MANY TRAVELLERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 13

MANY TRAVELLERS

BRISK EASTER TRAFFIC / EXTRA TRAINS CROWDED VISITORS TO THE CJTY NUMEROUS MOTOR TRIPS Lsrge /numbers of people have taken advantage of the fine spell of weather •which ha's marked the start of the Easter holidays to make the most of the long week-end. The ordinary. and special Railway expresses have taken many Aucklardcrs to distant resorts snd towns, while the infiux of visitors to the city has made the railway officials extremely busy. Many more residents of Auckland have loft the city for beaches. and holiday resorts nearer the city, travelling by service cars and private motor vehicles.

The rush commenced with the departure of the special express trains on Thursday evening, all being long trains and exceptionally well patronised. The sjiccial which was despatched at 10.10 p.m. on Thursday for Rotorua was an abnormal train, consisting of 14 carriages and carrying over 500 people. Extra carriages had to be attached to meet the last-minute rush, and when the train> reached the Mamaku hills three engines were required to negotiate the rise. Extra expresses were also despatched on Thursday evening for Opua. Tauranga and New Plymouth and all wore well patronised. There was also an unusual demand for seats on the three expresses which left for Wellington on Thursday. The ordinary expresses had more thar the usual complement and the special express which was sent awav at ".40 p.m. was made up of 14, ears. There was also a heavy inward rush of passengers by rail yesterday from the South, as well as from all parts of the province. Five expresses which arrived during the day carried approximately 1500 visitors to the city. Most of these trains were running late owing to a slight mishap on the Main Trunk line near Ongarue. It is "expected that to-day will be quiet on, the railways, apart from the race traffic. There will be a further rush on Monday when holiday-makers set out on their return to their homes. The tax on the hotel accommodation of the city approaches that at the Christmas and New Year season. Last evening all the principal hotels were crowded. The various service car organisations reported " that full use was being made of their services, most of the vehicles going outward on Thursday, and those coming to the city yesterday being particularly well patronised. There was very heavy traffic on the roads on Thursday' afternoon and evening and again yesterday. There was a steady stream of cars moving northward. Some of these'' were bound for the Bay of Islands district, while others who took t*e west coast route were visiting the Waipoua Forest and Trounson Kauri Park on their way to Opononi. Rawene and other spots on the Hokianga. Rotorua was also popular with motorists, while m4ny others took the Hauraki Plains route for Tauranga and other East Coast resorts and the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula.