MANY VISITORS

Southland Times, Issue 25360, 12 August 1935, Page 7

MANY VISITORS

INVERCARGILL THRONGED. ARRIVALS BY TRAIN. Between 1300 and 1400 people were brought to Invercargill by train and a considerable further number by car for the Otago-Southland Rugby match on Saturday afternoon. The city was thronged with visitors over the weekend, for the majority of the northern excursionists did not return until last evening.

Altogether about 750 arrived in Invercargill at mid-day by two trains from Dunedin on Saturday. In addition to a special train, the mail train had 15 fully-loaded cars instead of the customary six. About 250 returned to Dunedin by a special train on Saturday evening and the rest by a special train last evening.

There was also a big influx of country people, about 300 journeying to Invercargill by rail from Bluff and a further 400 arriving by other district trains.

So large was the crowd on the Invercargill Railway Station last evening that it was difficult at times to make progress up or down the platform. Amid cheering and musical honours the victorious Otago representative team was borne away by the special train at a quarter past six. while similar farewells were accorded the Otago mercantile firms’ team which left at a quarter to seven. There were 360 people on board the first train and 200 on the ordinary night express for Christchurch, which also carried many who will attend the Grand National meeting there.