EASTER HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 7

EASTER HOLIDAY.

RUSH ON RAILWAY.

,ROWDS TO THE BEACHES

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER PREVAILS

Prospects of a fine Easter on Tlmrs day caused an abnormal rush of passen

gers on the railway. It was quite unexpected by officials, although adequate provision had been made for issuing tickets to intending travellers a fortnight before the date on which an excursion ticket could be used. Up till the departure of the Rotorua express this morning, II.fSOO tickets had been issued at the Auckland railway booking office and by the time the Main Trunk expresses leave this evening there is every indication that the number will have been increased to over 12,000.

During the holidays 240 sleeping berths have been paid for and I>ooo reserved tickets issued.

The total revenue received from passengers for the Easter holidays to date is £15,000. These figures, do not include suburban, short-distance and race traffic.

On Thursday night one of the greatest crowds seen on the Auckland station for years assembled to join trains for Rotorua, Whangarei and Wellington. Extra accommodation had to be provided in every instance and the officials were hard put to find enough rollingstock. It is estimated that fully 7000 people left Auckland that evening alone.

All long-distance expresses inwards were equally well patronised and by the time the Limited expres3 from Wellington had arrived this morning fully 5600 passengers had stepped otf trains at the Auckland platforms.

Tram and ferry tr.tftic has been heavy also, particularly fine weather having attracted Auckland's thousands out of doors. The various beaches have been crowded with holiday-makers and the island seaside resorts in the Gulf have also drawn their quotas. .

Kawau is thronged with visitors and the Mansion House bay presents a gay sight with over 100 yachts and launches. The tennis tournament is now in full swing. The weather is delightful and looks settled for the rest of the holidays.

Shopkeepers report having had a particular busy time all day Thursday. It being "late nnght" the streets had an animated appearance and it was particularly noticeable that there were many visitors from the country.

To-day's race trains and trams were filled and as the weather in Auckland has every appearance of holding good, it is expected that more people will be travelling during the remainder of the holidays. VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS. BIG CROWD AT ELLERSLIE. Auckland is on holiday to-day, and those who have a tendency towards' any branch of summer or autumn sport are in their element. The big attraction is tlie opening day's racing of the Auckland Racing Club's Easter meeting at Ellerslie, and long before ten o'clock this morning, trams, trains, motor cars, and omnibuses were taking full complements to the best of all racecourses in the Dominion. To-day is " ladies' day," the programme including the Great Northern Oaks, the North Island classic for three-year-old fillies. The meeting will be continued on Monday, and again a big crowd can be expected.

The Inter-varsity tennis matches are being played on the Stanley Street courts, and the finals of the boxing tournament will be decided this evening at the Town Hall, and this afternoon there was a rowing -race on the harbour.

The Auckland provincial golf tourney commenced this morning, and will be continued on Monday.

The Auckland Bowling Centre is holding its annual Easter tournament on the different greens.

The beautiful weather has attracted thousands to the beaches, and harbour excursions are freely patronised.