HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 18158, 26 December 1922, Page 8

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

TRAIN, TRAM, AND FERRY. Traffic by rail, train, and ferry lias been very heavy for the Christmas holidays, and it is expected that when the full returns are made up the figures will show a large increase on the numbers carried during the same period last year. The railway station and the ferry landing at the Rattray street wharf wore scenes of great activity this morning, when thousands of pleasure-seekers were on the move from 9 a.m. up to midday. Hie bright sunshine proved a good stimulant to hundreds who would probably have remained in their homes tmd the weather been unfavorable. It was the first .real touch of summer. Although tho heaviest part of the outward Christmas holiday traffic is practically over, the Railway Department has still several busy days before it. The races at Wingatui and Gore to-day. together with the usual exit of picnickers, resulted in very heavy traffic. Race trains, excursion trains, and express trains were despatched at regular intervals, and each one carried its full complement of passengers. The railway officials were busy people, but all arrangements had been carefully planned, with tho result that there was no confusion or trouble. The traffic was good on Christmas Day, but not out of the ordinary. The usual long-distance expresses were run, but there was only a Sunday service to lort Chalmers and Mosgiel. The traffic over all lines of railway today was much heavier than on Boxing Day last year. The number of tickets issued at the Dunedin station for Wingatui up to 1 p.m, was 4,072, and oidinary tickets to Wingatui numbered 831, making a total of 4,905. 'Dio number of race tickets issued on Boxing Day last year was 4,535, and ordinary tickets to Wingatui 557, .making a total of 4,890. Tho number of tickets issued for seaside resorts was 610, which is an increase on that of the corresponding clay last year. All tho outward trains wore filled to capacity. The train for Gore consisted of nine coaches, carrying 350 people; the express for Invercargill comprised ten coaches, carrying approximately 750 travellers; the 7.50 a.m. express for Christchurch comprised seven well-tilled coaches, and the next north express, which left at 8.5 a.m., consisted of seven coaches, all comfortably filled; tho train for Central Otago carried about 200 travellers; while the 11.15 a.m. express for Christchurch consisted of eleven coaches, carrying fully 530 passengers. The inward traffic was also heavy during the day. Tho 1.13 p.m. train from Oamaru brought fully 200 travellers; the train from Palmerston carried about 125; and the Clinton train about 240 excursionists. The early express from Invercargill carried about 170 travellers for Wingatui and 190 for Dunedin and northern stations. The total number of tickets issued at the Dunedin railway station from December 15, the date on which tho cheap excursion rates commenced, up to December 23 was 18,216. Tlie number issued during the same period last year was 17,478. This year’s total thus shows an increase of 758. This increase is accounted for by the issue of tickets to Christchurch on account of the Industrial Exhibition. These numbered 997 from December 15 to December 23.

The traffic by the city tramways has been very heavy this season, as the takings will show, but there was a falling off in yesterday’s returns as compared with the amount taken on Christmas Day last year. This is explained by the fact that the cars did not stop for two hours on Christmas Day, 1921, and it was also an exceptionally fine day. A Sunday timetable was observed yesterday, the cars stopping for two hours during the day. The traffic fo-day promises to be much heavier than it was on Boxing Day last year. Heavy loadings were lifted at an early hour to the beaches at St. Clair, St. Hilda, and Tomahawk, and the traffic over the north section was also heavy, the Woodhaugh and Botanical Gardens being the mam attraction. Special cars were run to tho railway station from all points to cater for the race crowds, and special cars will be in readiness to convey the crowds back from the beaches and races. Everything has run very smoothly, and no accidents have so far occurred to mar the pleasure of the holiday-makers. The following table shows the amounts taken in fares over all the lines during the Christmas period last year and this year:— 1921. 1622. £. £. Friday 496 M2 Saturday 402 406 Sunday 183 191 Monday 469 314 Totals £1,550 £1,423 ON THE HARBOR. The popularity of the harbor ferry service with pleasure-seekers was well demonstrated on Sunday and yesterday, when the Waireka and the Waihana conveyed very large crowds to the various picturesque resorts in the harbor. On Sunday an excursion was run to the Spit and llarringkm Point, and although a good number availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing tho beauties of the, harbor, the nnpropitious wealher earlier in the morning no doubt deterred many from making the trip. The, limited number of passengers carried to the Spit wore rewarded with a glbrions day. The cloud banks and rain could be observed banging over the city by those who had made the trip. On Christmas Day the two steamers carried about 1,000 excursionists to the various bays. Too weather proved to be considerably better than that enjoyed_in Dunedin. To-day opened most auspiciously, crowds of excursionists waiting to embark by tho first steamers. A steady flow thereafter continued by every boat leaving Dunedin. It is estimated that over 3,000 people were carried to-day _to the various bays. The new recreation grounds opened by the Peninsula Ferry Company at Portobello and the Macandrew Bay regatta attracted many holi-day-makers.