THE RAILWAY EXCURSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10595, 2 March 1895, Page 3

THE RAILWAY EXCURSION.

h h A.EEAYt TRAIN. . The popularity of the railway excursions recently, introduced for country school 'children and their parents was very strongly demonstrated by the large_ numbers: that availed themselves of the trip yes* kerday. The excursion was from Ashburton and wayside stations to Christchurch and Lyttelton, and the train consisted of two engines, forty-two full cars, eight, railway waggons and two brake vans, and it via estimated that fully 3000 souls were? on board. Probably 500 or 600 left the carriages at Christchurch, the major portion going on to the seaport, where they arrived shortly before noon. Upon arrival tbe Harbour Board’s tug, which had been kindly placed at the disposal of the excursionists by the Board, was in readiness to taka a portion of the huge gathoring for a short trip around the harbour. About 300 were taken on board, the Customs officials being in attendance to see that nothing approaching overcrowding took place. Mr P. Way mouth, theratiriug chairman of the Board, and Captain Clark, the harbour master, superintended the embarkation, and the tug cast off from the wharf ,at noon. She took the pasty round the reef and then past the forts to the Heads, and frequent trips were run during the afternoon. Those who were not so fortunate as to gain a passage in the tug wended their way around the wharves, and saw plenty to interest them in the presence of the German warship, the direct* liners and other vessels. The weather-wftß gloriously fine, with a smooth sea.