HOLIDAY EXODUS FROM CITY

Southland Times, Issue 23648, 25 October 1938, Page 4

HOLIDAY EXODUS FROM CITY

Labour Day Crowds BLUFF ATTRACTS MANY VISITORS The weather was beautifully fine in Invercargill yesterday and several thousand people left the city to travel by train, bus and motor-car to a variety of Labour Day attractions throughout the province. Although the sky was clouded at times the weather remained fine and warm. Bluff was the most popular resort and about 1000 persons travelled to the port by trains. Three hundred holidaymakers went by special train to the sports meeting at Otautau and the Gore Racing Club’s meeting attracted about 400 people by rail. The midday train from Dunedin yesterday was crowded and the 10.5 p.m. train brought a big number of people back to , the city. About 500 visitors to Invercargill returned home by the train which left for Christchurch at 6.40 p.m. As a result of the big exodus from the city, Invercargill bore a deserted appearance. Excursions and sports fixtures took many from the city and a big number of persons travelled to Oreti Beach and The Rocks, Riverton, where a fine day provided opportunity for bathing. The big number of visitors to Bluff included 400 young people who attended the annual rally of the combined Presbyterian Bible classes of Southland. Not since the regatta at the beginning of this year has the port been the scene of so much activity. Most of the visitors spent the day picnicking at Argyle Park or round the Point. There was a big crowd on the ferry wharf at six o’clock to see the arrival of the Tamatea from Stewart Island. WEEK-END EXCURSION TO ISLAND HOLIDAY-MAKERS TRAVEL IN FINE WEATHER About 90 persons visited Stewart Island for the Labour Day week-end, when a special excursion trip was made by the Tamatea. The weather generally was 'fine and visitors who were seeing the island for the first time were greatly impressed with its potentialities as a tourist resort. The Tamatea left Bluff on Saturday afternoon and made a good crossmg to Half Moon Bay. Heavy rain fell on Saturday evening, but after that the weather was excellent. Although the tourist season has not yet actually begun, boarding-houses were very busy. Launch trips to Paterson Inlet and other places of interest were organized and visitors found pleasure in deep-sea fishing or in walking to adjacent baysThe Tamatea returned to Bluff early last evening after a perfect crossing in ideal weather.