COMING HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15480, 11 December 1913, Page 8

COMING HOLIDAYS.

BUSY SEASON EXPECTED,

HEAVY HOTEL BOOKINGS.

TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS,

The prospects lor a busy Christmas i n AucKland are pood, despite the unsettled | condition! which have existed for son,,, Itimepa,,. .Some of the leading hot* report that _ they have had to stop booking tor the hol.day season, all available ac" |modati.m having been taken. I„ two | three rases the proprietor, state that thev I have never previously becked so heavily I as If r the coming Christmas and New Yea" j season Others state that from the „ un . | ber „f mqumes being received daily thev I will shortly be and.-: the necessity' of re J tains application,. similarly. tL prin . npal board.nghouseg in the city anticipate excellent business f,.r the holidays, and ! there seems little doubt but thatVlar*, j influx of visitors may he expected within , the next fortnight. Not only the Exhij bition. but the holiday rare meetings also i arc attracting many people to Auckland" | As regards the tourist traffic, it j 8 ported that it. i? not yet possible t, definitely forecast the prospects. y a „ hers of inquiries have been received from | AusV.alia, but the uncertainty of the , steamer service just now i? causing - re peetive visitors to await the return'to" normal. On the other hand, the indications are bright for a heavy X nw Zealand tourist traffic. Just at 'present a lull is being experienced, hut this is likely to be followed by the usual rush when'the railway exclusion rates Lome into force In the meantime, inquiries as to summer trips in various directions are being received from residents of Auckland, many of whom evidently contemplate going out of town for the holidays.

Special Trains for Holidays. Special train arrangements have been made by the Railway Department in connection with the Christmas and New Year holidays. So far as the Main Trunk express service is concerned, an extra train will run between Auckland and Welling. ton from December 13 to January 9 inelusive, leaving here daily, except' on Saturdays, at 10.4 p.m.. and arriving in the Southern city at 5.46 p.m.. the next day. An additional express will leave Wellington for Auckland daily except on Sundays, during the same period, at 12.35 p.m., and arriving here at 7.55 a.m. the next day. The ordinary 9.10 p.m. express from Auckland will, while the extra train it running, be kept down to a through single engine load—l2 coaches in all—and will take no passengers for wayside stations on this side of Taihape. From December 22 to January 6 incluam, an extra express will he run between Auckland and Palmerston North daily, except on Saturdays, leaving here "at 8 p.m. and arriving at its destination' it 11.25 a.m. the next day. An extra np train will m the same period leave" Pat merston North daily, except on Sunday. i at d.x> p.m., being due here at- 6.20 am the next day. Taumarunui and Rotorua. '. t An extra express for Taumarnnui will run daily, except on Sundays, between December 18 and January 10 inclusive leaving Auckland at 10.18 a.m., and arriv,ing at its destination at 6.55 p.m the same day. During the same period an - extra tram will leave Tauraarunui-daily < Except on Sundays, at 7.30 a.m., arriving in Auckland at 4 p.m. "the same day. ■■ * i Visitors to Rotorua will be .accoramo- '. dated on Christmas Eve with an additional express, leaving Auckland at 10.18 a m (or 18 minutes after the ordinary train)' ' and arriving at the Hot Lakes town at 615 p.m. A third express will also leave for i Rotorua at 10.40 p.m. on Christmas Eve arriving there at 6.50 a.m. on Christmas Day. A special return train will leave Rotorua for Auckland on Boxing Day at 9.10 p.m. Excursion Fares Nszt Week.-'"-*M

Excursion rates to Auckland are alreadv in force in connection wjth the Exhibition, having been inaugurated on November 28. tickets issued under these rates are available for return for two months. The Christmas and New Year excursion fares fin and out) will be charged from December 18 to January 2 inclusive, and will be available for the return journey until February 13. These excursion tickets will be issued to and from all stations on the Auckland railways. • ' ;',■

Many Passengers Expected. .' ;. The Christmas influx by rail has not yet set in to any extent, though the Main Trunk expresses" are showing a slight m-_ provement in that respect, and a general all-round increase is assured by the end of the week owing to the joint attractions of the Exhibition and agricultural show. From December 18 onwards through the holidays the railway authorities anticipate a very heavy passenger traffic, both outwards and inwards. The number of people leaving Auckland by train has so far not shown an appreciable growth, and as in previous years the majority are probably awaiting the excursion rates. " : The new platform on the northern side of the' railway station is nearly completed, and it is anticipated will be ready for use by Christmas. It will be utilised. for local trains. As regards the goods traffic on the railways—usually very considerable tit this time of the year—no marked increase lias yet set in. " . 'J$