TRAFFIC OK THE RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17139, 19 April 1919, Page 10

TRAFFIC OK THE RAILWAYS.

EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY TKAJLNS. Holiday traffic on the railway com- ' menced in earnest on Thursday, though the number of passengers carried on the | various lines on the three preceding days was rather more than usual; in fact, the ! number of people travelling on both long--1 distance and local trains greatly exceeded the volume of the traffic last year. On [ Thursday, the express trains to and from | Auckland were all heavily laden. ano first express from Palmerston North arrived at 6.30 a.m., two Wellington expresses following at 6.35 a.m. and b,LS respectively. These trains carried an aggregate of between 800 and ow passengers. Iho express train for Thames, , Waihi and Taumarunui carried about W passengers, 'and the Eolorua express, which left at 9.50 a.m., had about an equal number on board. The express from Rotorua and Cambrid"e, which arrived at b | p.m., brought 350 passengors to Auckland, • and the train from Thames and WaihiJ j which arrived at 6.23 p.m., carried SJOO. i Local trains between Auckland and | Helensville, and between the city and Frankton were particularly well patronised. Both express trains to Wellington on Thursday night were well laden, the on* leaving at 7.10 p.m. carrying ahont 300 • passengers, whilo the second, which do. parted at 7.40 p.m., earned about 400. Yesterday express trains left Auckland for Thames and Rotorua at 9.15 a.m. and 9.50 a.m. respectively, while in the even- j ing two express trains left for Welling- 1 to;;. An express train arrived from Pal- i mereton North at 5,40 11.ni., followed by : two expresses from Wefington, one arriv- ' ing at 6.38 a.m. and the other at 7.60 a.m. The latter train was especially heavy, carrying no fewer than 750 pas- - sengers. The usual express trains were also ran from Rntnran and 'P n ■«. and were well patronised. A limited suburban service was also run during the day. ' [ I To-day a special service will be run ' ' between the city and Ellersie racecourse,' and a train will leave Hamilton for Ellen;-' lio and Auckland at 7 a.m., returning ■ from Auckland at 5.30 p.m. The usual ' train for Helensville will bo delayed to leave Auckland at 5,30 p.m. A 'special train will leave Auckland for Mercer, whero a regatta is being held, at 8.30 a.m., and will leave Mercer on the re- 1 turn trip at 5.5 p.m. ' I On Monday the usual Main Trunk and ' other expresses will run. A train will J leave Hamilton for Auckland in the morning, and depart from the city at ; | 5.35 p.m., stopping at Ellerslie racecourse, i A special train will leave for Mercer at' 5 p.m. A suburban service will also bo : run, and special race trains will run { between Auckland and Ellerslie racecourse as required.

SPURTING ATTRACTIONS. RACING AT ELLERSLIE. The principal holiday attraction will be the autumn meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, which will open at EUerslie to-day, and conclude on Monday. The Auckland Centre of the Dominion Bowling Association opened a tournament j on city and suburban greens yesterday, | and this will be continued to-day, and on Monday and Tuesday. Triangular test cricket matches, between representatives from Lower Waikato, Wliangarei, and the local Suburban Association, will bo continued at the Auckland Domain to-day and on Monday, and the Auckland Golt Club's Raster tournament will be held on the club's links at Otahuhu to. day, and on Monday and Tuesday. Those who prefer the seaside will have ample opportunity to indulge their fancy, as steamer excursions will be run to all the popular resorts in the harbour and gulf throughout the holidays. " Athletio and other gatherings will ho held in country districts. At Cambridgo a bowling tournament, which was commenced yesterday, will be continued 011 to-day and on Monday,, a nd athletic and sports meetings will be held at To Aroha and Papakura on Easter Monday. The South Auckland bowling tournament will also be heW at) To Aroba. j