CROWDED CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 10

CROWDED CITY

ARRIVAL OF VISITORS

RECORD SEASON EXPECTED RUSH OF HOLIDAY-MAKERS ALL ACCOMMODATION TAXED From country districts and from towns and cities in the South thousands of visitors have now started to conio to Auckland for the holiday season. People in a position to judge aro confident tliafc this year's influx of holiday-makers constitutes a record. Trains, steamers and motor-cars, all crowded, seem to be converging on Auckland, and hotels and boarding houses, booked out weeks ago, are steadily filling up with visitors, thankful for their foresight in making reservations.

In spite of the fact that numerous Aucklanders are leaving the city for holidays at the seaside or in tho country. the population of the city over the holiday period is likely to be increased rather than lessened. Taking the Railway Department's special expresses as a gauge, arrivals in tho city aro in excess of departures, and, although the holiday exodus will probably commence in earnest on Christmas Eve, the influx of southern visitors, judging by train reservations, will bo more than a compensating factor.

Heavy Train Traffic Altogether, three express trains arrived in Auckland from Wellington yesterday—the limited, the special holiday express, which arrived at 1.30 p.m., and tho daylight limited. Each carried its full complement of passengers. Today four express trains will arrive, tomorrow six, and on Thursday seven. Bookings for all these trains are phenomenal and in addition visitors are streaming into the city by train from tho Bay of Plenty. Rotorua, Taranaki and North Auckland. Officials in the Railway Department freely admit that they are having a "bumper" season. Tho Railway Department is not enjoying a monopoly of this Christmas traffic. Tho Royal Mail liner Niagara arrived at Auckland from Vancouver yesterday with a full passenger list. This was perhaps partly due to tho delays experienced by intending passengers as a result of the American shipping strike, but that argument docs not apply in tho caso of tho Maunganui, which is due from Sydney this morning, crowded with holiday visitors. In addition, tho Orient liner Orford is expected from Australia tomorrow with many tourists. Invading Motorists Tho roads, too, have carried heavy traffic. On the main highways entering Auckland there was practically a constant stream of traffic yesterday and there was a prolific demand for garage accommodation by motorists. Numerous country visitors appeared to bo staying with relatives, while others have rented furnished houses and flats.

In the leading hotels and boarding houses there is not a single room available. A sidelight on this position was provided with the arrival of the Niagara yesterday. A party of American business men, visiting New Zealand on an important mission, experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining hotel accommodation, and then only in one of the smaller hotels. In another case, a lady arriving by tho Niagara had booked in advance a room at one of the loading hotels, but found that she would have to leave for Wellington last night. She was surrounded by a clamorous group of fellowpassengers. all wishing to take over her claim to tho reservation.

The holiday invasion of Auckland will gain in intensity right up to Christmas Day and all that is required is fine weather to make the success of tho holiday season assured.

EXPRESS ARRIVES LATE HEAVY TRAFFIC EN ROUTE The Taneatua-Auckland express arrived in Auckland an hour and a-half late last night. The express is duo to leave Hamilton at 3.4 p.m., but it did not reach Hamilton until 4.18 p.m. Owing to the heavy rush of Christmas traffic, it was late in leaving Taneatua, and was 50 minutes behind time in leaving Paeroa. A further delay occurred at Eureka, where a truck connected with a shunting engine was derailed. More time was lost at Frankton and Mercer, on account of the heavy holiday traffic, and the train finally reached Auckland at 7.55 p.m.