others will leave at 7.10 p.m. and 7.40 p.m. respectively. The Department will also run a train to Palmerston North, leaving Auckland at 8.40 p.m.