EASTER HOLIDAYS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19581, 30 March 1929, Page 14

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

I EXCURSIONS AND PICNICS. BIG EXODUS FROM CITY. Already this Easter there has been a big exodus from the City bv train, ear, and bus, although many people do not actually pommenf their vacation until to-day. So far the weather has been perfect in spite of the threatened gale of Thursday night. There have been heavy bookings on all trains north an<> south, and motorists have made for the various tourist resorts in large numbers. Reports state that all picnic grounds and accommodation houses in the province are well patronised, and they are expected to remain full for a spread-over of several" days. There was little movement 111 the City yesterday, as far as traffic is concerned. All business premises were closed and special services were held in all the churches. Thursday was particularly busy with tradespeople. Friday night hours being observed. Throughout the afternoon and evening traffic was exceptionally heavy in the City and the full staff of motor-in-spectors was engaged.

Railway Bookings. Many people went south yesterday. Tho 8.-30 a.m. train tarried 370 passengers, the 9.10 a.m. 44.i, and the 12.25 p.m. 280. The Otira excursion train tarried 200. and a great many more were picked up en route. The ordinary train to the West Coast took 356, and the relief mail train 130. The express from the south on Thursday nigni was a full train. About 1500 people travelled to Lyttelton and on to the bays. Trains left Christchurcli at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 2.<30 p.m.. and there were 600 people on the 11 a.m. At 7.15 a.m. yesterday the railway station was packed with people, some meeting the ferry train and other arrivals by the south expresses. The trains from the south were an hour late each owing to heavy loading. Yesterday a large number of tourists, m addition to those who went to Otira by excursion train, visited Arthur's Pass, and the accommodation houses were ucll filled. Itain fell in the morning but beautiful weather was experi-

enced for tlie rest of the day. About 400 people took advantage of the railway excursion, most of them going through to Otira while a few went over the Pass. A large party visited the Oca fey Glacier, and between 40 and SO people arrived at the "baches" for the holidays. A train left Springfield yesterday at 7.40 a.m. for the conveyance of cars to Otira and another left Otira at 1U.54 a.m. for Springfield, a carriage for passengers being attached to each train. "ln<e G'o:sair Bay Club members left m large numbers for Dunedin at midnight last night, and they will return to Christchurch at 7 a.m. to-morrow. About 700 excursionists made the trip. To-day special excursion trains will run to Teniuka and Timaru, leaving Christchurch at 8 a.m., and the Rangiora U.S.A. will go bv train on ail excursion to Moana. The sports at Kaiapoi are also expected to produce a demand for passenger accommodation. Exceptionally heavy traffic is expected on the Port line" to-day, the risit of H..M.S Dunedin and the motor-ship llangitiki being the attractions. The trame observed the Sunday timetable yesterday, but there were early cars to the railway station for the various excursions. On Monday the trams will run to a holiday time-table, with special cars for the races. All Canterbury Schools were closed for Easter yesterday, and will re-open on Wednesday morning. ( , The Ferry Service. While the bookings on the ferry services tor Easter were heavy they showed little, if any, increase on last year's figures. In fact, the increase on the service generally is almost imperceptible, and the reason for this, it is stated, is that so many motorists prefer to motor to Picton and cross to Wellington by the ferry, which does the journej in three hours. Another reason given is the rapid increase of motor-cars in the Dominion. People prefer to tour the South Island rather than go north. The number of visitors who come south is stated to be larger than that of people going north, for, while the arrivals are bunched, the return is spread over some days. About 1100 passengers came to Lyttelton on Thursday by the Wahine and by the intercolonial steamer Marama, from Wellington. The Marama was placed on the ferry run to assist with the Easter traffic. The Wahine reached port at 6.35 a.m. with over 700 oassengers, and the Marama at 9.30 a.m. with about 400 passengers. The Marama arrived off the Heads at 6.30 a.m., but owing to a dense fog. could not make port until 9.30. Both ships left Lytfcelton with passengers for Wellington in the evening. Between 1000 and 1100 booked passages but with the extra ferry it was possible to accommodate them without difficulty. The Marama sailed on the arrival of the 6.40 p.m. train and the Wahine on the arrival of the 6.50 p.m. train. Big Crowd at Lyttelton. Three thousand people visited Lytfelton yesterday, the morning trains being exceptionally lieavy. A large proportion of the excursionists visited

Diamond Harbour and Corsair Bay, but others were attracted by H.M.S. Dunedin and the big irotor-ship, Rangitiki. The warship will be open to visitors this afternoon and to-morrow and Monday afttrnoons. and the Rangitiki will V>«> open to the public on Mondiy afternoon. Heavy Traffic Causes Delays. The first express from the south arrived at C'hristchuri'h with 500 people aboard half-an-hour late last evening, and the relief train, which carried 300 people, was 30 minutes late. The express from Invercargill came in an hour and twenty minutes late, with 550 passengers, and the West Coast train was 33' minutes late with 350 passengers. The cause of the delay was the extraordinarily heavy traffic, in each case. The train which left Christchurcb at midnight last night for Dunedin took 800 passengers. The return train from the Otira excursion arrived in Christchurcb at 10.30 p.m., an hour and a half late last night, owing to engine trouble. At Rolleston a valve developed a fault, and the train was compelled to wait there until a relief engine could be sent out from Christchurcb.

RAIN AT AUCKLAND. (PSEiS ASSOCIATION TEUEGBAJi.) AUCKLAND, March 29. Steady rain fell in Auckland last night and this morning, making conditions for the start of the Easter holilays unpleasant. The weather has now temporarily cleared but the barometer ihows a falling tendency.