THE HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 777, 29 March 1910, Page 8

THE HOLIDAY.

IN AND OUT OF TOWN. ' The Easter holidays are over, for most people, and the weather has been good, without being particularly genial. Campers and trippers by steamer and train have, of course, been numerous.' The races, attracted a fair number cf Wellington people.to Taulerinikau and Feilding yesterday, while more stay-at-' home folk spent the day nearer town, at. Wonderland, across the harbour, and at the suburban beaches and bays.' The Maori took several hundred people on an excursion to Picton. All the theatres were well patronised, no fewer than five matinee performances being given in the afternoon.. The extra express trains running throughout the holidays have carried heavy loads, and on the suburban lines the traffic has'also been great. Yesterday 1200 people booked to stations on this side of Upper Hutt, and 400 went to stations farther up the Wairarapa line. On the Manawatu section, 800 passengers travelled to stopping places south of Paekakarilri, and 500 more v made longer journeys ■ north. These figures are rather less than those recorded last year, due, perhaps, to the : fact that the. weather in the morning being ' -unsettjed t dissuaded t •some from setting out'for-picnics.; -The'diminution in numbers was noticed only in the suburban, bookings. ; . ' Traffic on the • city • trams has been brisk. On Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday tho receipts totalled £1655 2s: Ud., as compared' with' £1236 4s. 3d. for tbose days lastjear—an increase of £418,85..;8d.-. ; The. special Sunday morning cars carried 523 ...passengers; ■and, in the evening, "specials'!'took 189 .'fares, the revenue' amounting',, to £14 18s. 3d. The cars were well patronised again yesterday, and good business was done on all routes, the cars running to Miramar, Seatoun, and Lyall Bay being specially taxed. .--,',.,"• -C n '.-

PICTON ; EXCURSION. 'i Although tie'weather"'early, yesterday morning was note exactly promising, over 600 excursionists undertook the trip on the-turbine steamer Maori. Leaving the Queen's Wharf .at . 7.52 a.m., Picton was reached at 11 a.m. The return-trip was commenced at 3.35 p.m., and the steamer arrived- back at ■ 6.40 p.m. Despite ItheV southerly breeze rand; roll .which in the strait, the trip was, thoroughly enjoyed. PICNIC AT PLIMMERTON. /. The New Zealand; Express Company held their annual picnic yesterday .at Plimmerton. In addition-to the Wel-lington-staff, there ; were .present 20 members from the Christchurch branch. The weather was fine, and a'most/enjoyable day' was 'spent, _ Large. numbers contested'the running and field events. The tug of war, which ;Was a very '■} popular item,' was won by the Wellington team, captained by Mr. J.. Lowry. The whole'gathering.was particularly well managed, and after cheers had been given for •"Mr-. 1 T. S: Young, the popular.,manager ; of -the Wellington .branch,; the'-Christchurch members left' for-, their'/homes'; last, night ''.''by 'the Mararba. '■.. -i. '•':'',:,..' '~' .'.- '/ ~; "'•''. YACHT CLUB PICNIC. Yesterday, the Port Nicholson Yacht Club held its annual picnic at. Day's Bay.; In the'-morning the 'weather, gave but indifferent promise,, but. the look of .things, assumed a more settled aspect:;£«'• the' day-%o.re;on : , The bay. was ; mth^y'ach.ts.'anil 'launches, each;.being.,.gaily-.!-decpr.ated,>withi flags. : The 'outing' was,7om4lre r .whole? enjoyable one, and- the' yachts returned home between six and seven in the evening. ... _. ... ~--.— •"-•■ -.. ~

.' MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. A picnic was.held on Mrs. Rhodes's estate,. Wadestown, yesterday, when a large number of seamen were' present. All kinds of: sports were' held, the following winning prizes:—Messrs. Hearri (2), A. Cant, J. Hardy, H. Dowman, E.- : Soames (2),. Hey, T. Steggles, G. Gray, and Holhngun. A feature of the day was the .'tug"of war competition, between teams representing • the Home boats in' port. The Star of Australia defeated the; Buteshire, and.the lonic beat the Cornwall.: The final between the Star of' Australia and lonio was keenly contested, resulting in the former' winning.' : In; the. evening a concert .was.provided by the Misses Newton in the institute, ;.which was crowd-, ed to'the doors.;;: The musical arrangements were in. the hands of .Mr. Aitken, the following/contributing", items to'the '.' Cummings >(2), Cable, Messrs.--AitkenV Ridding, Steggles (Star of; Australia), .Cant (Buteshire), ' Rockford '.(Cornwall), .; Cart (Buteshire), and Goddard (Cornwall). Mr. Carpenter (R.M.S. lonic) played the accompaniments. During the evening Mrs. Cable (in the absence of the donor, Mrs. ; Aldous) presented' the prizes won at the picnic; to' the winners..' The lunch and tea were provided .by the choir,, .congregation;,and friends of the mission, and; the,supper by the Misses Newton.:';, l At.:the conclusion a hearty vote _of- thanks was-given to the performers' '"in. making v the oay. such a •pronounced success.

. m/OTHmCENTRES. .''.:; .(By;Telegraphs-Press' Association.),- . \ ■; Timaru, March 28. i'The holidays passed off well, though rain fell, on .Sunday.'i.To-dajy with no attraction in town, a very large number of people visited the sports and band contest ;at Teinuka, the show at Fairlie, and the.races "at 'Hook;".' At Temuka the quick-step competition ; was won by the' . Ashburton.: Temperance Band. Local pedestrians -and - cyclists „• divided the prize moneys fairly.' evenly. The Fairlie show.was good all .'round, and .the races, passed off well; .There we're 'large attendances at all [ihtf country gatherings. ".='...'/ , The Bible , Class• Union struck camp Jthis evenjng, after .'a' I ' very "enjoyable ■'three .days.... The, banner for'vathleticp ! and swimming ovents'was 'carried oft by Lyttolton-.'.u .. : ...i ".-. .'.. ..-n.