EXCURSIONS TO THE FLEET.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 August 1925, Page 3

EXCURSIONS TO THE FLEET.

POPULAR TRIPS YESTERDAY.

RAILWAY PROVISION INADEQUATE

The announcement that the Railway Department would run a cheap excursion to Wellington yesterday together with the flue weather, and tlie prospect of seeing something of the American fleet proved a very popular one, and great numbers ol residents from practically every station between Wanganui and Paekakariki arranged to spend their Sunday in the capital city. Three trains, averaging about nineteen carriages each, were filled to their utmost capacity, numbers of passengers having to stand all the way. Great disappointment prevailed \among the Levin excursionists, when, on assembling at the station they learnt that their train instead of leaving at 9.28, as announced, would not he available until 11 o’clock. The cause of this delay was the enormous number of people who went from Palmerston, crowding the train and making it useless for it to stop at Intermediate stations. The local travellers expected that they could at least catch the next train, which came from Wanganui, but it was also packed, and passed straight through Levin, without stopping. They were then advised of the time of departure of their train, namely 11 a.m., which was a good deal later than the schedule time. It reached Wellington about 1.30 p.m. and returned at the timetable hour of 5.15, thus making a very short day in the city. On reaching Wellington another disappointment was met with. During the past week the weather had •been anything but pleasant and yesterday was remarkably fine so naturally Wellington residents took the opportunity to see the fleet while the conditions were good. The country residents did not arrive till 1.30 and by the time they reached the wharf, it was crowded with excursionists who had got their earlier, and Wellingtonians, so' that the chances of getting on the various ships were quite hopeless. Rightly or wrongly a good deal of the blame for this disappointment was laid at the Railway Department door.

Levin contributed liberally towards swelling the conge'slton--230 passengers booking their passage. That the scheme has proved attractive may be gathered from the numerous enquiries as to whether there was any likelihood of similar trains being run next Sunday and also in the near future.

One Levin resident, in detailing his experiences, said when lie got to the wharf crowds were waiting in long queues to get on the hospital ship. The gangway was only wide enough to admit one at a time and the people at the back, who were becoming restless at the delay, and ■anxious to see the bout in time to catch their train, stalled to push their way forward, with the result that the lives of those in front were endangered, not only of being crushed but of being pushed overboard. Several police, however, brought ord. r out of confusion, though many country visitors had to be turned away as their time was very short, and the expectations of a pleasurable day, which were with .them when they gathered at their respective stations, had completely vanished. “Some of tile Palmerston residents were fortunate enough to be able to inspect the boats,” said our informant, “but many of the others bad to be satisfied with what was visible from the train when emerging from the last tunnel and the sight of numbers of sailor “Jacks” parading the streets. Yesterday could have been all that was expected had Levin been lucky enough to have been able to board the first train, but the long wait at the station practically marred the day. It is hoped that ’if an excursion is run on Sup■dav next, which is quite likely as thcT full fleet will be in the harbour! fetter arrangements will be made and /am effort-do run the trains earlier and Mims allow a much longer stay in the city.”