HOLIDAY CROWDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22393, 14 April 1936, Page 10

HOLIDAY CROWDS

EINE DAY IN OPEN MANY SPORTS ATTRACTIONS HEAVY TRAFFIC TO RESORTS POPULAR SIGHT-SEEING TRIPS Bright, warm sunshine tempered by a light breeze made conditions ideal for thousands of Auckland people who spent yesterday out of doors. Various sporting events attracted large numbers, while others enjoyed the holiday in motoring and yachting; or in picnicking at numerous resorts near the city. A crowd of approximately 19,000 attended the concluding day of the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting at Ellerslio. Many were engaged in the Auckland Bowling Centre's Easter rinks tournament, while others took part in, or watched, the Auckland provincial golf championships at Titirangi. Golfers also were catered for at a junior championship meeting at Remuera and lit tournaments at Pupuke, North Shore and Maungakiekie. Play was continued in the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's hard-court championships at the Windmill Road courts, where there were many spectators. A considerable crowd gathered at Eden Park to watch the provincial cricket match between Auckland and North Auckland, which commenced on Saturday. There also were large numbers at several athletic meetings held in country districts.

Yachting and Launching Although comparatively few people indulged in swimming many people spent the day at tho beaches, motor, bus and ferry traffic to these resorts being very heavy. Tho Dcvonport Steam Ferry Company conducted an excursion to llangitoto, tlie passengers numbering about 600. Nearly 400 travelled by the Northern Company's steamer Rangitoto to Motuihi, while the same company's excursions to Surfdale, Cowes and Ostend also were well patronised. Hundreds spent tlie day in the gulf, yachting and launching, a' largo proportion being on their return journey from week-end trips to Coromandel, Waiheko and Kawau. Activities of Visitors Visitors to Auckland took tho opportunity to inspect the city's numerous beauty spots and consequently tram and motor traffic in every direction was heavy. In this respect Titirangi was particularly favoured, the crowds travelling by private car being augmented by large numbers who had joined the organised sight-seeing motorbus tours.

Both in the afternoon and evening special holiday programmes were presented at the theatres, large audiences being present. A wrestling contest at the Town Hall last evening between Harry Kent and Earl McCready also proved popular.

SHOPS REOPEN TO-DAY LAST SUMMER VACATION LONG WEEK-END PENDING The great majority of people will to-day return to their ordinary occupations, after having enjoyed tho last holiday of the summer season. Apart from Christmas, Easter provides the longest general holiday of tho year, and thousands of people seize the opportunity to make extensive journeys about the country. The various church and religious camps and conferences, which have drawn attendances of upwards of 2000 young people in the Auckland district, were broken up yesterday to enable those attending to take up their daily work again to-day. Anzac Day, which falls on Saturday week, offers tho next general holiday, but public sentiment still sets strongly against making it purely a day of pleasure seeking. The King's Birthday, falling now on June 23, comes this year on a Tuesday, and does not allow of an extended week-end. The next general holiday falling at a week-end does not come until Labour Day, at the end of October Easter Sunday, which may vary as widely as from March 22 to April 25, fell rather later than usual this year, but next year, coming on March 28, it will be particularly early. The banks will be closed again to-day, and offices of legal firms and of sharebrokers and a few others will not reopen until the beginning of next week, but apart from these, the activities of industry and commerce will bo resumed to-day.

HEAVY RAIL TRAFFIC TRAVELLERS RETURN HOME The Auckland railway station was crowded last night with returning holi-day-makers, first with visitors to tho city leaving and later with Aucklandera returning home. All trains were full. In addition to a special race train to Hamilton, three trains of 11 carriages and one of seven carriages left last night. Tho limited express was full, as was a special Wellington train at 7.40, while the New Plymouth section of tho limited was run as a separate train. A special express to Taneatua also was heavily patronised.

The inward trains included two from Frankton, one from Rotorua and tho daylight limited. All brought large numbers of passengers, while there will also be heavy arrivals by this morning's expresses.