HEAVY BOOKING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 148, 20 December 1930, Page 10

HEAVY BOOKING

HOLIDAY TRAVEL BY TRAINS AND FERRIES TJio, prospects arc that passenger traffic^ on steamers and trains during the holiday period is going to be very heavy. In most eases there has not yet been an opportunity of comparing the bookings with those of last year, but, generally speaking, it is thought that there will be very little difference in the figures. One official in a local shipping office informed a "Post" reporter that the rush did not continence as early as usual this year, but that during the past two weeks the booking had been particularly heavy. Accommodation on the holiday trains is said to .be in keen demand. Special provision is being made for Christmas traffic on the ferry steamers running across the Strait and the sailings will be more frequent than normally. The Union Company announce that in addition to the usual evening sailings from Wellington to Lyttelton, the Maori will make special trips from Wellington on Tuesday and Wednesday, when she is scheduled to leave here at 8.15 a.m. for Lyttolton. These daylight trips will give passengers a splendid opportunity of viewing the Kaikoura ranges. Tbo Maori will arrive at her southern destination at about 5.30 p.m. in time to allow passengers to connect with the night trains on the South Island Main Trtink line. The Maori's evening sailing on Tuesday will be taken by the Wahine, which will leave Wellington at 7.45 p.m. In the Wellington-Picton service, the Tamahine commenced her usual summer running of. four trips a week today. Next ■ week Tamahine is to leavo Wellington on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and on Wednesday at 1.15 p.m., and 11 p.m. There will be no sailing on Boxing Day, but on the other days the usual summer time-table will be adhered to. One-day excursions to Picton will be made by the Wahine on Boxing Day and by th© Maori on New Year's Day. The excursionists will leave Wellington at 8 a.m. and arrive back at about 5.30 p.m. In the Nelson passenger service, the Arahura is to leave Wellington on Tuesday, and on Sunday week, at 7.30 p.m., and on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The Matangi is to sail on Monday at 7.30 p.m., on Wednesday at 9 p.m., and on Boxing Day at 7.30 p.m. In addition to these ships the Nikau will sail on Tuesday at 5 'p.m. and on Saturday at C.30 p.m., 'when the Kaitoa will also sail at the same time. It has been decided by the Kailway Department to run the limited express on Christmas Day, but only from Wellington to Auckland, and not from Auckland to Wellington.