HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

Evening Star, Issue 18159, 27 December 1922, Page 4

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

FEWER PASSENGERS BY RAIL. Traffic by tho railways was very disappointing to-day, the returns showing a considerable falling off as compared with those for the same day last year. The most noticeable deficiency was in connection -with the number of passengers carried to Wingatui. Five race trains were provided, but the traffic was not so heavy as was anticipated. These trains carried only 2,070 race visitors and 551 ordinarypassengers, making a total of 2,621. The number of race passengers carried on December 27 last year was 5,512 and 576 ordinary passengers. The figures to-day thus show a decrease ot 1,267. The number of passengers carried by ■what are termed the local trains was not much above normal up to midday. Many people seem to be still on holiday bent, as all the long-distance trains were well patronised, so that in. almost every instance the carriages attached to each train were filled to capacity, Figures supplied by the department show that the train for Central Otago carried 120 passengers in five coaches; the express for tiie north, which left at 8 a.m., comprised eight coaches, and carried 240 passengers ; the train for Gore, leaving at 8.30 a.m., carried 220 passengers in nine coaches; the 8.45 a.m. express for Invercargill comprised nine coaches filled with 288 travellers; tho relief express for Lyttelton wharf, which left at 10.3-0 a.m., carried 280 passengers in eight coaches; and fully 500 travelled by the 11.15 a.m. express for tho north. This express was made up of nine coaches. Tha inward traffic yesterday was fairly heavy. The train from seaside resorts, which arrived at 8.3 .p.m., carried 375 travellers ; the train from Balclutha, 183 ; the Oamaru train, which reached Dunedin at 7.42 p.m., consisted of eight coaches, carrying 458 passengers; the first express from Christchurch consisted of thirteen cars, and carried 395 travellers for Dunedin and southern stations; the excursion train from Gore, arriving at 6.54 p.m., brought 220; tho 6.56 p.m. express from Invercargill, 159; and the 9.25 p.m. express from Christchurch carried 180 travellers.

As was predicted, the traffic over all lines of tho city tramway system was very heavy yesterday. Tho amount taken in fares for the day amounted to £299, as against £259 for 'the corresponding day last year, an increase of £4O. An exceptionally large crowd of pleasure-seekers was convoyed to the beaches at St. Clair and St, Kilda, and under the ideal weather conditions the children in 'particular -had a very happy time. Tho beaches are in splendid condition at the present time, which accounts for them absorbing the bulk of the- day’s traffic. There was no great rush -for cars at any particular lime, the traffic being consistently steady throughout the day. The arrangements were well controlled by tho manager (Mr W. H. Mackenzie), and the motormen and conductors carried out their duties in a true holiday spirit’. There were no accidents to spoil the day’s pleasure. The traffic to-day was not heavy over any particular line, tho threatening weather, no doubt, being responsible for detaining many women and their families in their homes. The number of excursionists by the ferry steamers to-day was not heavy. A fair" number left by the early boats for the various bays, but there was a distinct absence of the -holiday spirit which prevailed yesterday.