HOLIDAY TRAVELLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17038, 20 December 1918, Page 4

HOLIDAY TRAVELLING.

INTEREST IN TONGARIRO.

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS.

Now that the holiday season has set in, brisk business is being- done at the Tourist Office, although the officer in charge, Mr. 0. Wallnutt, stated yesterday that the number of people travelling was not quite equal to tho usual number for ithis time oi the year. The recent epidemic is held to be mainly responsible for this, and until quite lately there has been a noticeable reluctance on the part of the public tc visit other centres. During the last wee! there have been many inquiries regarding trips to all tho v;ell-known tourist resorts, ana a good season is anticipated both in the North and South Island. Not many inquiries are being made regarding the Milford track, usually a very popular trip, this being partly due ito the feet that Sutherland House was closed kstj year, and no notification of re-opening has as yet been received. A very.large number of inquiries are being made regarding Tongariro National Park, showing that Aucklanders are very keenly interested in the opening up of this magnificent tourist resort. " livery year we have large numbers of inquiries as to the trip," said Mr j Wallnutt, " but, owing (to the prominence j which has laitely been given to the qttes-' tion of opening up the park, still greater interest has been aroused. There is not the slightest doubt but thai Tongariro would ' become immediately popular with Aucldanders, if once they were given the chance of enjoying its beauties and wonders.". At it'ho present time there is no accommodation for tourists save a couple of huts, suitable only for parties .carrying their own provisions and equipment. ■"'■' Holiday booking at the various city hotels, it is stated, is quite as heavy as that of previous years, 'Although the recent epidemic has caused many people to cancel their holiday arrangements, most of the hotels are well filled, and it is anticipated that there will be considerable traffic during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Holiday traffic by the express , trains outward-bound from Auckland has not yet assumed largo proportions, but inquiries made by intending.travellers indicate that it will be well up to the average of previous years. The Railway Department is at present running two trains & dav between Auckland and Wellington. "The extra express leaves Auckland for "the South at 7.40 p.m. and the northwardbound express leaves Wellington at 2 p.m., the latter- arriving at Auckland at 7.40 a.m. - ' .-.,.

The 7.10 p.m. train from Auckland will run daily, Saturdays and Sundays included, except on December 28 ■•and January 4, and will take passengers from Auckland only,, for Waiouru, Taihape, and stations south of Taihape, and will not take up. passengers at . any stopping , station between Mercer and Palmorston North (both included), except for and from Waiouru. Passengers from these stations must travel by the 7.40 p.m. AucklandWellington express train. >