MANY TRAVEL ON BOXING DAY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21976, 28 December 1936, Page 6

MANY TRAVEL ON BOXING DAY

■ 9 Increased Railway Bookings VARIED BUT PLEASANT WEATHER Boxing Day was a day of mixed temperatures, generally less attractive for excursions into the open than Boxing Day last year. But no one expects perfect weather for every holiday, and it is almost certain that the slight imperfections of the weather deterred none of those, who followed up their Christmas pleasures with another day'of carefree enjoyment. On the trams, in the trains, and at the beaches and picnic resorts the absence of children was noticeable, indicating the effect of the warnings of the Health Department against exposing children to the dangers of infantile paralysis. However, from the traffic figures available, it seems likely that if it had not been for the threat of disease record numbers would have left the city for the holiday. The city was not quite so completely abandoned as it was on Christmas Day, as some of the shops were open and there was not the same religious sentiment towards the day—a sentiment which undoubtedly makes the city quieter and keeps people off the streets. Music and church bells were stilled, and the early morning sounds were only the whirring of cars and the clatter of motor-cycles on their holiday way. It was a purely secular festival, freed from all restraints. The day was considerably cooler than Christmas Day, the maximum temperature being 67.2 degrees, compared with a maximum of 75.1 the day before. At 9 a.m., in the terminology of the Magnetic Observatory, there were six-tenths of cloud in the sky, at 11 a.m. five-tenths; but by 3 p.m. cloud covered ninetenths of the sky, and the weather continued overcast for the rest of the week-end. Heavy Railway Bookings Railway Department officials reported considerable increases in passenger traffic on the holiday services. Special trains to the trotting meeting at Ashburton carried approximately 1000 people, and it is estimated that there was an increase of 300 on the number carried on Boxing Day last year. Trains to Lyttelton carried approximately 2000 passengers to Corsair Bay, Diamond Harbour, and other spots on the other side of the hills. Passenger figures for the south expresses were approximately the same as last year. “There have been increases in spite of the infantile paralysis,” said an official, commenting on the holiday traffic. “In fact, if it had not been for the paralysis we might not have been able to cope with it. You might call it a kind of blessing in disguise.” The large crowds on the railway station consisted almost entirely of adults. The platforms were crowded up till the time of departure of the morning trains for the south and two expresses to the West Coast. On the latter trains there was an increase of about 100 passengers compared with last year. Trams Well Loaded Tramway loadings on Boxing Day were described by officers as “fair,” the absence of children 'being especially noticed. Trams on the Cashmere Hills line were well loaded, but the best loadings were estimated to be on the lines to Sumner .and New Brighton. The heaviest loadings were in the early afternoon. Traffic was satisfactory on trips to Lancaster Park for the Plunket Shield cricket. In the evening large numbers were carried to the city for the theatres, and to Monica Park for broadsiding. On the roads, picnickers and campers were abroad early, travelling to the beaches and farther afield. The roads round Lyttelton harbour and to the north and south were packed with traffic, more dense in the mornings, as many of the cars , would not be returning till after the holiday period. For many there will be a return to work to-day, though with the pleasant expectation of two more consecutive full holidays on New Year’s Day and the Saturday following.