THE HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 4

THE HOLIDAY.

« UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER. Yesterday, the clay for the observance of the New Year holiday, a northerly gale and threatening clouds, which two or three times broke into driving showers, interfered sadly with the general pleasure. The various holiday events suffered accordingly, in regard to the attendance of the public, as well as through the weather's actual interference with the various matters in hand. There was ample choice of 'holiday events, tho list comprising aquatic sports at Petone, tho naval and military tournament at Palmerston, tho district rifle meeting at Trentham, raccs at Tauherinikau, Stratford, Bulls, and Waikanae, an excursion to Picton by the steamer Maori, tho sports carnival of the Port Nicholson Cycling Club, and tho Wellington Bowling Centre's championship tournament. Reports of these events will be found elsewhere. Tho theatres and places of amusement were well attended in the evening. . RAILWAY TRAFFIC. Fairly heavy traffic returns wero shown on tho railways yesterday, the holidaymakers getting well on their journeys before the rain came on. Between 1900 and 2000 people booked from . Lambton Station for the Upper Hutt or way stations, and 430 went to tho Tauherinikau races. A total of 1500 excursionists took tickets for stations between Wellington and Paekakariki, and 700 boftked for stations beyond Paekakariki. For JlonJay of last week the number of ■ passengers to Paekakariki or intermediate stations was 1000, and beyond Paekakariki. 1300. Between 2000 and 2500 people visited tho Catholic picnic at Khandallah. For stations between Wellington and Upper Hutt jwut 2500 tickets were issued, and about 3500 booked for stations beyond Upper Hutt. i Notwithstanding the threatening conditions of tho weather 1300 people embarked upon the ferry steamer Maori for the excursion to--Picton and back yesterday. , In ■ the afternoon, their many friends at Wellington wero sympathising with the voyagers on the run back owing to tho heavy northerly gale which sprang up during the day, but, taken all Tound, tho trip was a most enjoyable' one, the sea not being as rough as might have bo-en expected from tho strength of the wind in tho city. Tho leading attraction' at Picton was the regatta, and this no doubt accounts for' the exceptionally large number of. people who travelled across the. Strait. . • About 1500 people .availed themselves of the opportunity of', visiting Day's Bay yesterday, fully 700' of the number coming from Pelono. The trip back was described as anything but « pleasant one. Owing to the strong N.W. wind blowing in tho harbour, the vessels wero continually swept with spray, .making travelling somewhat uncomfortable.'